Windows Was Unable to Format This Drive - new 6 TB HGST drive

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  1. Posts : 1,257
    win10 PRO on 5 PC's and Linux mint
       #11

    jimbo45 said:
    Hi folks.

    @pparks1

    Have you tried what I do below --I know you are knowledgeable on Networks etc . !!! Also the BIOS must support handling large capacity HDD's -- File size not a problem NTFS can handle in theory EXABYTES but some BIOS'es cannot handle geometry of large HDD's (nr of sectors, clusters, physical track addresses etc) in some cases. 4 - 5 TB seems the sweet point on a load of machines greater than > 4 / 5 TB all sorts of problems begin to rear their ugly heads unless you have special HDD controllers.

    With 6TB you are definitely out of typical home computers BIOS comfort zone on HDD's.

    I know this is a Windows Forum but some people have some knowledge of Linux here --so if you don't want to spend 3 days on formatting an HDD. !!!!!

    1) Download almost any Live Linux distro -- Linux mint is probably the easiest for novices / Windows users.

    2) now format the drive with console command -- mkefs.ext4 /dev/sdx where x is the letter the drive linux sees.

    To see what's mounted (the dev/sdx data) just from console type mount. You aren't going to use ext4 file system but you need an initial format of the HDD and ext4 works super fast.

    Then you re-do for windows as NTFS using GPARTED as step 5.

    3) that format (the ext4) will actually format the HDD really quickly.

    4) now ensure package ntfs-3g is installed and also GPARTED.

    Ntfs-3g is the Linux Read / write to windows NTFS file systems - it's usually installed by default but depending on your Live Distro it might not be/ Install with package manager -- CENTO / Red HAT --yum SUSE YAST, ubuntu /debian apt-get (or wget) etc etc.

    5) run GPARTED and re-format HDD as NTFS.

    Sorry folks for a Linux solution on Windows Forum --but I can't see ANYBODY wanting to run a Format job for 3 days.

    You'll complete the job with above solution in about 15 - 35 mins !!!!!

    Note I'm NOT anti Windows --far from it -- even hardened Linux users use Windows to diagnose a lot of hardware problems etc !!! My main Windows gripe is that I can never get Networking to actually be consistent - some machines work and others refuse resolutely to connect to any sort of network even if Hardware is identical. !!!!!!!

    I just as an old fashioned Engineer believe in using the best tool for the job --I mean for example an abacus can yield the same calculation result as an EXCEL spreadsheet -- I know what I'd rather use. !!!!

    Cheers.

    jimbo
    Can gparted format a 3tb drive as NTFS so that win7 and win10 can use it?

    yes that worked great!
    Last edited by sdowney717; 17 Nov 2017 at 07:19.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Caledon Ken said:
    x509

    I agree with NavyLCDR, a full format will take days. My 4TB took at least two as I recall. (the full format, not the quick)

    Maybe, just maybe there is an error on drive. Not disagreeing with jimbo45, just saying maybe. Have a peak or test the drive with seatools from Seagate.

    Your board appears to be "modern" technology. You might check if there is a BIOS update available from Asus. All the normal cautions around updating BIOS, understand the risks.


    Ken
    Ken, My board is an ASUS P9X79Pro, updated to the last available BIOS. And this board fully supports UEFI, AFAIK.
    Later today, I will try to format this drive using the cmdline approach.

    IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, does that mean that I have a defect and so I should return the drive to NewEgg?

    I'll report back on if I'm successful or not (in several days ...)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #13

    NavyLCDR said:
    What method were you using to attempt to format it? You should open a command prompt (admin) or powershell (admin) and the commands would be:

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk # <-replace # with the actual number for the 6 TB drive
    clean <- this will erase everything on the disk selected above, make sure you selected the correct one!
    convert gpt
    create part pri
    format fs=ntfs
    assign
    exit
    exit

    NOTE: a full format of a 6 TB drive may take several (3) days to complete.
    I started this process today, after first changing the Power Plan to Always On, and then going into advanced settings for disk drive inactivity setting. I am actually using a USB 3 docking cradle that supports either size drive. It has two docks, so it can do a copy operation on its own. Manufacturer is Orico, and it has been reliable.

    Even so, I left my system and then came back about 90 minnutes later. The drive was no longer spinning and the DISKPART format command still showed "0 percent completed.

    I did not have this problem when I used the Windows format command. I should note that using this same hardware I have formatted a number of HGST 4 TB drives without incident.

    I know someone suggested Linux, but I'd like to work with Windows.

    x509
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #14

    I would suggest you do a quick format, then if you want, use the chkdsk command to verify the condition of the disk.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,257
    win10 PRO on 5 PC's and Linux mint
       #15

    x509 said:
    I started this process today, after first changing the Power Plan to Always On, and then going into advanced settings for disk drive inactivity setting. I am actually using a USB 3 docking cradle that supports either size drive. It has two docks, so it can do a copy operation on its own. Manufacturer is Orico, and it has been reliable.

    Even so, I left my system and then came back about 90 minnutes later. The drive was no longer spinning and the DISKPART format command still showed "0 percent completed.

    I did not have this problem when I used the Windows format command. I should note that using this same hardware I have formatted a number of HGST 4 TB drives without incident.

    I know someone suggested Linux, but I'd like to work with Windows.

    x509
    It is pretty easy to make a liveusb of linux, just download linux mint 18..64bit cinnamon
    Download - Linux Mint
    Download unetbootin for windows.
    UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads
    run unetbootin, which will write a bootable iso to usb drives. Or you could burn a bootable iso to dvd

    Then reboot, select usb drive,
    Then with mint desktop up, click lower left icon and in text box type gparted, or terminal, then type gparted.
    Then delete any partitions on that drive and partition as gpt then format as NTFS.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #16

    NavyLCDR said:
    I would suggest you do a quick format, then if you want, use the chkdsk command to verify the condition of the disk.
    Thanks. I like that approach more than the one I'm doing now. Yesterday, out of desperation, I downloaded from the HGST site WinDFT, which is a diagnostic program for only Hitachi drives. That diagnostic has been running for over 24 hours now, and it's stuck on progress bar 3, out of about 20. I can hear the drive spinning, but not seeking.

    So when I get home, I'll follow your approach, doing a full surface test.

    x509

    PS: There is a reason that I have the SIG written as I do below.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #17

    Well, success.:)

    I stopped the full format and did the chkdsk with surface scan, which completed in less than one hour. Reported no errors.

    Then repeated the quick format from Windows. Then repeated the format process from Windows without quick format. It took about 2 1/2 days, with the drive in a USB 3 cradle. When I sat down to my PC this morning, the drive had finished formatting, 5.45 TB formatted.

    So, no need to return to the Egg. :)
      My Computers


 

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