External hard drive format error!

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Level 1

5 points

External hard drive format error!

Hey guys, running Mac OS 10.5.8. Just purchased a 2TB Hitachi XL2000 external hard drive. I want to use this External HD on both my Mac and PC, and need to format it to HFS+ (for music software reasons) and use it on my PC via MacDrive. I Followed the instructions given when i first plugged in the drive on how to format it to HFS+

So I went to disk utility, on the left selected "1.8 TB HitachiHDS722020ALA330", there's an indented selection right below that, which is the volume i think.... but I selected what I wrote above which I believe is what you're supposed to do. Under the erase tab, I selected Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the "Volume Format" options. I named the drive and then I hit erase. It begins "partitioning" and afterabout 3-4 seconds it stops and says

Disk Erase Failed

Disk Erase failed with the error:

File system formatter failed.

After that the Hard Drive no longer shows up in Finder under Devices.When I shut down and re-connected it I keep getting an error alert popup that says:

Disk Insertion

The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer

"Initialize..." "Ignore" "Eject"

The drive still shows up under disk utility, but when I try to format it again I get the same error.

Posted on Apr 30, 2011 9:46 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 30, 2011 10:23 AM in response to rdp89

Try this:

Drive Preparation

1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.

2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.

5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.

6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

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Answer 2

etresoft

Level 8

46,092 points

Apr 30, 2011 10:28 AM in response to rdp89

I think it is dead. Take it back to the store.

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Answer 3

rdp89 Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 30, 2011 10:55 AM in response to Kappy

Hey thinks for the quick replies guys. Kappy, I'm going to exchange this drive for a new one. Should I follow the order of operations that i did in my OP (standard way to format to HFS+ I believe), or should I follow the instructions you outlined right out the box for the new HD? I'm worried of the same error happening again with the new drive, but let me know what is best to do.

Thanks!

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 30, 2011 11:02 AM in response to rdp89

Follow the procedure I provided. This is the proper way to prepare a new, bare drive. I'd try it with the drive you have. There is a low probability the drive is dead, just not properly prepared.

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Answer 5

rdp89 Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 30, 2011 12:09 PM in response to Kappy

I actually already exchanged the drive for a Seagate 2TB Expansion which was $10 more. I'll follow your procedure with it and check back in if there are any problems.

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