[ppinny]

Hi there,

after a good bit of help,
(http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/8...rnal-hard.html),
i managed to get my Laptop to detect my new HDD by using two USB ports to get sufficient power to the HDD, but i still can't format it.

I have tried quick and full formats and every time i get "Can't format disc".

There is now no unllocated space on the drive in disc management.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ppinny

Fujitsu Siemens Amilo M7400, XP sp3
HDD = Samsung 2.5in 320 Gb model number HM320JI
enclosure = iMicro... http://www.imicro.com/item.php?item=IMS25SATAS

[jazz3000]

What are you trying to format the HD in? 32 or ntsf? What does the External require and what is your system running? I didn't queite get how you could use two usb ports for power? Jazz

[Zygmo]

What does it say about the harddrive in Disc Management?

[Zygmo]

Jazz...some high GB externals that don't have a dedicated Power cord, do use two USB ports.

[Zygmo]

Sorry...I should have added this in my previous post. If you do have one of those that need two usb ports, I have found that a short, high quality usb cord usually will work, as a single plugin.

[jazz3000]

Had no idea. I run an external on the firewire but will have to check to see if I spot one when out and about. Thanks for sharing Zygmo. Always willing to learn from someone in the know. i should also ask judging by the computer make unless another one is in use if the usb requires a 2.0 for these HDs or will a lesser usb port work as well? Jazz

[ppinny]

Hi and thanks,

Jazz3000....
ntsf
apparenty the usb power outputs on laptops are not what they're supposed to be. The lead included with the HDD has three male usb connectors so i, eventually!, figured out they were intended to double up on the usb power. The laptop was then able to detect the drive.

Sorry if i'm being illiterate here but "What does the External require"
i'm not sure what you mean:-( "

and what is your system running?"
again not sure what you mean, beyond XP sp3 , intel pentium M, 1.5Ghz, 504 megs RAM. Sorry!

Zygmo..

Disc Management says it's...
A basic disc
298 GB
Online
Healthy
(Active)
No unallocated space
It has a blue top bar (primary partition)?

I'll try and get a high quality cable but where i am it's bit difficult!

Thanks to you both again,
Ppinny

[jazz3000]

Ppinny I'm follow Zyg's lead as I'm unsure as to the type of hard drive. What are your system specs? I was just wondering about the usb ports and the type your running?
1.0s or 2.0s.
Does the paper work on the external clarify what the usbs should be under system requirements. Jazz

[ppinny]

They're usb 2s.
The "paperwork" on the SamsungHDD does not specify.

I've been all through the Samsung help pages
but with no result.

[jazz3000]

Then I would go with the shorter high quality cable and see if that helps. If this is new external I wouldn't have a bit of problem calling the manufacturer and asking what's up. It's not always us that has the problem. We do and can purchase items that don't work the way they should. Jazz

[Zygmo]

ppinny, jazz. I did not mean to imply that the short cable will help with this problem. It will just be easier to use.
Since Computer Management can see the drive, I don't think the cable is the problem.
I have had this problem myself, sometime ago. And I am sorry to say...I cannot remember what I did!
Do you know if it will let you delete the partition? Or, have you tried to format with another computer, desktop, for instance?
Also, you said it has THREE USB connectors. Have you tried different combinations? In other words, #1 and #2, then try #2 and #3. Then, #1 and #3. Again, I don't think this is the problem, but try. The External I have that has more than one USB on the cable (it has 2), WILL work on some computers with ONE of the connectors plugged in, but not with just the other one.
Also, just for more information, ppinny, why are you wanting to reformat? I am assuming you can use the disc as it is? And, did it come with special software, a CD or something? Or, did it have special software on the drive?

[jazz3000]

Do you have Service Patch 1 downloaded? SP 3 is said to only recognize a TB with SP 1 installed as well as SP 3? I'm wondering if that's the problem. The SP 1 is for storage size not SP 3. Jazz

[ppinny]

Hi Zygmo,
The disc appears in explorer but when you try to access it you get "disc not formatted. Do you want to format it now". Both quick and full formats return a "unable to format disc" errror after a couple of minutes.

I haven't tried to delete the partition. How do i re-partition it again after as this was done automatically when i installed the HDD?

The cable has one plug for the drive and two others at the other end. The laptop can't detect the drive at all with either one of this pair plugged in but it's detected with both in.

No software on the drive. It came with a disc but it hasn't helped!

Thanks for the help, PPinny

[Zygmo]

SP3 has all previous SPs in it.
Tell me, ppinny...is this a Western Digital Drive? And, you ARE trying to format it as NTFS through Win XP Disc Management, right?

[Zygmo]

oops, sorry, ppinny, I just reread your first post..you said it is a Samsung.