Question

Unable to install new HDD on MAC

Asked by: PrOwLeR84

I am attempting to install a new HDD onto a MAC that has a HDD that is getting ready to go out.  I am not familiar with MAC machines at all.  The issue i am having is this, every time we try to format the new HDD it errors out stating that the formatter is not working correctly, after that the HDD is no longer visible in the Disk Utility.

Any Ideas, the HDD is a Western Digital Caviar Blue HDD 640Gb  the model # is WD6400AAKS.  I checked WD's website and it shows that the drive is compatible.

Thanks in advance for your help.

-E-

This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.

Subscribe now for full access to Experts Exchange and get

Instant Access to this Solution

  • Plus...
  • 30 Day FREE access, no risk, no obligation
  • Collaborate with the world's top tech experts
  • Unlimited access to our exclusive solution database
  • Never be left without tech help again

Subscribe Now

Asked On
2009-11-03 at 07:08:23ID24867281
Tags

MAC

,

HDD Install

,

WD Caviar Blue

,

WD6400AAKS

Topics

Apple Hardware

,

Apple Desktop

,

Mac OS X

Participating Experts
5
Points
500
Comments
35

Trusted by hundreds of thousands everyday for fast, accurate and reliable tech support.

  • "The time we save is the biggest benefit of Experts Exchange to Warner Bros. What could take multiple guys 2 hours or more each to find is accessed in around 15 minutes on Experts Exchange." Mike Kapnisakis, Warner Bros.
  • "Our team likes having a resource that is more secure than just using Google and most experts using this service really know their stuff. It's nice to look here first versus using Google." Dayna Sellner, Lockheed Martin
  • "Anytime that I've been stumped with a problem, 9 out of 10 times Experts Exchange has either the accepted solution or an open discussion of the potential solution to the problem." Kenny Red, eBay Inc.

See what Experts Exchange can do for you.

Got a question?

We've got the answer.

Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Need individual assistance?

Our experts are ready to help.

If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Want to learn from the best?

Read articles from industry experts.

Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.

Screenshot of an Article

Working on a long term project?

Store your work and research.

Save solutions to your questions, answers you’ve discovered through searching plus helpful articles in your personal knowledgebase for easy future access.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Access the answers to your technology questions today.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

What Makes Experts Exchange Unique?

Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Trusted by the world's most respected brands.

image of each brand's logo

Faithfully serving IT professionals since 1996.

Experts Exchange Logo

Try it out and discover for yourself.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

Related Solutions

  1. Older WD HDD
    a co-worker has brought me a system that she was using and just decided to buy a new one. However she has asked me to copy the content of her old system. Which is all logic is a simple task. But, the older system is having cmos problems due tot the battery, so I removed the h...
  2. Unlock a Western Digital HDD
    I have a WD80EB HDD that I purchased on-line. I believe it is locked, and do not have either the user or master password to unlock it. How would I get this thing unlocked so I can re-format it? I've tried Data Lifeguard Tools from WD, and that won't even let me do a low-le...
  3. Any comment for WD 250GB SATA HDD?
    Anyone has experience on WD 250GB SATA HDD that include the performance, stability and most important the reliability becuase I plan to use them to form RAID for mission critical application.
  4. Defective  HDD
    defective HDD (WD ,10 GB) sounds special sound (tic, tic) , the motherboard fail to access it ,what this symptom means and how to repair this HDD. thnks
  5. WD Caviar SE16 250GB vs 500GB
    Well I benchmarked both the WD Caviar SE16 250gig and the 500gig and here is the low down.. Bench Comparison: http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/669/benchgg9.png The read out: WD 250GB Caviar - Retail: Average Read: 55.6MB/s Burst Speed: 123.4MB/s Random Access: 13.2ms Pr...

Free Tech Articles

  1. WARNING: 5 Reasons why you should NEVER fix a computer for free.
    It is in our nature to love the puzzle. We are obsessed. The lot of us. We love puzzles. We love the challenge. We thrive on finding the answer. We hate disarray. It bothers us deep in our soul. W...
  2. SCCM OSD Basic troubleshooting
    SCCM 2007 OSD is a fantastic way to deploy operating systems, however, like most things SCCM issues can sometimes be difficult to resolve due to the sheer volume of logs to sift through and the dispe...
  3. Migrate Small Business Server 2003 to Exchange 2010 and Windows 2008 R2
    This guide is intended to provide step by step instructions on how to migrate from Small Business Server 2003 to Windows 2008 R2 with Exchange 2010. For this migration to work you will need the fo...
  4. Create a Win7 Gadget
    This article shows you how to create a simple "Gadget" -- a sort of mini-application supported by Windows 7 and Vista. Gadgets can be dropped anywhere on the desktop to provide instant information, ...
  5. Outlook continually prompting for username and password
    There have been a lot of questions recently regarding Outlook prompting for a username and password whilst using Exchange 2007. There are a few reasons why this would happen and I will try to cover t...
  6. Backup Exchange 2010 Information Store using Windows Backup
    There seems to be quite a lot of confusion around the ability to backup Exchange 2010 using the built in Windows Backup feature. This stems from the omission of this feature prior to Exchange 2007 s...

