Setting up external SATA storage drive and getting formatting errors.

[blastocyst]

I got a Western Digital Caviar SATA SE 320gb internal drive, bought an enclosure and a PC card so I could use it with my notebook. I installed the pc card drivers, plugged it all in, and it the drive showed up in Device Manager. I'm trying to format it but this whole process has resulted in two really annoying issues.

1. Windows takes forever to load with the new drive connected. It takes ~20 minutes or so.

2. The drive will not format. It shows up in device manager, allowing me to format it there, but I did that and (after a 6 hour format) it gave this message: "drive did not format successfully." I see the drive in My Computer but when I try to access it I, naturally, get "drive is not formatted. would you like to format it now?" Tried downloading WD drive software, with which I formatted (this time only taking 2 minutes) but I get the same message in My Computer.

Remember this is just an external storage drive. I'm not trying to do anything fancy here. Any help is GREATLY appreciated -- I'm getting bummed out about this.

 

[schtek]

i have a simular set up were i can join any old drive to my sata connection on my laptop...i have found from experience that this issue uyou are having is one of 3 things.... drive is knackered (i don't think this is your issue) or the jumpers are in the place on the drive or you have not got service pack 2 on which there is as i remember a barrier for large drives 130ish if i remember!!!

hope this helps???

Stand up wherever you are, go to the nearest window and yell as loud as you can, 'I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.'

 

[blastocyst]

OK so hopefully the drive is in good shape. I have SP2. What about these "jumpers"? I don't even know what jumpers are, much less how to make them work.

Again, thanks for the help

 

[rvnguy]

On the label on the HD there is normally a small graphic that explains jumper positioning. Most SATA drives are all master.

The obvious: Insure that your enclosure is one for a SATA drive.

I am not familiar with "PC card"; Does enclosure allow for USB connection?

Does your laptop support USB 2.0 devices.

Connecting via USB is normally a very simple P&P process.

Is your OS WinXP with SP2 applied?

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all