USB external hard drive issue - cyclic redundancy check error

[father-ted]

Hi,

I have had this external hard drive for a while now, it has not been used in a long time.
Previously, I had Wii games installed on it, for my daughters Wii console - from brand new, it has worked fine / not damaged in any way.

Windows disk management can see the drive, but states unallocated space and drive not initialized.
When trying to initialize, I am getting a 'data error cyclic redundancy check' error.

I cannot do chkdsk to repair any errors (as the drive does not have a letter allocated).

Any advice please?

Thanks

 

[darael]

Backup anything you need from the drive before using it any further. After fully formatting the drive, check it's SMART status. If you're unsure, post the data here and somebody might be able to advise.

 

[Tetras]

Try a different cable, if you haven't already.

 

[father-ted]

I dont need anything off the drive.
I cannot format it as it is all greyed out.
States that the drive isn't initialised in the Disk Management console.

Will try a new cable.

 

[father-ted]

Tried a new cable, exactly the same.
The light flashes contnuously on it, as it is presumably trying to read.
After a few minutes, it stops flashing and in Disk Management it shows the drive as not initialised / 596gb of unallocated space (but there are Wii games on there).
When I try to initialise it (tried both MBR & GPT), I get the CRC error (rinse repeat).

Could it be the format of the Wii games that Windows cannot read?
Any software that can address thta so I can format it?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[darael]

Tried a new cable, exactly the same.
The light flashes contnuously on it, as it is presumably trying to read.
After a few minutes, it stops flashing and in Disk Management it shows the drive as not initialised / 596gb of unallocated space (but there are Wii games on there).
When I try to initialise it (tried both MBR & GPT), I get the CRC error (rinse repeat).

Could it be the format of the Wii games that Windows cannot read?
Any software that can address thta so I can format it?

Thanks for the advice.

What's the make and model of the drive? I just wonder if you can remove the hard drive from the enclosure and connect it to one of your computer's SATA ports.

I would try Diskpart to see if that erase the drive. From a command prompt, follow the below:

1. In a command prompt window, type in diskpart then hit enter.
2. Diskpart will load. First try to list the disks by typing in list disk and hit enter. Hopefully your disk will show.
3. Identify your disk - probably easier to do by size. So if your drive is 320GB and the above command shows disk 2 as 320GB, disk 2 is the one you need to enter below.
4. With the disk identified, type in select disk 2 (replace 2 with whatever number disk your drive is shown as).
5. Optional step - see if you can list the partitions on the drive by typing in list partition.
6. If you are you sure you selected the correct disk above and that you are happy to erase it, type in clean. If successful, this will erase all partition information from the drive. This command doesn't erase or format the drive, however - only the partition information.

If the above works, then I'd consider using the manufacturer tool to diagnose the drive before trying to use it again. If it's beyond repair, set about it with a hammer, otherwise don't store anything important on it.

 

[father-ted]

I think I will put a hammer through this drive and give up lol.
Tried the above, didn't work = still got the CRC error.
Tried to initialize the disk with diskpart, on the 'attributes disk clear readonly' I got a 'diskpart failed to clear attributes' message.
I also downloaded and tried AOMEI Partition Assistant and that seems to work but still the same in Windows.
Then tried IM-Magic Partition - that cannot even see the drive (repeatedly tried refreshing, no joy).

Seems this disk is locked in readonly = wont initialize / can't do anything with it.

Thanks for the advice, appreciated.