Can not erase external drive

Question

Level 1

15 points

Can not erase external drive

I have an external hard drive that I would like to erase. When I try to do so via Disk Utility I get the following error: "Couldn't unmount disk. Operation failed." When I click the "unmount" button to unmount the disk, nothing happens. I used terminal to try and force the disk to unmount. That DOES work. However, the external drive then disappears from my Desktop. It still shows in Disk Utility but when I try and erase it I get the following error: "posix reports: the operation couldn't be completed. Input/output error", at which point the external drive disappears from Disk Utility.

I have to send this disk back to the manufacturer as I was having issues with it and I really need to erase it before I do. Any ideas as to what to do?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), null

Posted on Aug 10, 2016 5:08 PM

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Answer 1

theratter

Level 4

3,961 points

Aug 10, 2016 5:13 PM in response to Neil Holland

The drive is failing and needs to be replaced.

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Aug 10, 2016 5:14 PM in response to Neil Holland

Neil Holland wrote:

I have to send this disk back to the manufacturer as I was having issues with it and I really need to erase it before I do. Any ideas as to what to do?

Hi Nick, have you tested the drive on another Mac and if you can unmount it there?

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Answer 3

Neil Holland Author

Level 1

15 points

Aug 10, 2016 5:25 PM in response to theratter

Yes. That's why I am sending it back. They have already sent me a replacement. But the drive has ALL my files on it. Personal files. And the drive and its files CAN be accessed. I need to erase it before I send it back...

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Answer 4

Neil Holland Author

Level 1

15 points

Aug 10, 2016 5:26 PM in response to macjack

No, as I only have this one MAC. I would have to find access to another one and try it.

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

135,935 points

Aug 10, 2016 5:33 PM in response to Neil Holland

FWIW, you could erase it with a Windows or Linux computer as well. You just can't format it for Macs. You should explain that to whoever you send it back to of course or they could possibly blame you.

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Answer 6

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Aug 10, 2016 5:35 PM in response to Neil Holland

That's the only way to try to erase it I can think of. It's unlikely that the vendor from which you bought the drive would have any interest in your files. They get un-erased drives all the time.

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