hard drive will not format

I have a 1tb HDD in the PC that had a lot of rubbish on it so i decided to format it but windows will not let me format, i have also tried with Easeus with the same result.
I deleted all the files from the HDD but it still refuses to format.
Any ideas please.

 

Just a thought, have you tried using the "Quick Format" option?

 

Thanks Nick but it is one of 5 that i have in the tower and is not the OS drive.

 

It is showing as "healthy primary"(not partitioned) and it also shows that the drive is empty after i deleted all the files but it will still not let me format.

 

What error does it pop up, if any? Maybe there's still a 'hook' into that drive that is preventing the format though you should get a message like 'Drive in use' etc. Try it in safe mode, worth a shot.:confused

 

All it says is "windows was unable to complete the format" and when i try Easeus in the drop down menu for that disk it will not give me the option to format.

I will give it a try in safe mode.

 

Bill, have you tried with the Disk maker's CD or tools? Another option would be to unplug the power on all the hard drives in the computer but the one you want to format, toss the Windows disk in, and format. I say unplug the power of all the drives just for safety. Not that I ever formated the wrong drive...

 

You can format using a linux live CD.
I have an old PCLinux 2006 CD that i run to partition windows disks and format (yes it will format as FAT32, NTFS or ext3).
gParted can do this too but I've never used it.
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

 

Did not work in safe mode, i will try some of the other suggestions now.

It is really strange that i can format the other drives but not this one.

 

When i try to format with the OS disk it just tells me that any data on the disk will be saved in a file "old windows"

@ plodr

I used G parted and still no luck so i used a linux disk with no luck I then used MS recovery and promptly destroyed my MBR.

I think i will just have to leave it as it is, I can use it in the normal way but just can not format it.

 

Bill, can you attach a screenshot of all the drives as seen by Disk Manager please?

 

I can not get into "disk manager" when i right click "computer" and then "manage" it does not work??

 

Start > Run > "diskmgmt.msc" ?

 

Just to give an insite to the work that is ongoing.

The problem started last week and i explored many avenues before i posted here thinking i could solve it myself.
I have tried so many different procedures i have lost count but at some point i picked up a trojan and had to solve that problem before proceeding then i got a few MS updates and i am not sure how or when but my system OS has changed, The MS system report still tells me i am using Windows 7 ultimate 64bit but SIW and CCleaner tell me i am using windows 7 Enterprise, so something has changed but as yet i have not found it and i am considering a re-format now.

 

Disks as seen.
the disk that is giving trouble is "K" all the rest are OK and the samsung story is an external.

 

I can't see the full 'Status' column but it looks like the K: is the System drive; it has the Windows bootsector on.

Edit: the second attachment confirms it.

 

The system drive is "C" but on the full page (see previous post i have edited it) but "K" drive does show "system active primary"

 

Something 'interesting' happened during the install, I guess.

I would (assuming you have all your data backed up) physically disconnect/remove all but the C: and your DVD drive, boot to your Windows install disc and run a "Startup Repair".

If that works ok, add the remaining drives and the now 'K:' should format fine.

If it doesn't work as expected, then maybe the C: is not on the first accessed SATA channel?

 

That is very strange Bill. I have had a couple that Windows would not format. One last suggestion would be to try to format from a Nix CD. All I can think of.

 

After all the different things i have tried my conclusion is that i need to change the status of the drive from system to just active but i have not been able to find any answers, it's very frustrating.

 

I had a problem like that when I was swapping drives from a XP box to a Vista box to a 7 box. Once back into 7 I gave me issues like that, i had a option of "Import foreign disc" Not sure if you have that in the right click menu of that disc. QAfter I imported it I could format the drive. Not sure if this applies to your troubles.

 

Well i finally got it sorted but in the meantime i have destroyed my OS so have had to re-install it:cry

I tried most applications but the only one that i found that would do the job was Paragon so full marks to them:clap

Now i have to get busy putting my PC back in order.

Thanks for all the help you have given.

 

Jeez, that's a lot to go through for a simple HDD wipe!:eek Hurry back man, we gotta strike the folding iron while it's hot!

 

I hope to be back by tomorrow morning.
I am using Ubuntu at the moment because when i try to load windows it tells me that it cannot load to any of my HDDs (still looking)