Low-level formatting Iomega USB hard drive
Tomy Price
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Hello,
I recently got an Iomega Portable Hard Drive Silver Series USB from a friend. It's a couple of years old, so it's no longer under warranty. Apparently, it has suffered a shock and now has some bad sectors. As long as we read and write data on the non-defective sectors, it works well. But as soon as we touch a defective sector, the hard drive crashes, and we have to unplug it forcefully and plug it back in.
I did some research on Google, and a low-level format seems to be the solution to keep only the healthy sectors. Unfortunately, I can't find any low-level formatting software from Iomega.
Does anyone have a solution or software to suggest?
Thanks in advance.
I recently got an Iomega Portable Hard Drive Silver Series USB from a friend. It's a couple of years old, so it's no longer under warranty. Apparently, it has suffered a shock and now has some bad sectors. As long as we read and write data on the non-defective sectors, it works well. But as soon as we touch a defective sector, the hard drive crashes, and we have to unplug it forcefully and plug it back in.
I did some research on Google, and a low-level format seems to be the solution to keep only the healthy sectors. Unfortunately, I can't find any low-level formatting software from Iomega.
Does anyone have a solution or software to suggest?
Thanks in advance.
12 answers
Hello,
have you tried to repair it with Windows? like COMPUTER/your external HDD/right click/properties/tools/error checking?
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every problem has a solution; you just need to be patient.
have you tried to repair it with Windows? like COMPUTER/your external HDD/right click/properties/tools/error checking?
--
every problem has a solution; you just need to be patient.
For low-level formatting, you need software provided by the manufacturer. Why not a simple formatting?
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Every problem has a solution, you just need to be patient.
--
Every problem has a solution, you just need to be patient.
I searched without results for a low-level formatting software on the manufacturer's website, both in the French and American versions.
For simple formatting, I don't think it will solve my problem (in fact, it's not even sure it can be done properly due to the bad sectors). The purpose of performing a low-level format is to allow me to keep only the healthy sectors and no longer be bothered by the defective sectors that crash the hard drive as soon as they are read by the computer.
As for error checking, it crashes the hard drive in the middle.
For simple formatting, I don't think it will solve my problem (in fact, it's not even sure it can be done properly due to the bad sectors). The purpose of performing a low-level format is to allow me to keep only the healthy sectors and no longer be bothered by the defective sectors that crash the hard drive as soon as they are read by the computer.
As for error checking, it crashes the hard drive in the middle.
I tried normal formatting from XP, but it seems to be stuck just like with error checking. Normally, how long does it take to format a 220GB hard drive?
Otherwise, the drive shows symptoms of a logical failure rather than a hardware one. It can work perfectly but as soon as I try to access certain files already present (always the same ones) or sometimes when I try to write new data, Windows tells me that the drive is no longer available or inaccessible. This is accompanied by the hard drive's LED turning off, but it doesn't make any strange noises that would indicate a mechanical failure. When I unplug the hard drive and plug it back in, it works normally again.
Otherwise, the drive shows symptoms of a logical failure rather than a hardware one. It can work perfectly but as soon as I try to access certain files already present (always the same ones) or sometimes when I try to write new data, Windows tells me that the drive is no longer available or inaccessible. This is accompanied by the hard drive's LED turning off, but it doesn't make any strange noises that would indicate a mechanical failure. When I unplug the hard drive and plug it back in, it works normally again.
After further research, I came across this on another site:
The utilities that misleadingly carry the name low level format and are offered by manufacturers actually have the following functions:
- Drive Recognition Test: check that the drive is properly installed and recognized.
- Display Drive Details: detailed information about the drive (model number, firmware version, revision date, manufacturing date, etc.).
- Test For Errors: Analyze the surface of the drive to find "bad sectors" and give instructions to the controller to "replace" them (that is, to ignore them and assign a spare sector in replacement).
- Zero-Fill: erase all the content of the sectors by filling them with zeros. The "Test for errors" is usually done at the same time.
So what I need is software that performs "Zero-Fill" and "Test For Errors" but which doesn't exist on the iomega site either...
The utilities that misleadingly carry the name low level format and are offered by manufacturers actually have the following functions:
- Drive Recognition Test: check that the drive is properly installed and recognized.
- Display Drive Details: detailed information about the drive (model number, firmware version, revision date, manufacturing date, etc.).
- Test For Errors: Analyze the surface of the drive to find "bad sectors" and give instructions to the controller to "replace" them (that is, to ignore them and assign a spare sector in replacement).
