low level format a samsung hard drive

[cuti7399]

does anybody have any software or working link so I can do this? Can't find anywhere. The previous owner set it to 32gb limit but the drive is 80gb. Windows cannot format it to the full 80gb. Thanks for any help

 

[Hav0k99]

Wow I didn't know Samsung made hard drives. Try their website or google ?

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Hav0k99
Wow I didn't know Samsung made hard drives. Try their website or google ?

Yep. My Seagate is a Samsung.

 

[RalfHutter]

Make sure your drive isn't jumpered to the 32GB limit. If so, remove the jumper.

 

[jlbenedict]

What is the model type of the drive??


*Edit*

Check this out.. from the Samsung website..
Its called HUTIL

http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/utilities/hutil.htm


It will take care of your issue (resizing..etc)..
will also allow you to to perform other tests

 

[cuti7399]

thanks jlbenedict

 

[cuti7399]

i did the low level format but still cannot see the whole capacity which should be 80g, it only show 32g. I checked the jumper and it is right. Help!

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: cuti7399
i did the low level format but still cannot see the whole capacity which should be 80g, it only show 32g. I checked the jumper and it is right. Help!

Are you by chance using Windows 98 and attempting to format with FAT32??

 

[cuti7399]

nope, trying to install xp

 

[cuti7399]

any other insight? thanks

 

[Missing Ghost]

Have you updated your bios to the latest version? Older bios have a smaller max hdd size. Re-check the jumpers.....Samsung includes a jumper to limit the size to 32GB.

 

[cuti7399]

yes, bios is ok. jumper was set to 32gb but i moved that to the right position now but even after the low level format it is still a 32g drive!!!???

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: cuti7399
yes, bios is ok. jumper was set to 32gb but i moved that to the right position now but even after the low level format it is still a 32g drive!!!???

Does HUTIL still read the drive as 32gb? (It shouldn't)
You should run the utility again and repartition or zero-write (really a quazi low-level format).
This is assuming that your motherboard bios supports >32gb
Samsung has 2 utilities. I can't remember which one does which though. Between the 2 of them you should be able to get the drive ready for full capacity.


BTW- if you don't want to have to search out the different utilities for hd's etc...
You should download and burn the ultimate boot cd.

link

It has diag and utilities for all the major hd manufacturers as well as memtest86 and prime95 etc...

 

[cuti7399]

running the samsung ultilities test gave me ECC error, can someone help with this error? how do i get rid of it and recover the whole capicity? thanks

 

[Doh!]

Have you tried setting the IDE setting to LBA? Give it a try.

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: cuti7399
running the samsung ultilities test gave me ECC error, can someone help with this error? how do i get rid of it and recover the whole capicity? thanks

The "zero-fill" operation should correct this.

Here is a link to Samsung USA's faq on resolving 32GB prob.

link

It state you sould run their "disk manager" to complete the configuration.

This link is the download page for all Samsung utilities.

link

The key to your problem is proper usage of these utilities.
If they cannot reset your ECC errors you will get a failure code.

 

[Peter]

Low level format doesn't change the capacity setting. You need to use the utility software to change the capacity setting, not wipe the preset capacity.

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: Hav0k99
Wow I didn't know Samsung made hard drives. Try their website or google ?

Someone's been asleep for a while, huh?

 

[Steve]

Are you using your XP disc to format the drive with NTFS or FAT32?

WinXP and its relatives cannot create a FAT32 partition bigger than 32GB.