Formatting a Hard Drive for use in Windows via USB

[Saint Nick]

Windows isn't letting me format it. It formats for a long time and then says that the drive can't be formatted. I'm on a laptop, by the way, and this is a desktop hard drive running through a USB converter.

Is there another application I can use to format this so I can start using it?

 

[Matthias99]

Double-check the connections in the USB enclosure (open it up, unplug and replug everything).

You also might want to try the drive in a desktop system if possible, to eliminate the enclosure as suspect.

If Windows can't format it, the hardware isn't working right.

 

[Saint Nick]

The Windows-based format utility, both in the Computer Management section and My Computer failed. Right now I'm trying it in a DOS prompt. I quick formatted it and it seemingly worked... I was at least able to access the drive via DOS prompt. So, the quick format worked, but I'm trying a full format now and see how it goes.

 

[corkyg]

Make sure your external case is powered - the laptop can't handle that load through USB only.

Try it with a desktop - that is a good plan.