- Zero-Fill: erase all the content of the sectors by filling them with zeros. The "Test for errors" is usually done at the same time.
So what I need is software that performs "Zero-Fill" and "Test For Errors" but which doesn't exist on the iomega site either...
Hi there.
I wonder if Iomega is just a case manufacturer, which means that inside your Iomega, you might actually have a Hitachi, WD, or Samsung disk... etc.
If that's the case, you might be able to find your software more easily with one of those manufacturers..
It's just an idea like that.
See you later.
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♫
I wonder if Iomega is just a case manufacturer, which means that inside your Iomega, you might actually have a Hitachi, WD, or Samsung disk... etc.
If that's the case, you might be able to find your software more easily with one of those manufacturers..
It's just an idea like that.
See you later.
--
♫
That would suit me well for the moment, but how can I see if this is the case?
In the user documentation, there is no indication on this subject:
http://www.iomega.com/support/manuals/hdd2007/webhd07oct/en/consolidated/main.html
Just like in these technical specifications:
http://iomega-eu-en.custhelp.com/...
For the PC, it appears as:
Ext Hard Disk USB Device
In the user documentation, there is no indication on this subject:
http://www.iomega.com/support/manuals/hdd2007/webhd07oct/en/consolidated/main.html
Just like in these technical specifications:
http://iomega-eu-en.custhelp.com/...
For the PC, it appears as:
Ext Hard Disk USB Device
So, I downloaded the Sea Tools software from Seagate before going to bed. Once launched, I could already see that my hard drive was not recognized as a Seagate brand. Still, I went ahead with what they called the long generic test and went to bed. This morning when I woke up, I checked the progress. Test result: "failure". According to the software documentation, this means there are bad sectors, but it was unable to fix them.
I thought that maybe connecting it directly to the PC without going through the enclosure might give me a chance to repair them this time. So I tried to open the enclosure again. Unscrewing was, this time, effortless (either I got the hang of it, or I hadn't screwed it down completely yesterday). After struggling for half an hour with my hands in all directions, I went back to my screwdriver but this time to attempt to leverage it. First attempt, a total failure; I just managed to create a huge scratch on the case, which was previously as good as new. Second attempt, miracle, it budged just a tiny bit, enough for me to finish opening it by hand.
Unfortunately, the inside of the enclosure is made up of two parts: the hard drive itself and the SATA/USB conversion board from Iomega. Only the latter came out, with the hard drive stuck inside. I still managed to connect it to my desktop PC, and the BIOS detected a Samsung hard drive o_O, which explains why Sea Tools couldn't work. So, this is the last time I trust Présence PC ^^.
I thought that maybe connecting it directly to the PC without going through the enclosure might give me a chance to repair them this time. So I tried to open the enclosure again. Unscrewing was, this time, effortless (either I got the hang of it, or I hadn't screwed it down completely yesterday). After struggling for half an hour with my hands in all directions, I went back to my screwdriver but this time to attempt to leverage it. First attempt, a total failure; I just managed to create a huge scratch on the case, which was previously as good as new. Second attempt, miracle, it budged just a tiny bit, enough for me to finish opening it by hand.
Unfortunately, the inside of the enclosure is made up of two parts: the hard drive itself and the SATA/USB conversion board from Iomega. Only the latter came out, with the hard drive stuck inside. I still managed to connect it to my desktop PC, and the BIOS detected a Samsung hard drive o_O, which explains why Sea Tools couldn't work. So, this is the last time I trust Présence PC ^^.
I tried using the software provided by Samsung, but I can't start it; it opens a command prompt window for a second and then closes it...
So I pulled out a live CD of Ultimate Boot CD, but I admit I'm a bit lost; if someone could help me?
So I pulled out a live CD of Ultimate Boot CD, but I admit I'm a bit lost; if someone could help me?
If it were physically damaged, shouldn't we hear suspicious sounds?
When I try to access a file/folder located on a defective sector:
-via USB, apart from the fact that the green light goes out and it becomes inaccessible, it seems to function normally.
-via SATA, it just crashes the Windows Explorer window.
But as long as I don't touch the defective sectors, I can perform any actions I want on the hard drive.
When I try to access a file/folder located on a defective sector:
-via USB, apart from the fact that the green light goes out and it becomes inaccessible, it seems to function normally.
-via SATA, it just crashes the Windows Explorer window.
But as long as I don't touch the defective sectors, I can perform any actions I want on the hard drive.
re.
So if it's a Samsung, there is indeed software that allows for a low-level format, but it is not an executable, it's a bootable CD-ROM.
What exactly did you download?
