hdd problems

[tshoe]

I have a used hard drive and am trying to hook it up via a USB to IDE connection and windows doesnt recognize it. Shows up as unknown device. So I took it out and disconnected my other drives to format and partition it and setup says "path does not exist > c:\". The drive spins up but I am unable to format or partition it via fdisk and dos or western digitals software. Any ideas?

 

[montag451]

Can you try Disk management?

Control panel
Administrative tools
computer management
disk management
yeah - it is quite well hidden

 

[tshoe]

disk managment shows the drive but will not let me do anything. I have put it in another computer and it will not fdisk and has no partitions. any other ideas.
thanks

 

[Taz480]

"I have a used hard drive ".........................
How old? What brand?
First guess...............toasted.

"and it will not fdisk".........
What exactly are you doing as far as commands in FDISK?

 

[montag451]

Is it cs/master/slave?
Which channel?

Are you sure the jumpers are correct - recheck anyway - slowly and carefully, and bear in mind that the diagram of the jumpers can be 'upside down'

 

[tshoe]

Ok in Fdisk I am trying to set up a logical dos partition but after I run the program and I try to format the drive it formats to the end and then says unable to complete format. If I go back to Fdisk and check the partition it says none found. Also from the a: promt if I type c: it says invalid path, drive does not exist. Windows xp home or pro will try to partition the drive but says partion table missing. What does that mean. Can I replace the MBR? Thanks

 

[Taz480]

I'm assuming you are using at an A: prompt-----FORMAT C:
If it will format to a point but not continue I would say you have a bad sector or something. Until you format a drive volume, typing C: at an A: prompt will get you nothing. When you say "and I try to format the drive it formats to the end" is it actually formatting or checking "Drive Integrety"?? Run FDISK again and when it loads, choose option 4 to view whats on the drive currently and let me know.

 

[tshoe]

I typed the format c: and I have run westerm digitals diagnostics which says there is nothing wrong with the drive. It show up in the bios but it wont partition, format because it doesn't exist. there is no c promt. I have set the jumpers every possible way and have it installed in an old computer as a single right now. I am stumped. What info can I offer to help this along.

 

[Taz480]

Originally posted by: tshoe
I typed the format c: and I have run westerm digitals diagnostics which says there is nothing wrong with the drive. It show up in the bios but it wont partition, format because it doesn't exist. there is no c promt. I have set the jumpers every possible way and have it installed in an old computer as a single right now. I am stumped. What info can I offer to help this along.

First of all, if it is a single HDD, set the jumpers to CS(cable select). Second....what OS are you wanting to install and how old is the machine? I'm assuming you are working with Windows 9x or ME if you are using FDISK. What is the actual size of the HDD and what does the BIOS report it as being? A lot of older machines have limits to the size of HDD it will use and if what the BIOS reports is substantially different(lower) than what the actual drive is, then it may not be compatible(without a few tricks 🙂 ). You say the HDD shows up in BIOS....but .....it doesn't exist. HUH?....😵? I need you to run FDISK again and only choose option 4 to view all partitions on the HDD. Then report back.

 

[tshoe]

when I fdisk and choose option 4 it says "NO PARTIONS DEFINED". So I chose #1' create Dos partition or Logical Dos Drive and chose 1 again, create primary Dos partition. I get "current fixed disk 1(only drive at the moment), and it verifies the integrity of the drive. Asks me "do you wish to use the maximum available size for primary dos partition and make the partition active. I choose Y. Then it says I must restart the system for my changes to take affect. any drive you have created or changed must be formatted after restart. I have done this 3 or 4 times and tried to format after each time and it wont format and when I go back to fdisk item 4 it says the same thing. Also at the A: promt if I type c: or c:\ I get "invalid drive specification". It did these same things in the other machine.
And actually I put a new motherboard in the computer this drive was originally in and its working fine except I need more storage. I am maxed out for bucks on this computer. For the price of a new hdd I could have bought a new gateway($299)
Thanks for all your help