Formatting Drive Too Slow

  • Thread starter Thread starter +++Bobby \O\+++
  • Start date Start date
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+++Bobby \O\+++

I have a Maxtor external 40GB drive that I'm trying to format. Using Disk
Management, it took 2 1/2 hours to format 13%. I tried using Safe Mode and
Recovery Console - same results. Disk Management and Device Manager say the
drive is Healthy. I even tried, in regular mode, by shutting down all
processes and apps - with the same result. This is a USB drive and all my
USB peripherals seem to be working fine. I'm using WinXP Pro with a Pentium
3. Any suggestions?
 
I tried the Quick Format - didn't work.

How do I get to the System Event Log - and what do I look for?

Where is the "Policy" setting?

Thanks very much......
 
Is it usb 1 or 2 if it is a p3 i'll bet it is usb1 and it was slow also if
the hd enclosure is usb 2 only youll have a big problem.
 
Did you do a Quick Format ?, this skips the Bad block checking that
occurs with a Format. Check your System Event log, you may have
errors occurring on the drive. Also, toggle the "Policy" setting for the
USB drive to "Optimize for quick Removal" (Turn off Write Cache).
 
Looked at the Event Viewer - nothing listed in 2005.

Quick Format still doesn't work.

Will try "Optimize for Quick Removal."

Thanks......


R. McCarty said:
Start, Run (Type) Eventvwr.Msc [Enter]
Expand System log - check Right pane for Red icons that denote
errors. Double-Click each entry to see details and Event ID #.
-
Device Manager, Disk Drives, Double-Click your Maxtor entry
When the details box opens click the Policy (TAB). You then see
the operating Policy options.


+++Bobby "O"+++ said:
I tried the Quick Format - didn't work.

How do I get to the System Event Log - and what do I look for?

Where is the "Policy" setting?

Thanks very much......
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Start, Run (Type) Eventvwr.Msc [Enter]
Expand System log - check Right pane for Red icons that denote
errors. Double-Click each entry to see details and Event ID #.
-
Device Manager, Disk Drives, Double-Click your Maxtor entry
When the details box opens click the Policy (TAB). You then see
the operating Policy options.
 
Thanks...checked this all out and there seems to be nothing wrong. I can't
put the drive in a PC because I'm using a notebook with a docking station.
In the station, I have a card which converts USB 1.1 to USB 2.0. That card
has been in there for over a year and seems to work fine. Also, I don't
seem to be having trouble with slow reading/writing (before the drive
required reformatting). Is there a way to check for transfer speed to make
sure my card and/or hubs are still operation at USB 2.0?
 
Must be an IDE drive - pull it out of its enclosure and install it in the PC
then format it. Albeit, if external formatting is slow, writing/reading from
the drive via USB will be slow also.
Else, check that the drive is not on the same USB hub with other devices and
thus use more than 500MA. Go DeviceManager/USBRootHub/Properties/Power for
each USB Hub. Under the Power tab you'll see what devices are installed on
that hub and how much power each uses; if they add up to more than 500MA
unplug one of them and use another USB Hub.
Michael
 
If the format experiences issues - then just Delete the Partition and
start from that point. Perhaps the drive's Partition tables are incorrect.
 
How do I delete the partition? Then, do I have to set up a new partition -
or just format the drive? If I have to set up a new partition, how do I do
that? Thanks......
 
With the USB drive plugged in. Click Start, Run (Type) Diskmgmt.Msc
[Enter]. When Disk Management opens you'll see (Right Pane) a left
column for Disk #. To it's right will be a Bar Graph display of the type
and size of the partitions on the disk. Locate your USB drive. It should
be a Disk number such as 1, 2 or 3. (MAKE Sure you are working
with the correct drive). Place you pointer anywhere within the bar that
represents the drive. It should show you it's drive letter and volume name.
Click the Right Mouse button, from the context menu left click on
Delete Partition and yes to the "Nag/Cover you backside" prompts.
Once the partition is gone the bar graph will now show the space on
the drive as Unallocated. To recreate, just Right Click again on the bar
with Unallocated and Create Partition and supply name, format type and
check the "Quick" format option box.
 
Followed your instructions. Result: Unexpected error occurred - check the
System Event Log. Drive did not format. How do I get to this log?
Thanks.........