And I confirm that to really isolate defective sectors, only a low-level format can do it.
(At least I had that case with a Samsung hard drive once, and that’s what allowed me to save it)
But you need to boot from the CD once the file is downloaded and burned. ;)
PS: (On your Samsung hard drive, you should have a reference like "HD040GJ" which will allow you to see what downloads are available on their site.)
?
So if it's a Samsung, there is indeed software that allows for a low-level format, but it is not an executable, it's a bootable CD-ROM.
What exactly did you download?
And I confirm that to really isolate defective sectors, only a low-level format can do it.
(At least I had that case with a Samsung hard drive once, and that’s what allowed me to save it)
But you need to boot from the CD once the file is downloaded and burned. ;)
PS: (On your Samsung hard drive, you should have a reference like "HD040GJ" which will allow you to see what downloads are available on their site.)
?
The reference of my Samsung hard drive is HM250JI.
Otherwise, I re-downloaded Ultimate Boot CD, and the Samsung software (estool) managed to start this time (my previous version must have been buggy).
I was able to start a low-level format and I'm currently at 11.773%, but it is stuck at this percentage and I keep getting the message "Error: LBA 57496624" repeating several times with a spinning slash on the right of the last one.
Since you have performed the operation before, can you tell me if this is normal? I think it might simply be because it's trying to correct a bad sector, but I would like confirmation.
Otherwise, I re-downloaded Ultimate Boot CD, and the Samsung software (estool) managed to start this time (my previous version must have been buggy).
I was able to start a low-level format and I'm currently at 11.773%, but it is stuck at this percentage and I keep getting the message "Error: LBA 57496624" repeating several times with a spinning slash on the right of the last one.
Since you have performed the operation before, can you tell me if this is normal? I think it might simply be because it's trying to correct a bad sector, but I would like confirmation.
Alright, thank you, I'll keep you updated in two hours and I hope I can share some good news by then ^^.
In any case, even if the percentage doesn't change, it seems to be working since at times the slash stops spinning, it adds a few lines "Error: LBA 57496624" and then a new slash appears on the last line and starts spinning again.
In any case, even if the percentage doesn't change, it seems to be working since at times the slash stops spinning, it adds a few lines "Error: LBA 57496624" and then a new slash appears on the last line and starts spinning again.
It's not been two hours, but it definitely smells like trouble. He's been doing the same thing for a while now... But still, I sent an email to Samsung to see what they thought of the situation. Even though I don't expect much from them since I didn't buy the drive from them and it's no longer under warranty with Iomega.
No sign of progress anymore?
To be honest, what you were saying earlier seemed normal,
(
But if it's really stuck now without any signs, I would say it smells like trouble too.
Did your disk maybe fall? A shock?
To be honest, what you were saying earlier seemed normal,
(
it adds a few lines "Error: LBA 57496624" and then a new slash appears at the last line and starts spinning).
But if it's really stuck now without any signs, I would say it smells like trouble too.
Did your disk maybe fall? A shock?
Here are some recent updates since my attempts at low-level formatting.
So, I put the hard drive back in its USB enclosure.
On the first boot under Windows, it was detected as unformatted. I then tried to perform a normal high-level format, but it failed.
I subsequently attempted a quick format, which worked, except now I have to manually activate the drive in the disk management each time I plug it in, and it appears as "healthy (risk of failure)."
I performed a CHKDSK that found no errors.
As for error checking, it goes further now; before, I would get stuck at phase 1, and now I get stuck at phase 5.
Otherwise, I did a little test, and as long as I don't exceed 3.89GB of data on the hard drive, it works very well, but as soon as I exceed that threshold, Windows gives me "Delayed write failed," even though I intentionally disabled that function.
Basically, I've gained a USB stick instead of an external hard drive.
So, I put the hard drive back in its USB enclosure.
On the first boot under Windows, it was detected as unformatted. I then tried to perform a normal high-level format, but it failed.
I subsequently attempted a quick format, which worked, except now I have to manually activate the drive in the disk management each time I plug it in, and it appears as "healthy (risk of failure)."
I performed a CHKDSK that found no errors.
As for error checking, it goes further now; before, I would get stuck at phase 1, and now I get stuck at phase 5.
Otherwise, I did a little test, and as long as I don't exceed 3.89GB of data on the hard drive, it works very well, but as soon as I exceed that threshold, Windows gives me "Delayed write failed," even though I intentionally disabled that function.
Basically, I've gained a USB stick instead of an external hard drive.
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You're welcome.
For error checking, it crashes the hard drive in the middle.
just read it :(