Formatting a failed HDD

satyre · Post by **satyre** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:39 am

I have a Hard drive that is not working and trying to format it before send it for replacement.

I slaved it to a PC and can see all the partitions under the Computer Management and it has five partitions. Out of it E and F partitions are readable without using any recovery software. I tried to format it through the right click menu there. When I do that it starts to format and stays there for a awhile , then the whole drive drops off from the Computer Management. Then I disconnect it from the PC and slave it again for this drive to appear. Again I try it, it does the same over and over again.

I tried to boot it into an OS disk to format there, but after loading the OS and come to the page of selecting the drive, and then format it doesn't format. I get error saying the drive is damaged. So, no way there to format.

Then I tried through diskpart.exe commands that also didn't work. I can delete the partition and create new ones but when comes to format, it drops off.

I used Westrerdigital safeguard program to write zeros over it, that doesn't work.

I deleted the partitions and then again created new partitions but all those files are still there. It doesn't go through the format process in all the methods that I have tried.

Is there any other method to format it?

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:49 am

try dban

http://www.dban.org/

read the instructions carefully though, in other words, disconnect any other drives you don't want wiped

satyre · Post by **satyre** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 4:14 pm

I run that program now. But I got "DBAN finished with non-fatal errors".

On their forum there are others with same error but I don't see anyone has any solution to it.

I wonder any other way to format it.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 4:34 pm

Hard drive manufacturers have diagnostic/repair utilities at their sites. Try those before sending it off.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 4:44 pm

if you are sending it in for replacement, then why bother formatting it ?

satyre · Post by **satyre** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 4:58 pm

Tony,

I tried Westerndigital safeguard program to wipe out. It didn't work. It gave an error after one minute. Tried several times and called them. They said drive is bad and send back to them for another refurbished drive.

Mark,

I have my personal files and letters. As well as my family members' social security numbers in some filled out application forms. Then again my Tax files for the last 10 years, so on....

So, I don't want to send it to them without wiping out using some method.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 5:02 pm

that's what d-ban does, it wipes all that junk out

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 5:19 pm

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:44 pm

This is what I use so they can't get much out of it besides dropping into a water bucket.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 8:38 pm

If the drive can be mounted, copy the files you need if don't already have backups. They try deleting a file, then try deleting another, and so on. If files can be deleted from a partition the partition can be formatted. Maybe not by Windows but by another operating system.

But there is obviously at least one bad partition on the drive or the drive's mbr is bad, or some area of the disk's first sectors are bad. You can try using a live Linux cd such as Testdisk or Parted partition tool and see what happens.

However, even if you could format a partition, the data would still be there on the drive, easily recoverable bu anyone. Thus if concerned about the security of personal data then the above 2 posts in this thread are the only solution that guarantees peace of mind.

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:21 am

Give killdisk a try

http://www.killdisk.com/

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:01 am

I would think a large and or powerfull Magnet would erase it.

satyre · Post by **satyre** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:35 am

Finally after my repeated trials with various programs, the drive stopped spinning and can't mount it anymore. I am not going to send it for replacement at this state.

Even if I were able to wipe it out and send it, they will give me only used repaired ones, not a new drive.

I am going to open it do some dissection. I want to see inside of it and then destroy it. It looks like very hard to open it.

Anyone has opened one before?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:10 am

You'll find that's the situation usually, if a drive "manipulation" program can't access the partitions properly...usually others won't either. So you have to revert to physical means. Other things you can try..although it sounds like your issue isn't this, stick the drive in a freezer over night, and quickly plug it in and try again. But that usually just lets you get to the drive if it has a physical problem like stuck bearings. But..I've seen other issues quickly resolved by that trick..the deep cold will change the physical properties of the metal..sometimes enough to let it get read for a few minutes til it warms up and gives issues again.

Yeah we've opened a few hundred of them. They make for cool desktop paperweights, conversation pieces mounted on the wall, etc. Thin cover held on by some little torx screws, once those are removed...you'll see the platter(s) underneath. Those platters are surprisingly strong..you'd think you could hammer them and easily bend them..but

With the cover off...slave it to a computer and fire it up..pretty cool watching it work while it's undressed.

satyre · Post by **satyre** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:24 am

Thank you. I have to buy a small Hex bit. My tool box doesn't have that small one.

