I just got a SimpleTech external hard drive and to use it I need to format it. So I try to, but midway through it says "Windows can't complete format" WTF? It's brand new, what could be the problem with it? I've tried restarting, and it just won't work.

bring it back, get a new one.
no need tinkering with the damn thing

How did you try to format it?

right clicked it, and clicked format

and I can't return it because they (best buy) don't do exchanges for online purchases

my computer
right click
manage
storage
disk management
right click on the drive and format.....do it NTFS so there are no single file limits

mdiver said:

Okay. I'm trying that now. How long should it take to format???

Volitan said:

depends how big the drive is mate

mdiver said:

300Gig

didn't work anyway. It finished and all, but when I went to try to access the drive, it says "You must format this drive to use it"

Volitan said:

if it is formatted it should be ok, how are you trying to access it? Have you tried to just drag a file on to it?

mdiver said:

Just by going to My Computer and double clicking it. When I do that, it says it needs to be formatted for me to use it.

Even if dragging a file to it worked, I'd like to be able to just put stuff directly on it (like rip CD's right to it) instead of putting the stuff on my computer and then putting it on my external hard drive.
[Edited 4/16/08 1:26am]

Volitan said:

if it is usb and you are sure it has no warranty then pull the drive out of the box and connect it direct to a ide cable inside the machine, reset the jumper to either slave or cs and then try from there

mdiver said:

I have no idea what the fuck any of that means. I just got this thing, I don't wanna ruin it by pulling anything out of it.

Volitan said:

well you said it has no return on it right? so if it does not work you are fucked? yes?

mdiver said:

The laptop works fine, the external hard drive is fucked. I knew I shouldn't have cheaped out on it.

Volitan said:

what make and did it have a setup disk? what OS?

It's a Gateway, Vista, no setup disk

I tried accessing it again, and it looked like it was gonna work, but I got a message saying it couldn't be accessed because of an I/O device error. And after a couple secs. it said I have to format it before I use it

Volitan said:

probably a Vista bug then mate, try it on someone's XP box

mdiver said:

Then what? I wanna be able to use it on my computer.

This is why I fuckin' hate computers. So much bullshit and nothing ever works the way it should.

Volitan said:

well if it works on xp then no doubt the manufacturer will have a patch, if it does not then it is definitely hardware and will be covered by manufacturer warranty

mdiver said:

You mean the Hard Drive manufacturer will have a patch?

Volitan said:

If it is a Vista issue then i am sure they either will or will have one coming

mdiver said:

Well, they don't so I don't know what to do now....even if they're working on it, that means I have to fuckin' wait....It's probably just busted somehow. It's a cheapo plastic thing made by "simpleTech".,

did you recently join OWB ?

it might have something to do with that

Volitan said:

should still have manufacturer warranty

One4All4Ever said:

what's owb??

Well, I've tried and tried and still now luck. I'm gonna go to bed now, maybe it'll work tomorrow. If not I guess I'll be buying a new one

Shit, just buy a Glyph drive!

Glyph stuff lasts for years, and they offer free tech support and free data recovery!

I use it 4 audio, and it takes the heat well.

~G

http://www.glyphtech.com/...index.html

http://www.glyphtech.com/...t050q.html

items yopu will need:
One bucket of hot water
One bottle of dish-soap


squeeze a large amount of liquid dish-soap on to your hard drive making sure you completely cover ever surface thoroughly

then place the dish-soap covered hard-drive in the bucket of hot water and swish around for approximately 3 to 4 minutes

after that, place hard drive in the lower rack of you dishwasher and turn it on the heavy cycle

wait approximately an hour and Vioala! reformatted hard-drive