SimpleTech 1TB External HD Formatting Help

If you keep getting this error in Disk Utility with that disk then you might want to return it or exchange it for a new one.
Steve

Have you tried SimpleTech's support page? They've got phone numbers, email contact info and addresses here: http://www.simpletech.com/content/contact-us

They will also have to be contacted before you send them the drive, unless you just take it back to where you bought it.

Siege-A wrote:
... i clicked the "Get Started for Mac" and tried formatting for Mac and PC.

What exactly did you click to see this getting started information? If it was a document found on the drive, then the drive can't be unmounted until the document is closed, & possibly until the application displaying it is quit.

Also, when you follow the instructions & click once on the line with the size (in GB) for the SimpleDrive in Disk Utility's list, you should see at the bottom right of the Disk Utility window a line that tells you the "Partition Map Scheme." What is it?

Was the "Getting started " document pre-loaded on the hard drive? or did it come with a CD-ROM.

If disk utility can't unmount the drive, it is most likely because there is something on the drive that is still open.. Such as the document you are referring to.

Close the document, if there is a Volume on the desktop for this drive already, drag it to the trash and unmout it before lauching Disk Utility.

You can also unmout the drive manually in Disk Utility by clicking on the volume icon underneath the Device icon and clicking UNMOUNT.

That should allow you to click on the device icon, and then ERASE it.

Hope this helps.

Brent

Here is how you have to proceed with this drive.

• Plug the drive in
• Open Disk Utility and select the drive (not the partition)
• On the left side of the screen you will will see "First Aid, Erase, Partition, RAID & Restore"
• Click Partition
• Under Volume Scheme select the drop down box and select 1 partition (assuming you only want the computer to see the drive as one large drive).
• Click "Options..." below the white box and change the selection from "Master Boot Record" to "GUID Partition Table".
• Click Apply and you will be done.

This is the process for formatting ANY Hard Drive that comes as a windows NTFS system. The reason it would error on you is because you were trying to change the format of the partition while leaving the drive as a Windows drive

I work for Best Buy and see people come in weekly with this issue on all brands of Hard Drives. I personally just purchased this same drive and yesterday formatted it (as instructed above) and it is preforming perfectly.

*Rick Mead*
Rick Mead Photography
Web Page: www.rickmead.com
Blog: photoviewfinder.blogspot.com

Message was edited by: Rick Mead

Rick: Thank you! Your procedure worked perfectly. I wish SimpleTech would simply post these directions on their support site!

Rick,
Your instructions worked like a charm.

Thank you!

I can't thank you enough, Rick ... been frustrated with other "solutions" that resulted in a HD that wouldn't mount or appear on the desktop. Disk Utility "repairs" and "verification" wouldn't work. Then I found your reply. IT WORKED!

Bugs me that the SimpleDrive claims to be Mac compatible but isn't ... grr.

Five-star rating to your solution, Rick!

THANK YOU RICK!!! I just got the same drive and was having the same exact issue. Thanks to you I had it resolved and reformatted within five minutes of running a search online.

Mark

Rick, Thanks.

Such an easy solution.

Rick, you are the man!!!
Thanks a bunch!!!