HD Stack Overflow

[Pinkman]

I am trying to format an older 2 gig HD. In the middle of formatting it gives me an

 

[robherc]

a what?

 

[Alt255]

I have seen similar errors on disks when the CMOS setup parameters didn't match the actual drive parameters. Check the CMOS specs against specs listed on the hard drive (visit the manufacturer's web site if the specs aren't available). Are you using drive auto-detect? If you have received the drive second-hand, it may have been formatted incorrectly by its previous owner. If so, you may need to obtain a low-level format utility from the drive manufacturer. (Don't use a generic low-level format.)

 

[jsauce]

Never low-level format, unless you absolutely have to. Use it only as a last ditch effort.

 

[Alt255]

Jsauce is right. Low-level format of an IDE drive can trash it forever. Use it as a last resort.<br>
And IF you do decide to go that route, it would be safer to ship the HD back to the mfg, even if you have the manufacturer's recommended format utility.