Cloud Class Webinars

  1. Avoiding Bugs in Microsoft Access
    Alison Balter takes and in-depth look at avoiding bugs in Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the immediate window to debug your applications, invoking the debugger, using breakpoints to troubleshoot, stepping through code, setting the next statement to execute, ...
  2. Top 10 Best New Features in Visio 2010
    Scott Helmers gives live demonstrations of the top 10 new features in Visio 2010. This webinar will teach you how to create compelling diagrams by adding shapes to the page with a single click, linking the shapes in a diagram to data in Excel (or SQL Server, or SharePoint), ...
  3. IT Consultant Business Secrets Revealed
    Michael Munger, Experts Exchange tech pro and IT consultant, pulls back the curtain on his very successful businesses and answers question on every IT consultant and business owner should know about. He shares secrets on what he did to solve the 5 most common problems in IT, ...
  4. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
    Quest CTO, Mike Billon, gives an overview of the steps involved in building a dunamic disaster recovery plan. Through case studies and an examination of software/hardware tooles for monitoring and testing, you'll gain a better understandin of where you are, where you want ...
  5. Organize Your Visio Diagrams with Containers and Lists
    Scott Helmers uses cross functional flowcharts, wireframe diagrams, data graphic legends and seating charts to teach you: how to ustilize all three new structured diagram components in Visio 2010, the best practices for organizeing shapes in previous version of Visio, how to organize ...
  6. How to Us Objects, Properties, Events and Methods in Microsoft Access
    Alison Dalter gives an in-depbth look at objects, properties, events and methods in Microsoft Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the object browser, referring to objects, working with properties and methods, working with object variables, understanding the ...

Join the Community

Give a Little. Get a Lot.

Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.

Join the Community

Answers

 

by: socratesphiloPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:17:13ID: 25729724

I would check to make sure the SATA cables are connected firmly.  

I'm not sure exactly what process you're using to wipe the drive, but here's what I'd do:

After checking the cables, boot from a Mac OS installer CD/DVD.

Once the installer comes up, select english, and click continue.  Then go to "Utilities" at the top of your screen, and choose "disk utility."  

When disk utility pops up, select the WD hard drive on the left hand side by clicking once on it.

Then go to the "erase" tab on the right hand side.  Make sure you are formatting as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and type in a name, then click "erase."  

If it fails at erasing the drive, it's possible you have a bad drive.  

However, if you get past that, you can then close out of disk utility and continue the normal OS install process.

NOTE:  You can also use disk utility on your other mac hard drive if you'd like, but if disk utility is corrupt my steps mentioned would rule that out.

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:20:26ID: 25729749

Exactly what model Mac are you using? What is the version of the system software you are trying to use to erase the drive?

Is the drive installed internally on the computer or in an external box? If the latter, USB or Firewire?

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 07:38:32ID: 25729969

Ok the process is as follows , i start the MAC off of the OS disk, once the installer comes up i am attempting to use the disk utility like socratesphilo stated, i make it past the erase, HDD but then it fails the formating of it, i kept it on MAC OS Extended (Journaled) and typed in the name i wanted and it fails with the same error.  See Attached logs.

Here are the MAC SPECS,

Hardware Overview:

 Model Name:    Power Mac G5
  Model Identifier:    PowerMac7,3
  Processor Name:    PowerPC G5  (3.0)
  Processor Speed:    2.5 GHz
  Number Of CPUs:    2
  L2 Cache (per CPU):    512 KB
  Memory:    1 GB
  Bus Speed:    1.25 GHz
  Boot ROM Version:    5.1.8f7
  Serial Number (system):    G84352KBQPP
  Hardware UUID:    00000000-0000-1000-8000-000D9337B6FC

----

Maxtor 6Y160M0:

 Capacity:    152.67 GB
  Model:    Maxtor 6Y160M0
  Revision:    YAR51HW0
  Serial Number:    Y45E504E
  Removable Media:    No
  Detachable Drive:    No
  BSD Name:    disk1
  Protocol:    ata
  Unit Number:    0
  Socket Type:    Serial-ATA
  Bay Name:    "A (upper)"
  Mac OS 9 Drivers:    No
  Partition Map Type:    APM (Apple Partition Map)
  S.M.A.R.T. status:    Verified
  Volumes:
Mac160_HD:
 Capacity:    152.55 GB
  Available:    59.53 GB
  Writable:    Yes
  File System:    Journaled HFS+
  BSD Name:    disk1s3
  Mount Point:    /Volumes/Mac160_HD

