Can't Format External Hard Drive

[richardpu]

I can't format an external USB Western Digital 400 Gb hard drive using
Windows xp with SP2. The progress indicator shows 100% of the drive is
formatted but shortly afterwards, I get an error message, "Windows can't
complete the format."

I get the same message regardless of whether I attempt a quick or slow
format, regardless of whether I use the command prompt or the logical disk
manager, and regardless of whether I attempt the format on my main computer
or a second computer. Does anyone know what the problem is?

 

[sgopus]

Please list the steps your taking.

 

[gsjutla]

If the same issue happens on multiple boxes, probably it is a time for
replacement of the hard disk. Do you get any events in the event logs?

 

[richardpu]

I go to the logical disk manager and do the following: right click on the
drive --> delete the old partition --> create a new partition --> perform
a quick or slow format --> get an error message "The format did not complete
successfully".

 

[richardpu]

No. But a few minutes before the attempt to format, there is a message in
the event log, "An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk3\D during a
paging operation." That may simply be because the drive hasn't been
formatted. I doubt that it sheds light on my inability to complete the
formatting.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Have you tried the WD website disk utility that works in the XP environment?