R. McCarty said:
With the USB drive plugged in. Click Start, Run (Type) Diskmgmt.Msc
[Enter]. When Disk Management opens you'll see (Right Pane) a left
column for Disk #. To it's right will be a Bar Graph display of the type
and size of the partitions on the disk. Locate your USB drive. It should
be a Disk number such as 1, 2 or 3. (MAKE Sure you are working
with the correct drive). Place you pointer anywhere within the bar that
represents the drive. It should show you it's drive letter and volume
name.
Click the Right Mouse button, from the context menu left click on
Delete Partition and yes to the "Nag/Cover you backside" prompts.
Once the partition is gone the bar graph will now show the space on
the drive as Unallocated. To recreate, just Right Click again on the bar
with Unallocated and Create Partition and supply name, format type and
check the "Quick" format option box.

+++Bobby "O"+++ said:
How do I delete the partition? Then, do I have to set up a new
partition - or just format the drive? If I have to set up a new
partition, how do I do that? Thanks......
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Doesn't sound good - Event Viewer is accessed, Start, Run (Type)
Eventvwr.Msc [Enter] Click the System Log in the Left pane and
entries will appear in the Right Pane. Errors shown as Red Icons,
the most recent near the top of the listing.

You shouldn't have this much trouble formatting or partitioning a drive.
You could maybe download MaxTools, but not sure if you'd be
able to use it on the external, since it's a DOS boot function. My
Maxtor External 5000 won't be visible even if you enable BIOS
Legacy USB support. If nothing else, swap the USB cable on the
drive with a different one.

+++Bobby "O"+++ said:
Followed your instructions. Result: Unexpected error occurred - check the
System Event Log. Drive did not format. How do I get to this log?
Thanks.........


R. McCarty said:
With the USB drive plugged in. Click Start, Run (Type) Diskmgmt.Msc
[Enter]. When Disk Management opens you'll see (Right Pane) a left
column for Disk #. To it's right will be a Bar Graph display of the type
and size of the partitions on the disk. Locate your USB drive. It should
be a Disk number such as 1, 2 or 3. (MAKE Sure you are working
with the correct drive). Place you pointer anywhere within the bar that
represents the drive. It should show you it's drive letter and volume
name.
Click the Right Mouse button, from the context menu left click on
Delete Partition and yes to the "Nag/Cover you backside" prompts.
Once the partition is gone the bar graph will now show the space on
the drive as Unallocated. To recreate, just Right Click again on the bar
with Unallocated and Create Partition and supply name, format type and
check the "Quick" format option box.

+++Bobby "O"+++ said:
How do I delete the partition? Then, do I have to set up a new
partition - or just format the drive? If I have to set up a new
partition, how do I do that? Thanks......


If the format experiences issues - then just Delete the Partition and
start from that point. Perhaps the drive's Partition tables are
incorrect.

To check for USB2.0 support:
http://www.usbman.com/Guides/checking_for_usb_2.htm
You may also try one of the tools at
http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/english.html?/be_hdd.html to find your hdd
speed.
If only formatting is troublesome, just hook up the external drive in
another machine and format from there.
Michael

Thanks...checked this all out and there seems to be nothing wrong. I
can't put the drive in a PC because I'm using a notebook with a
docking station. In the station, I have a card which converts USB 1.1
to USB 2.0. That card has been in there for over a year and seems to
work fine. Also, I don't seem to be having trouble with slow
reading/writing (before the drive required reformatting). Is there a
way to check for transfer speed to make sure my card and/or hubs are
still operation at USB 2.0?


Must be an IDE drive - pull it out of its enclosure and install it
in the PC then format it. Albeit, if external formatting is slow,
writing/reading from the drive via USB will be slow also.
Else, check that the drive is not on the same USB hub with other
devices and thus use more than 500MA. Go
DeviceManager/USBRootHub/Properties/Power for each USB Hub. Under
the Power tab you'll see what devices are installed on that hub and
how much power each uses; if they add up to more than 500MA unplug
one of them and use another USB Hub.
Michael

I have a Maxtor external 40GB drive that I'm trying to format.
Using Disk Management, it took 2 1/2 hours to format 13%. I tried
using Safe Mode and Recovery Console - same results. Disk
Management and Device Manager say the drive is Healthy. I even
tried, in regular mode, by shutting down all processes and apps -
with the same result. This is a USB drive and all my USB peripherals
seem to be working fine. I'm using WinXP Pro with a Pentium 3. Any
suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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