----

WDC WD2000JD-60KLB0:

 Capacity:    186.31 GB
  Model:    WDC WD2000JD-60KLB0
  Revision:    08.05J08
  Serial Number:    WD-WCAMT1113097
  Removable Media:    No
  Detachable Drive:    No
  BSD Name:    disk0
  Protocol:    ata
  Unit Number:    0
  Socket Type:    Serial-ATA
  Bay Name:    "B (lower)"
  Mac OS 9 Drivers:    No
  Partition Map Type:    APM (Apple Partition Map)
  S.M.A.R.T. status:    Verified
  Volumes:
WorkFiles-200GB:
 Capacity:    186.19 GB
  Available:    39.9 GB
  Writable:    Yes
  File System:    Journaled HFS+
  BSD Name:    disk0s3
  Mount Point:    /
 

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 07:39:17ID: 25729980

The Memory was upgraded to 3Gb now, didn't realize i sent an old description.

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:45:02ID: 25730038

Is there any possibiity that you are using an illegal character in the name you have chosen for the drive?

Do you have an OS X install disk? If so, try booting from it and using it to erase the disk.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 07:46:13ID: 25730053

The HDD i am installing is internal.  WD6400AAKS

Physical Specifications:
Model Number WD6400AAKS
Formatted Capacity 1 640,135 MB
Used Sectors Per Drive 1,250,263,728
 
Interface  300 MB/s Serial ATA 2.0 (backwards compatible with Serial ATA 1.0)
Bytes Per Sector 512
Dedicated Landing Zone Yes
Actuator Latch/Auto Park Yes
---------------------------------------------------------
Performance Specifications:
Data Transfer Rate (maximum)
- Buffer to Host
- Buffer to Disk  
 300 MB/s max2
972 Mbits/s max
 
Average Read Seek 8.9 ms (average)
Track-to-track Seek3 2.0 ms (average)
Full Stroke Read Seek3 21 ms (average)
Average Latency 5.5 ms
Rotational Speed 7200 RPM
Read Cache Adaptive
Write Cache Yes  
Buffer 16 MB
Drive Ready Time 7.0 sec average
Start/Stop Cycles 600,000 min
Error Rate
(non-recoverable)  <1 in 1014 bits read
LBA support Yes

 

by: socratesphiloPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:48:19ID: 25730080

I agree with strung on the possibility of an illegal character causing issues.

Try wiping the drive and leaving the name as the default that it sets it to.

Also, what exact error are you getting?  Can you give us the exact error?

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 07:49:14ID: 25730085

I did try and use the OSX install disk and got the same error.  It erases the drive, but fails to format it.  I get the same error.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 07:51:24ID: 25730116

Here are the logs from the Disk Utility:

**********
2009-11-02 07:53:53 -0600: Disk Utility started.

2009-11-02 07:57:27 -0600: Preparing to erase : MAC_HD640
2009-11-02 07:57:27 -0600:       Partition Scheme: Apple Partition Map
2009-11-02 07:57:27 -0600:       1 volume will be created
2009-11-02 07:57:27 -0600:             Name       : MAC_HD640
2009-11-02 07:57:27 -0600:             Size       : 596.2 GB
2009-11-02 07:57:27 -0600:             Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

2009-11-02 07:57:27 -0600: Creating partition map.
2009-11-02 07:57:29 -0600: Formatting disk3s3 as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with name MAC_HD640.
2009-11-02 08:00:22 -0600: Disk Erase failed with the error:

File system formatter failed.
2009-11-02 08:00:23 -0600: Erase complete.
2009-11-02 08:00:23 -0600:
2009-11-02 08:00:23 -0600: Disk Utility failed during an unspecified action with the error:

File system formatter failed.
2009-11-02 08:00:23 -0600: Erase complete.
2009-11-02 08:00:23 -0600:
2009-11-02 08:00:23 -0600: Erase complete.
2009-11-02 08:00:23 -0600:
2009-11-02 08:06:41 -0600:       Name :       disk3
      Type :       Volume

      Disk Identifier :       disk3
      Mount Point :       Not mounted
      Writable :       No
      Capacity :       0 Bytes
      Used :       0 Bytes
      Number of Files :       0
      Number of Folders :       0
      Owners Enabled :       No
      Can Turn Owners Off :       No
      Can Be Formatted :       No
      Bootable :       No
      Supports Journaling :       No
      Journaled :       No
      Disk Number :       3
      Partition Number :       1

