Windows Unable to Complete the Format External Hard Drive: Fix
While you are using Windows, you may have come across error i.e. Windows unable to complete the format on External hard drive. This can be frustrating at times, especially if you need backups of data. Considering this situation, we will discuss its various causes and respective manual methods. Also, we will dive into some tools that can address these issues suitable for complex tasks. With this much info, let’s get into the solutions.
Causes and Solutions of Formatting Failures (Windows Unable to Complete Format External Hard Drive)
Given below are the several underlying reasons and their respective solutions why Windows might fail to complete format an External hard drive:
Problem and Fix #1 – Write Protection
Physical write protection usually means switch activity on the drive, or the software method of marking the drive as read-only, preventing any alteration. This, of course, includes any further formatting attempts. Most USB drives and external HDDs will counter any formatting operations initiated by Windows, with frequent error messages like: “Windows was unable to complete the format.”
Example: Write protection would be a small lock switch found on the drive. If this switch is used, it must be toggled to the unlocked position.
Here are steps to remove write protection:
- Verify the existence of a physical switch on the drive, ensuring the drive is not in a locked position.
- For software protection, open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Type diskpart and press Enter.
- Type list volume to identify the drive.
- Type select volume <volume_number> and attributes volume clear readonly.
Problem and Fix #2 – Bad Sectors or Drive Corruption
Over time, a hard drive can develop bad sectors-areas that are unable to read or write due to physical wear or logical errors. This, in turn, can cause interruptions in the formatting process. Windows might fail when it finds too many bad sectors since it cannot ensure a clean slate for formatting.
For instance: Errors showing during the formatting of a Seagate drive of 1 TB with some sectors damaged.
Steps for Repairing Bad Sectors:
- Run Check Disk: Open Command Prompt as an administrator, type “chkdsk <drive_letter>: /f /r,” and press Enter.
- Otherwise, use Disk Management instead:
Press Windows + R, type diskmgmt.msc, right-click the drive, click on Properties, go to Tools, and then click Check.
Problem and Quick Fix #3 – File System Issues
File systems such as NTFS or FAT32 may be corrupted or incompatible, preventing proper formatting. One such cause may be improper ejection or infection by a malicious program. Windows may thus have difficulty creating a new file system, generating errors along the way.
Example: Any drive that has been formatted on a Mac may have an incompatible file system and hence may not work on Windows.
Here is how to fix file system errors:
- Run chkdsk (as stated above) to repair.
- Use Command Prompt to format: format <drive_letter>: /fs:ntfs /q /y.
Problem & Solution #4 – Drive in Use
If any application or process is currently using the drive, Windows cannot format it, since it requires exclusive access. The user might experience this error if any files are still running or if backup software is running in the background.
Example: A user trying to format it while a file explorer window is open on the drive could run into this problem.
How to Make Sure the Drive is Not Being Used:
- Close any applications that may be using the drive.
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), look for any processes that use that drive, and stop them.
Problem and Fix #5 – Connection Problems
When formatting fails, the primary cause is poor communication, which can signified by loose USB connections, a faulty cable, or ports not correctly aligned. The drive cannot be recognized correctly, thus causing the formatting process to die eventually.
Example: Poor connectivity may occur if using a USB 2.0 port on a high-speed drive.
Check Connection Procedures:
- Unplug the drive and plug it again.
- Try a different USB port or cable instead, one preferably directly connected to the computer.
“Windows Unable to Complete Format External Hard Drive” Automated Alternative
If you are looking for a secure data wiping method, this SysTools Data Erasure software can be the right companion for completely wiping data using military-grade algorithms to overwrite data, thus making the recovery impossible.
Here, are some of its features:
- Supported Devices HDDs, SSDDs, USB drives, etc.
- Compliance Standards DoDD 5220.22-M, NIST 800-88, HIPAA, etc.
- Wiping Methods A couple of ways: US DOD, Peter Gutmann, and a lot more.
- Audit Reports Determine data destruction reports and more.
How It Helps: By overwriting the entire drive, it can handle some formats of issues, residual data, corrupt file systems, and later allow the drive to be reformatted and used again. This is an appropriate step when preparing drives for disposal or resale since no sensitive information would be left.
Preventive Measures to Avoid Future Issues
Now, to minimize the chances of encountering similar problems in the near future, take the necessary actions:
- Backing up important data regularly.
- Ejecting external drives safely before disconnecting.
- Using antivirus software against malware and viruses.
Final words
The “Windows was unable to complete the format external hard drive” error may occur due to several reasons like connection issues, write protection, and corrupted files. However, these can be solved. One has to check to make sure the connections are proper, disable write protection, manage the disk, perform CHKDSK, and update drivers. With the use of solutions at your disposal, you can get your external hard drive back in perfect condition and prevent any potential loss of data.