Yeah, I want see this sucker inside.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:31 am

I forget the size....I didn't bring my little tool kit with me on this trip to NYC I'm on right now...so I can't try a few torx's to tell you which # it is. Wanna say an 8. But local hardware stores usually have a kit of a 1/2 dozen or more common sizes..and they're quite inexpensive. And if you work on PCs often..it's a worthwhile little investment.

satyre · Post by **satyre** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:36 am

The smallest one I have is T10, that is bigger for this Torx screws.. So,your guess of T8 may be right.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:38 am

I usually bring them with me too..as I'm swapping a workstation down here today, staring at the old Maxtor right in my hands here. But had to travel light today, carrying down a new workstation with me on the train 'n taxi 'n all that stuff.

satyre · Post by **satyre** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:47 pm

Attn: Stonecat:

I have been trying to buy Torx bit below #10. I have T10 and above.

I tried in local Home Depot, Lows, and Wallmart. None of them have it. I saw 10 and above. Even on the Internet search i can't find one other than the creepy ebay, where I hate to buy anything through them. If I buy I like to buy a quality one.

I wonder where did you buy the smaller size <T10?

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:58 pm

satyre wrote:Attn: Stonecat:

I have been trying to buy Torx bit below #10. I have T10 and above.

I tried in local Home Depot, Lows, and Wallmart. None of them have it. I saw 10 and above. Even on the Internet search i can't find one other than the creepy ebay, where I hate to buy anything through them. If I buy I like to buy a quality one.

I wonder where did you buy the smaller size <T10?

If you damage the drive (physically) before you return it, you might as well kiss the warranty goodbye.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:59 pm

The Dude wrote:I would think a large and or powerfull Magnet would erase it.

LMAO! You would actually trust that?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:25 am

RaisinCain wrote:If you damage the drive (physically) before you return it, you might as well kiss the warranty goodbye.

He already stated he wasn't returning it.

satyre wrote: I am not going to send it for replacement at this state.
I want to see inside of it and then destroy it.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:25 am

satyre wrote: I wonder where did you buy the smaller size <T10?

Craftsman...Sears.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:43 pm

satyre wrote:creepy ebay

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:50 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:He already stated he wasn't returning it.

I understand that. I was simply making an observation that if he did, it would not be covered.

BOWTYE8 · Post by **BOWTYE8** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 8:25 am

I believe once you open the drive the warranty is void. Usually there is one torx under the stick. Makes it prety obvious that you opened the drive.

I had a drive fail at work. WD40gig from the famous failing Dell GX 270 machines. Pwr supply FAN failed overnight. Computer was super hot.

Had BSOD in morning. I rebooted to here drive clicking.
I pulled the cover off after trying mult. ways to save the data. Slave,freezer, etc...
when I removed the cover the platter had a big gouge in it. The head must have fallen onto the platter.
No recovery possible I was told when that happens. Did watch it spin up a few times. It very cool to see. The head would start from the edge and hit the scratch and click back. Gave up and put the drive to rest with a hammer.

Good luck

satyre · Post by **satyre** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 9:38 pm

Stonecat:

Finally, I opened it and took off the head and the actuator. But no way I can take out that platters. There are two platters. It is attached to the spindle with six pins looks like rivets. I see six holes alternately to that rivets. How did you take it out?

I really want to get that two discs without any physical damage. It is very good to use as coasters.lol

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:36 am

I've opened a hard drive up but never taken the platters out. One thing I noticed is they scratch easy, so they may not make good coasters unless you coat them with something first. Just touching them left my finger prints permanently etched into the surface. They didn't show up until a couple of days later and I couldn't wipe them off.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:52 am

A friend of mine..who does some custom..hmm..."stuff" that she sells via an online store, started taking old drives apart, wel..the cover. And then mounts them in a nice frame, felt background. Makes for some interesting "geek art" to hang on the wall. Small market for it. She keeps asking me for old drives...I have...oh, probably over a hundred at any given time.

Back where I used to work, where we had a service center that people would bring their computers in for service, we always had a few on the counter..and people would be fascinated by them.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:11 am

satyre wrote:Stonecat:

Finally, I opened it and took off the head and the actuator. But no way I can take out that platters. There are two platters. It is attached to the spindle with six pins looks like rivets. I see six holes alternately to that rivets. How did you take it out?

I really want to get that two discs without any physical damage. It is very good to use as coasters.lol

on the drives i have ripped apart, they had tiny screws holding the platters down.