The computer hard drive is a kind of information storage. Almost all drives of this type (HDD), referred to by advanced users as “screws”, in spite of their high-tech status, tend to lose working capacity, that is, break down and fail. However, in most cases, the hard drive can be repaired on its own, as the inoperative state of the hard drive is often explained by the software imperfection of the device. What to do if the hard disk is not formatted? Now we will tell.
My mechanism buzzing, buzzing: simple diagnosis
If your drive is not involved in solid-state technology, then the functionality of such a device is provided by the interaction of mechanics and electronics. It is thanks to this symbiosis that your hard disk also works, as a result of which we (users) can catch a specific sound, the source of which is the moment of rotation of one or more magnetic plates, depending on the modification of the HDD. It is worth noting that sometimes the resonantly clicking mechanism of the positioning device is mixed with such a noise effect. All this may indicate that, most likely, the drive is physically healthy. And if we take into account all that has been said , the operating system functions flawlessly, apart from the fact that the hard disk is not formatted, then there can be no question that the hard drive needs to be replaced.
Cause of malfunction
As a rule, the user is the culprit in a situation in which the system refuses to clean a specific area of the hard drive. Due to limited knowledge, a novice user is not always able to predict the result of their actions. The desire to optimize the hard drive with the help of any of the utility programs often ends in dire consequences. As a result, unknowingly made changes to the operation of the hard disk drive literally immediately. Again, not every user will notice such metamorphoses. Only later, when the operating system will need to be reinstalled or if the experimenter needs to permanently delete data from the screw, completely or partially format one of its partitions, it is quite likely that the user will be inexpressibly surprised by the message: “Windows could not format the disk”. However, the old woman also has a bungle.
Disc prophet
This is how SMART technology can be interpreted . This is a kind of health magazine for your drive. It is thanks to the process of internal evaluation of the hard drive’s performance that you have the opportunity to take appropriate actions in a timely manner aimed at maintaining the hard drive’s working condition, and if fatal predetermination is detected, replace the non-removable storage medium with a known-good one or a new hard drive , after copying valuable information from a dying screw . Therefore, if you do not want to risk information located directly on the hard drive, sometimes it is advisable to carry out preventive measures, with the competent support of specially designed software.
If the hard drive is not formatted
Before raising a panic, it is worth assessing the seriousness of the situation and the conjugate moments, perhaps, of your erroneous actions.
- It is not possible to use the "format" command for a system disk while directly in its environment.
- You cannot delete the operating system located in another section of the HDD, given the conditions described above. For example, using the OS installed in the “C:” section, you will not be able to format the local disk with another, previously registered copy of Windows.
- Very often, anti-virus programs create a kind of rule that prohibits low-level access to partitions of the hard drive. This option can be disabled in the appropriate settings.
- The intervention of third-party applications, as well as the adverse effects of multilevel viruses can be obstacles in a situation where the user is limited in rights, as a result of which the hard disk is not formatted properly.
Restore HDD performance
So, you decided to reinstall Windows. Needless to say, you need to clean the corresponding section of the hard disk, but it wasn’t there. The process is either interrupted before it reaches a successful conclusion, or it hangs indefinitely. In such a situation, only specialized programs that are specifically designed to solve the problem when the disk is not formatted can help you. One of them will be considered in the next section of the article.
Free program "HDDscan"
An incredibly popular and no less popular utility for low-level diagnostics of your hard drive will help to check (monitor) the state of the hard drive, and will also become an indispensable tool through which you can repair bad sectors, format the disk and do various tests. It is worth noting that this program can be downloaded both from DOS and work in the Windows environment.
- Download and install the "HDDscan" utility.
- Run it with administrator privileges.
- Click on the spherical icon in the middle of the program interface.
- Select the first item - “Surface tests”.
- The hard disk partition is not formatted often because of the presence of BAD sectors, so you need to wipe them. Use the Erase command by simply placing a marker in the corresponding line.
- The “Add test” tab located in the right corner activates your selection.
- Then select the “Scan” command, write down the data of the wrong sectors (lower right corner, under the colored symbol cubes).
- Run Scan again, but first set the EraseWAITs option to ON.
- When you find that there are fewer erroneous values, repeat the passage a couple more times until the dead areas of the HDD disappear completely.
Finally
If the external hard drive is not formatted, then perhaps the voltage of the USB connector is not enough. Disconnect all unnecessary devices that support this interface. It is worth noting that you will not be able to install Windows on an external drive, since this is impossible by definition. However, the above program can also be useful in relation to external drives. Before you do anything, think and collect as much information as possible, in the end, read the FAQ. Otherwise, it may turn out, as in the saying: "Hurry - you make people laugh." Good format!