How to format a new hard drive?

[Rockrz]

How to format a new hard drive?

I'm trying to format a brand new hard drive to use as a second drive in my computer tower, but for some reason I can't figure out how to format it.

When I plugged it in, my computer recognized it as "New Hardware Found".
Then, it showed another message saying "New Hardware Ready to Use"

So, I did exactly what I did last time to format.
I went to this screen:

Then, I went here...

And, then to this screen where I should be able to "see" the new drive so I can format it...

I'm pretty much stumped by now as to find a way to get the new drive to show up here in this third sceeen so I can format it which after that's done it will show up as a healthy drive just like the others.

Anybody got any ideas about what I can do?
(Note: C,G, and E are the drive that were in my box BEFORE I started adding this new drive so none of these ARE NOT the drives that is the new one I just installed)

 

[Harvey]

In My Computer, right click the drive you want to format, and click Format. For full info on more options, from the Start menu, click Help and Support, and enter format disk in the search window.

 

[Rockrz]

Originally posted by: Harvey
In My Computer, right click the drive you want to format, and click Format.

When I do that, Windows does not show my new hard drive.
I know exactly how to format a drive once Windows see the drive.

Problem is, Windows does not see the drive so going to My Computer doesn't help.

 

[oynaz]

You can get some tools from the manufacturer's website, For instance, you can download a program called Seatools for use with Seagate drives. These tools are usually very good and easy to use.

 

[Trashman]

If windows doesn't see your new drive, how about your system BIOS, does that see your drive?
gotta be able to tell if its a windows problem or hardware problem.

 

[Rockrz]

I know Windows sees the drive because it shows up in Device Manager.

Seems as though Windows knows about it, but the new drive has to be initialized before Windows will recognize it and assign it a drive letter.

Once it has a drive letter, I can see it in Disk Management and then format it.

 

[Trashman]

then do what oynaz suggested

 

[ShellGuy]

how about going in to disk manager from right click my computer > manage > Disk managemt > and you shouldbe good from there..


Will G.

 

[Rockrz]

Originally posted by: ShellGuy
how about going in to disk manager from right click my computer > manage > Disk managemt > and you shouldbe good from there..


Will G.

If it was showing up there, I'd be able to format it.
It does show up in device manager, but not in disk management

 

[Boyo]

Download your HD vendor's utilities. WD has a few too.

 

[Shagga]

Disconnect one of the other drives if you can and leave the new one connected. Then reboot etc. Out of interest what connections are you using to connect all of your drives?

 

[Rockrz]

That couldn't possibly do anything to help because the new drive has not been initialized by Windows, which is what I'm trying to accomplish.

I'm using SATA connections as is required with SATA drives.

 

[imported_AndyT]

Retail packaged drives come with a floppy diskette utility for formatting your new drive.

As suggested you should go to the manufacturer's site and download a formatting utility. It will see your drive and allow formatting.

 

[Rockrz]

If I do that, then how will I ever learn what it is that I'm missing?

Windows is designed to be able to accomodate plug-n-play, so I'm missing something simple here that's not allowing me to see the new drive in Disk Management so I can initialize it and then format it.

I really need to learn what's going on with this for my own personal education. This is how I've learned about all kind of computing issues.

Thanks anyway...

 

[RichUK]

Just do what AndyT said.

 

[Trashman]

Are the other hard drives in your system/ or were in your system sata drives or is this your first sata drive?
if your reluctant to try something that everyone else is suggesting then may be info on your setup will help.

 

[mechBgon]

Also, please post what motherboard you have. Maybe you plugged the drive into a RAID controller, in which case yeah the drive is there, but unless it gets defined as an array, it won't show up in Disk Management. So knowing what motherboard will help, because then we can tell if you have a RAID controller that you need to avoid plugging drives into.

 

[Rockrz]

I've already installed two other drives, so I know exactly where to plug in.
I found out where to plug in from the manufacturer, Velocity Micro

ALL drives are SATA

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Rockrz
I've already installed two other drives, so I know exactly where to plug in.
I found out where to plug in from the manufacturer, Velocity Micro

ALL drives are SATA

Could you get the brand & model of the motherboard for us? And/or you can read SATA in theory & practice

 

[Rockrz]

Here's the URL where you can see my PC's profile:

http://www.professionalmediaservices.com/offsite_pics/pc_profile.gif

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Rockrz
Here's the URL where you can see my PC's profile:

http://www.professionalmediaservices.com/offsite_pics/pc_profile.gif

Excellent Of the eight SATA plugs in this diagram :camera:, which one is the invisi-drive presently connected to?

 

[Rockrz]

It's plugged into the USB 2.0 in the front of the box.
The plugins in your diagram are the ones my internal drives are connected to.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Rockrz
It's plugged into the USB 2.0 in the front of the box.
The plugins in your diagram are the ones my internal drives are connected to.

Ohhh, ok. You said the drives are all SATA, so I was thinking you were using a SATA interface. Have you tried plugging the drive into one of the motherboard's soldered-down rear USB 2.0 ports yet, as a fact-finding step?

 

[Rockrz]

I guess I could try that, but my computer already recognizes it as it is showing up in Device Manager.

How would using a different USB port change that, considering the drive has yet to be initialized?

There are only 2 USB ports on the back of my machine that are literally part of the motherboard, and then there is one USB port on my USB card.

I'll try pluggin into those later today when I get time so I can see if that helps.

Doubt it will change anything since my other ext SATA drive works on this current setup. There's no reason why this one shouldn't work.

 

[Rockrz]

OK, I found out what was wrong....

My external drive case has a way to connect via USB, or by a SATA connection...so I took the side off of my tower so I can connect directly to the mother board using the SATA and when I went to plug it in on the back of the case...I saw the little switch!

Apparently, there is a switch on the back where you choose either SATA or USB...and it was set on SATA. So, I switched it to USB and Windows sees it and I'm currently formatting the drive as we speak.

I knew it was something simple, so ya'll don't laugh too hard about me not seeing the switch on the back.

I know, I know...if I would have thumbed through the instructions that came with the external drive, I probably would have noticed this....or, if I would have just looked on the back I would have seen the switch.

At any rate, I'm glad to have been able to have provided a little comic relief for everybody on a Monday morning!