Initialise & Format [GPT] WD External HDD

Hello @jumanji,

jumanji said:

Whichever method you adopt to initialise the disk as GPT and format it, when done, open an elevated command prompt and run fsutil fsinfo ntfsinfo <drive letter>. Post the screenshot. I am interested in seeing it.
( I learn from user experiences )

Yes, I will run the command and post the results.

I will be going with the Diskpart method, mainly because I am familiar with it, I have used it in the past, and it is built-in to Win 10, although this will NOT be until some time next week. I have however, kept a .pdf of your post above for future reference, if needed.

This is what I am going to go with . . .

Code:

diskpart
list disk
select disk <n> <- The Disk Number of the WD External HDD
clean all
convert GPT
create part primary
format quick fs=NTFS
exit
exit

I will also post the CMD Prompt output of Diskpart so as to help others who are following this Thread.

Thanks.

If you are going to use Diskpart then use the "Clean All" command. This will accomplish the same thing as the low level format - writing all zeros or ones to the disk.
Remember: the Diskpart "Clean" command just marks the sectors as deleted, it does not remove any data.
Also note that Diskpart Clean All does about 300GB per hour. So about 10 hours for a 3TB drive.

The reason folks like us like to do this is that it "refreshes" the disk to a like-new condition. It eliminates any odd conditions that may have developed. I've even had so called bad sectors "revived" after this process.

Hello @TV2,

TV2 said:

If you are going to use Diskpart then use the "Clean All" command. This will accomplish the same thing as the low level format - writing all zeros or ones to the disk.
Remember: the Diskpart "Clean" command just marks the sectors as deleted, it does not remove any data.
Also note that Diskpart Clean All does about 300GB per hour. So about 10 hours for a 3TB drive.

The reason folks like us like to do this is that it "refreshes" the disk to a like-new condition. It eliminates any odd conditions that may have developed. I've even had so called bad sectors "revived" after this process.

Good point, thanks [ I have amended my post above ].

Paul Black said:

This is what I am going to go with . . .

Code:

diskpart
list disk
select disk <n> <- The Disk Number of the WD External HDD
clean all
convert GPT
create part primary
format quick fs=NTFS
exit
exit

Thanks.

That'd do it!
Start it before dinner - check it in the morning!

Anibor said:

A new disk does not have zeros written to it.

You are, of course, technically correct.
Notice, however, that I used the words "like new".
Important words to be familiar with if you are ever buying a used car!

TV2 said:

That'd do it!

Start it before dinner - check it in the morning!

Thanks. I had already decided that it will be an overnight process.

At last, after MANY MANY MANY hours of retrieving and organising data etc, I am almost ready to Format.

---

jumanji said:

My take on wiping your 3TB WD external now out of its enclosure and on a dock.:

Use HDD low level formatting Tool : > Website: HDDGURU: HDD LLF Low Level Format Tool

It will be a single "HDDLLF.4.40.exe" file. Run it (> Continue for free) with your 3TB WD plugged in.

I always use this tool to wipe my HDDs clean before any trial.

The software speed is limited to ...speed is capped at 180 GB per hour which is 50 MB/s which I esimate will take between 16 - 17 Hours.

If the below does NOT work, then this will probably be a good alternative option, thanks.

---

I would prefer to use Diskpart for this, and with that in mind, I have some questions. Would it be best to run the Diskpart commands while the . . .

• WD 3TB HDD is in the Docking Station ?
• WD 3TB HDD is INTERNAL ?

I know that clean all takes a VAST amount of time longer than just clean, although clean all is probably the better option for this scenario due to the disk becoming RAW and the Sector [ Cluster ] Size being 512 instead of 4096 which it SHOULD be, as per my other identical WD 3TB HDD !

Anyway, here are the Diskpart commands that I intend to use . . .

Code:

diskpart
list disk
select disk 'n'
clean all
convert GPT
create part primary
format fs=NTFS quick label=WD_3TB_Int
assign letter=W
exit
exit

I would think doing a cleanall internally would be the best option without adding another layer of interface ( the dock.)

I haven't done a low level format on a high capacity disk with HDD LLF Low Level Format Tool. Even if I had done it , I wouldn't remember how long it took .

jumanji said:

I would think doing a clean all internally would be the best option without adding another layer of interface ( the dock.)

I haven't done a low level format on a high capacity disk with HDD LLF Low Level Format Tool. Even if I had done it , I wouldn't remember how long it took .

Thanks @jumanji.