Is it possible to do a 'force formatting'?

I decided to erase the external USB HD I was using for Time Machine. I used TM with a password.

Well, when I opened Disk Utility, it asked me for a password twice.

After I gave the password and clicked ERASE, I wasn't able to acess my external USB HD anymore.

Disk Utility recognizes the external HD, however, it will not mount an icon on my Finder.

I am able to Verify and even Repair my external USB HD, but I don't see the erase tab anymore.

The USB HD is working perfectly well, I hear the spinning sound and the little blue light lights up.

I tried diferent ports and switching cables. No go.

Thanks in advance for your help 😉

MacBook Pro 17, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Sep 16, 2012 7:54 PM

17 replies

acalle

Level 1

4 points

Sep 4, 2014 11:11 AM in response to den.thed

PLAASEEEEE HELPPPP

I cant reinstall my macbook air.

I got it from my mother and she had erased all. Don´t know hoe though.... Now , when Mac os x Utilities opens, a Reinstall os x showing lion icon, I try to do so and when asking to connect to my apple id account says temporarily unavailable. I suppose because Lion is not longer available at app store...

Now, I have Mountain lion installation disks, can I use them? When I try to use them the computer doesn´t recognized them when asked from where to install....

Jan 31, 2016 9:51 PM in response to LousyFool

Hi LF,

I've tried to follow your instructions, as I'm having the same problem with my WD Elements 1042 Media external.
I'm using a late 2011 model MacBook Pro on EL Capitan

The result i get when attempting to erase from terminal is: Error: -69877: Couldn't open device.

Do you have any advice or solution?

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Is it possible to do a 'force formatting'?