Testing a "new" drive (HDD)

[robroy6]

Once in a while (not often enough to remember the process) I buy a HDD on line and it's delivered unformatted. What is the procedure to connect it to my PC and get it into running shape (formatted and partitioned)?
Recently I received a new PATA HDD intended for external use. When I connected it to my PC's USB port via a ATA/SATA interface.. NOTHING! The PC ignored it. I tried 2-3 different USB ports and a few reboots.
Do I have to open up the PC and connect it to an ATA internal connector?
Thanks

 

[micker377]

Some drives come with "activation" software. If not, you have to fire up the old floppy and run FDISK, set active partition, after which you have to format it. At this time, you may choose to make it a system drive, or leave it for a DATA disk.

P.S. The FDISK/format written for Windows VISTA is quicker.

 

[rclarke250]

Nope, no floppy disk needed. Right click My Computer, click manage. Choose disk management. In the windows you should see all of the drives connected, just scroll down to the drive that is not allocated, right click on it, you can partition,choose a drive letter,and format.

 

[goombawaho]

Agreed - rclarke250's procedure is correct and simple.

 

[robroy6]

Procedure DITW (dead in the water) since the XP does not even see the drive. It's not connected!
BTW, I have a Quick Launch shortcut to "Computer Management" and I use CM to examine my disk drives and other devices quite often.

 

[vacunita]

If the computer doesn't even pick it up in Drive Management then there's something wrong with the drive.

Regardless of formatting, or lack there off, a functional Hard Drive should always be seen in Drive Management even if its not in Explorer.
It would most likely show up as unAllocated as was mentioned. From which point you can create partitions and format it.

If you are connecting it through a USB enclosure, it is advisable to check the enclosure with other working drives to make sure it works.

If the enclosure proves to be working by that method,, you can try to connect the HD directly to the machine. You'll need to open it, to do this which may void its warranty, and is not suggested if you aren't familiar with the inner workings.

Other than that, there should be no need for extraordinary things to be done to format a functional hard drive.

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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

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[goombawaho]

Sorry to have missed the gist of your post.

Sometimes with USB to SATA/PATA adapters when using a PATA hard drive, you need to set the jumper for MASTER, but also try NO jumper and Cable Select until you find what makes it work. I've definitely seen this before.

If it doesn't detect SOMETHING when you plug in the USB to SATA/PATA adapter, then something may be wrong with the USB port or the adapter. It SHOULD see the adapter and try to install some software for it regardless of whether it sees the attached drive.