Windows was unable to complete the format

[fjmeat]

Why?

Background: I replaced my primary SATA drive (which used to be C: drive) with a super cool & fast SSD drive. Installed Windows 7. The SSD is now my primary C: drive.

Drive D (the former C: drive) cannot be formatted. I am able to Shift+Delete everything at once to clean it, but not a format process.

 

[Fardringle]

Did you install Windows on the SSD while the SATA drive was attached to the motherboard? If so, Windows might have put some system files on the SATA drive and is refusing to format the drive because it needs/wants those files.

 

[Ketchup]

Did you install Windows on the SSD while the SATA drive was attached to the motherboard? If so, Windows might have put some system files on the SATA drive and is refusing to format the drive because it needs/wants those files.

That's what I'm thinking, Widows loves to do this. IIRC it will put the MBR on the other disk. Just unhook the mechanical drive during the Windows install on the SSD.

 

[fjmeat]

Did you install Windows on the SSD while the SATA drive was attached to the motherboard? If so, Windows might have put some system files on the SATA drive and is refusing to format the drive because it needs/wants those files.

Yes, that's what I did. Lesson learned. Thanks for this info.

Is there a tool or something outside of windows I can use to completely wipe it?

 

[bbhaag]

You could probably use GParted to delete the partition on the drive before Windows loads then reformat it.
The only problem is moving over the files Windows needs on that drive before you erase them. Is there any of knowing were the files are stored on your second hd and then manually transferring them over?

 

[denis280]

Yes, that's what I did. Lesson learned. Thanks for this info.

Is there a tool or something outside of windows I can use to completely wipe it?

Better a clean install