Nov062012

How do I format my hard drive which Windows cannot recognize?

karenfaithzerr2 asks:

I had a problem with my 500GB hard drive, it reports it has unallocated space of 2.00 TB partition that Only EASUS can recognize, but I cannot format it or even create a partition. When i checked the properties in Device Manager it says I have SCSI Disk Drives connected.

What could this mean? What should I do to remove this unaccessible hidden 2TB partition in my hard drive and make it normal again? Every time I insert it to my PC it gives me BSOD and it shuts down immediately, which is why I decided to format it. I dont know how and what to do just to remove the 2.00TB partition… is there a setting in BIOS that I could could configure so that I can use my HDD normally again?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Specs as follows:

Windows XP3
ST500DM002
Firmware: KC45
EMX-MCP61M2-iCafe Version: 1.11
Bios Version: 080015 American Megatrends Inc,
AMD-Athlon(tm) II x2 245 processor DDR2
Nvidia Gforce 9500 GT

 


Browser: Chrome 21
System: Windows XP Service Pack 3
Tagged: , , ,

13 Answers - Write an Answer

0 votes
Reply

Bruce Epper

November 6, 2012

The problem is in the partition table that is written onto the hard drive. The data contained there is invalid which is why it is reporting unallocated space 4 times greater than the size of the hard drive. You could try to use EASEUS Partition Manager to try to correct the invalid table and possibly attempt recovery of any data that was on the drive or you could have it just write a new, correct table to the drive and reformat it. Until the partition table issue itself is fixed, any attempt at formatting the drive will fail since it will be attempting to access sectors on the disk that don’t even exist. There is also the possibility that EASEUS may not be able to write out a good partition table (the same applies with fdisk) and you may need to use a low-level tool to completely zero out the first few sectors on the disk in order for it to work properly again.

karen faith zerrudo

i tried formatting my hdd using windows xp cd.. but then when i boot it to windows.. my hard drive now shows 2TB partition (unallocated).. and when i try 2 create a partition in it.. still got “error”.. thanks alot guys.. i will try everything what youv’e said here.. god bless..

November 8, 2012
karen faith zerrudo

sorry..its my firstime in here.. cant speak english well.. thanks again.. i will try GPARTed and Linux.. thanks again..

November 8, 2012
karen Faith

Mr. Bruce Epper.. ive tried to format my Hard drive to Low-level using computer management.. it takes a long hours to finish.. i thought that was the solution.. but then when i connect it again into a computer which Easus was installed theres only 2tb partition left.. my 500 GB was gone.. and it shows unallocated space.. so i decided to wipe it with easus.. it stocks on 5%.. but when i connect it to other computer which is also a DDR2 board..it shows normal.. i think im gonna get insane..

thanks for the help.. ill do everything to make my hard drive back to normal again.. thanks alot… GOD Bless

May 1, 2013
0 votes
Reply

ha14

November 6, 2012

you’d have to get a SCSI controller (the PCIe card) if you wanted to use that drive.
http://techtips.salon.com/install-new-scsi-hard-drive-dell-pc-2614.html

How To Install and Troubleshoot SCSI Hard Drives
http://www.easeus.com/resource/install-scsi-hard-drive.htm

Installing the Second SCSI Hard Drive
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ssd/DRT-AWIPS/html/Hard_drive.htm

0 votes
Reply

Lisa Santika Onggrid

November 6, 2012

Wait a minute. You said that HDD is 500 GB. How could there are 2TB unallocated space?
EaseUS can’t format that drive? Try booting from a Linux live CD (I recommend Puppy, only 100MB) and try GParted.

Douglas Mutay

Good question. Wonder how a 500Gb HDD would have a 2Tb unallocated! But in any case i would suggest to check the drive on a Linux environment and see. Sometime it’s just the OS that can’t see the entire drive and you’re using Windows XP…

November 6, 2012
0 votes
Reply

fabian

November 6, 2012

I have the same trouble with my drive. Someone help please.

Kannon Y

I believe the consensus in this thread is you should use a Linux disc to wipe the corrupted partition table. It will destroy your data, but it will probably recover the disc.

Bruce Eppers suggests using EASEUS to attempt rebuilding the partition table. This is definitely the best option that I’ve seen in this thread, since there’s literally no cost and you have a chance of recovering your data.

If that fails, then I suggest using a USB key plus LiLi USB Creator to burn a copy of Gparted or perhaps Parted Magic on a USB key. Both distributions can be automatically downloaded and burned using this software. Hope that helps!

November 9, 2012
0 votes
Reply

Harish Jonnalagadda

November 6, 2012

Yeah even I don’t get how a 500GB drive shows 2TB unallocated. If Windows does nto recognize the drive, check in Linux.

0 votes
Reply

Nikhil Chandak

November 6, 2012
0 votes
Reply

jeffrey Okutu

November 6, 2012

If dats d case, remove d hard_drive and fix it in an external hard disk… Then format..

0 votes
Reply

Pwince Khan

November 6, 2012

virus??

0 votes
Reply

josemon maliakal

November 6, 2012

try booting with a linux live distro

0 votes
Reply

Alex Schnapps

November 6, 2012

fix it with Seatools http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/seatools/
must be help

0 votes
Reply

Jim Chambers

November 7, 2012

Your Seagate ST500DM002 is a SATA II HDD. Check computer or motherboard makers site for a Bios update. I have seen some older systems where XP’s Device Manager lists a SCSI device when no SCSI drive is present.

0 votes
Reply

Christopher Grams

November 13, 2012

You could try switching the SATA mode in the BIOS.
Hit F2 at boot screen > Main > SATA Mode > Change from AHCI to IDE
XP should correctly recognise your SATA drive now.
If not, change it back and try formatting it with a gparted disk maybe. Good luck.

0 votes
Reply

yudics

April 7, 2013

Try this step, please repartition and reformating your hardisk with seagate diskwizard, you can find this software on seagate website, http://www.seagate.com/id/id/support/internal-hard-drives/enterprise-hard-drives/savvio-15k/discwizard-master-dl/

Write an Answer

Log in to MakeUseOf using one of your online accounts below.
(Why? Earn points, unlock giveaways, access exclusives)

Or, comment anonymously