WD 250 SATA Format Issue

[LMS79]

Hi, 1st post here, looks like a great place to get some help.

I just got a new system. Decided to go with SATA as a backup drive for mp3s, videos and images. My problem is that XP will not format my SATA drive (WD250GB). I managed to get it partitioned and all... it shows up in explorer and in my bios. The error I get is "Windows XP cannot format this drive" either using standard or quick format.

Here's My system info;

P4 2.8GHz
Asus P4S800 MB (using onboard EIDE, location 1 only)
1GB DDR400 (PC3200) RAM
1 (EIDE Drive) WD100GB (System Drive)
1 (EIDE DVD+R Drive) Sony DRU-30A
Silicon Image SIL3112A SATA Host Controller (PCI w/ newest drivers)
Windows XP Pro (2600)

ANY help would be appreciated.

Thanx in advance,
Eric

[Wiggo]

Have ya partitioned the drive first as formating won't work until it is partitioned.

[LMS79]

Hi, 1st post here, looks like a great place to get some help.

I just got a new system. Decided to go with SATA as a backup drive for mp3s, videos and images. My problem is that XP will not format my SATA drive (WD250GB). I managed to get it partitioned and all... it shows up in explorer and in my bios. The error I get is "Windows XP cannot format this drive" either using standard or quick format.

Here's My system info;

P4 2.8GHz
Asus P4S800 MB (using onboard EIDE, location 1 only)
1GB DDR400 (PC3200) RAM
1 (EIDE Drive) WD100GB (System Drive)
1 (EIDE DVD+R Drive) Sony DRU-30A
Silicon Image SIL3112A SATA Host Controller (PCI w/ newest drivers)
Windows XP Pro (2600)

ANY help would be appreciated.

Thanx in advance,
Eric

Yes.

[Wiggo]

Sorry I left out the bit about rebootin' the PC after the partitioning and b4 tryin' to format the drive. :oops:

[LMS79]

Still no luck...

It's being recognized upon boot and in windows.
It just won't format, and WD Life Guard Tools isn't working in XP for me.
I have no floppy drive to try that way either.


I just completed WD's online check:

Drive Information:
Manufacturer: Western Digital Corporation
Serial Number: WMAEP1279314
Model Number: WD2500JD-00GBB0
Firmware Rev: 02.05D02

Test Results:
TEST PASSED!
Congratulations! The Data Lifeguard Diagnositc utility has determined that your hard drive is functioning properly.

[LMS79]

Here's a screenshot of the error in Disk Management.

[elrado1]

I don't like that it doesn't indicate the file system. Try deleting any and all partitions on the drive and reformatting. Also, make sure the connector is installed properly or try another one if possible.

[LMS79]

it's not showing the file system cause it hasn't been formatted at all.

as for the cable, i can't understand how that could be a problem if windows and my bios recognizes the drive properly... worth a try though, however i don't have another cable, might have to get one this week.

also, it doesn't let you format a drive without a partition.
btw, should sata drive be basic or converted to dynamic disk?

[tacos4me]

If a new cable doesnt work, try booting with your WindowsXP disc and partitioning/ formatting the drive that way. :cheers:

[asklepios]

what file system are you trying to create on this disk? i hope it is not FAT32.
mind you that Windows 2000 and above cannot format a partition greater than 32GB as FAT32. if you want you disk to have a FAT32 file system, you need a Win98se disk.

[LMS79]

Seriously, I'm still having this issue...

It worked in my P3 500MHz Intel System,
Could it be a problem with the ASUS board?