How do I erase a HDD?

Question

How do I erase a HDD?

I recently bought a new hard-drive for my Macbook (2012), which is a 250gb Samsung SSD (Evo). I tried once to install it and then load OS (Mountain Lion) from the web. It worked and my laptop seemed to be working, Next morning it stopped working again - Apple logo and spinning wheel. Now when I access Disk Utility and try to erase the volume on the hard drive it wont and gives the message "FILE SYSTEM FORMATTER FAILED". I have tried creating a new partition, but I get the same response. I have also tried to repair the disk, but this doesn't work either, it states that I should back up files and format the disc - that isn't possible. Can anyone help me, please?

Thanks

Michael

Soundtrack Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on May 7, 2016 12:44 PM

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Answer 1

theratter

Level 4

3,961 points

May 7, 2016 12:48 PM in response to Michaelrwilliams79

Install Lion Through Maverickson a New HDD/SDD

Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION- R keys until a globe appears. Wait patiently - 5-15 minutes - until the Utility Menu appears.
Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
After Disk Utility loads select the drive (usually, this is the out-dented entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the side list. Click on the Partition tab in Disk Utility’s main window.
Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions to one volume. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait for the process to finish. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
Select Reinstall OS X from the Utility Menu and click on the Install button.

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Answer 2

May 7, 2016 1:21 PM in response to theratter

Hi theratter

Many thanks for the quick reply. I followed your instructions exactly but after hitting partition in step 4 the following warning message come up "Partition Failed - Partition failed with the error: File System formatter Failed.

I should have also noted that when I click on the volume of the hard-drive the mount point is noted as "not mounted".

Cheers

Michael

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Answer 3

theratter

Level 4

3,961 points

May 7, 2016 2:00 PM in response to Michaelrwilliams79

There is a problem with the SSD. When you have Disk Utility open do you see the SSD in the devices list? With a new disk normally you would see only the out-dented entry with the disk's model number. That is where you start for the partition. Once you have created the partition a volume will also be created. This is based on your settings of GUID as the partition scheme and a Format type of Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Now, if you see that volume ghosted then there is a problem.

The error, Partition Failed - Partition failed with the error: File System formatter Failed, means the disk formatter cannot format the SSD. I would start by inspecting your hardware installation and checking that the SSD is properly connected to the ribbon cable and that the ribbon cable is properly connected to the motherboard. Be aware that the ribbon cable can go bad. Also, be aware that certain Samsung SSD models do not always work with some Mac models. If you have installed an 850 EVO model, then you might try just a plain 850 model. In my experience OCZ and OWC SSDs are the most compatible with Macs. I have had mixed results with Samsung's 850 line. Some work and others do not. I've had issues with the 850 EVO models.

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Answer 4

May 7, 2016 2:03 PM in response to Michaelrwilliams79

It is possible your SSD drive is full ... of deleted data, and has slowed WAY down.

I would wait about 20 minutes, then select the drive by Hardware-Name, and choose ERASE.

then try to partition again.

If successful, you may need to Install TRIM Enabler (the free version) to enable TRIM before logging many hours on this kind of Drive. If you were using 10.10.4 or later, there is a built-in function named TRIMforce that should be used instead.

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