How to reformat external HD in Vista? (in dos?)

Hi guys, how can i reformat an external hardrive by using dos command in windows vista? first of all, my external HD is a 120gb Seagate Ultra ATA (IDE). When i plug it in a computer, the computer detects it but when i try to open the HD, the computer hangs. when i remove the external HD, the computer goes back to normal. Even just by right-clicking the external HD makes the computer hang (not responding) so maybe the last solution is to reformat it by using dos. And can i still make a backup for my files? help please.

 

It sounds like you have a IDE drive not an external drive. Do you have the jumper set to slave or CS? and you have it connected via IDE ribbon?

the dos command for format is, format X: were drive letter is X be careful


You know you can buy a hard drive enclosure for IDE drives to make them a USB2 external drive.


Edit: to get a DOS prompt in Vista in run type "cmd"

 

i already had an enclosure for my drive but still its not working.

 

So how is it connected to your computer?

 

ha? Like what i said, When i plug it in a computer(by using USB), the computer detects it but when i try to open the HD, the computer hangs. when i remove(unplug) the external HD, the computer goes back to normal. Even just by right-clicking the external HD makes the computer hang (not responding)

 

Its not reading the drive. DOS won't do it. Do you have a desktop with a spare IDE cable your can plug the drive in to to format it and test it. Assuming its not a laptop IDE drive. The enclosure may be bad or the drive


Another thing, some enclosures come with drivers

 

that's the problem, i dont have a desktop.

 

And its not the driver?

 

. was this drive working when u tried to access it under vista?
. can u access this from another (friend) system - xp or vista?
. tried another usb housing and still no access?
. i take my guess that the drive is toasted if it is NO to the above

cheers ...

 

Have you tried using Vista's disk manager to manipulate the drive (i.e. delete old partition, create new partition and format)?

 

can i use the vista disk manager in an external hd? (by just plugging it in the USB port?)

 

1. the computer does detect the drive but when i click it, the computer hangs
2. even if i try to use it in another system, still, it only detects the hd but when i try to access it, the computer hangs then when i unplug it, the computer goes back to normal.
3. you mean enclosure? when i brought it in a computer shop, they tested it first by plugging it in a computer without the enclosure, but the result is still like what happened in #1 and #2.

 

Whats the type of enclosure. Name Model?

 

Yes you can. If the system recognizes the drive when you plug it in, you may want to open the disk manager (Start>right click Computer>click Manage>click Storage>click Disk Management) then right click on on the bar next to the drive (in the bottom portion of the window, use caution to not click on you system drive which is almost always Disk 0) and click on Delete Volume...(you will lose everything on the drive when you do this). Then you can right click on the bar again and partition the drive. When you do this it should open a wizard that also give you formatting options. If this does not work you most likely have a hardware problem, either drive jumper configuration or a drive or external case failure/fault. This would require another computer (desktop) or external case to troubleshoot.