2009-11-02 08:06:41 -0600:



**********
2009-11-02 08:43:47 -0600: Disk Utility started.

2009-11-02 08:45:28 -0600: Verifying volume disk3s3
Starting verification tool:  2009-11-02 08:45:28 -0600
2009-11-02 08:45:41 -0600: Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.2009-11-02 08:45:41 -0600:
2009-11-02 08:45:41 -0600: Disk Utility stopped verifying disk3s3 because the following error was encountered:

Filesystem verify or repair failed.
2009-11-02 08:45:41 -0600:

2009-11-02 08:49:52 -0600: Mount of disk3s3 failed
2009-11-02 08:50:14 -0600: Verifying volume disk3s3
Starting verification tool:  2009-11-02 08:50:14 -0600
2009-11-02 08:50:32 -0600: Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.2009-11-02 08:50:32 -0600:
2009-11-02 08:50:32 -0600: Disk Utility stopped verifying disk3s3 because the following error was encountered:

Filesystem verify or repair failed.
2009-11-02 08:50:32 -0600:

2009-11-02 08:51:12 -0600: Preparing to zero disk : MAC_HD640
2009-11-02 08:51:12 -0600:             Passes     : 0
2009-11-02 08:53:35 -0600: Secure Erase skipped after calculating&.
             0.0% complete.
2009-11-02 08:53:35 -0600: Preparing to erase : MAC_HD640
2009-11-02 08:53:35 -0600:       Partition Scheme: Apple Partition Map
2009-11-02 08:53:35 -0600:       1 volume will be erased
2009-11-02 08:53:35 -0600:             Name       : MAC_HD640
2009-11-02 08:53:35 -0600:             Size       : 596.0 GB
2009-11-02 08:53:35 -0600:             Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

2009-11-02 08:53:37 -0600: Error with volume erase No such file or directory
2009-11-02 08:53:37 -0600: Erase complete.
2009-11-02 08:53:37 -0600:
**********
2009-11-02 10:07:42 -0600: Disk Utility started.

2009-11-02 10:11:15 -0600: Mount of disk1s3 failed
2009-11-02 10:11:29 -0600: Verify and Repair volume disk1s3
Starting repair tool:  2009-11-02 10:11:29 -0600
2009-11-02 10:11:55 -0600: Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.2009-11-02 10:11:55 -0600:
2009-11-02 10:11:55 -0600: Disk Utility stopped repairing disk1s3 because the following error was encountered:

Filesystem verify or repair failed.
2009-11-02 10:11:55 -0600:

2009-11-02 10:12:43 -0600:       Name :       WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B2
      Type :       Disk

      Partition Map Scheme :       Apple Partition Map
      Disk Identifier :       disk1
      Media Name :       WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B2 WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B2
      Media Type :       Generic
      Connection Bus :       Serial ATA
      Connection ID :       Device 0, "A (upper)"
      Device Tree :       first-boot/@0:0
      Bay :       "A (upper)"
      Writable :       Yes
      Ejectable :       No
      Mac OS 9 Drivers Installed :       No
      Location :       Internal
      Total Capacity :       596.2 GB (640,135,028,736 Bytes)
      S.M.A.R.T. Status :       Verified
      Disk Number :       1
      Partition Number :       0

2009-11-02 10:12:43 -0600:
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600: Preparing to partition disk: WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B2
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600:       Partition Scheme: Apple Partition Map
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600:       1 volume will be created
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600:
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600:       Partition 1
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600:             Name       : MAC_HD640
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600:             Size       : 596.2 GB
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600:             Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600:
2009-11-02 10:15:20 -0600: Creating partition map.
2009-11-02 10:15:35 -0600: Formatting disk1s3 as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with name MAC_HD640.
2009-11-02 10:18:28 -0600: Partition failed for disk (null)  File system formatter failed.
2009-11-02 10:18:28 -0600: Partition failed for disk (null)  File system formatter failed.
2009-11-02 10:18:28 -0600: Partition complete.
2009-11-02 10:18:28 -0600:

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 07:52:06ID: 25730125

Is an underscore an illegal character?  I didn't think it would be, that is all i could think of.

 

by: socratesphiloPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:53:24ID: 25730143

What OSX install disc are you using?  If it's one made only for an Intel Mac it could cause errors are you're running on a PPC processor.

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:54:12ID: 25730155

I am going to suggest that it is not the HDD with issues but rather the sata drive controllers or the motherboard.  As a test, please try formatting the hdd in another Mac or Windows computer.  

For that matter, get yourself a sata to usb adapter and test formatting this way to rule out this possibility.

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:54:36ID: 25730161

Underscores are not illegal characters.

 

by: socratesphiloPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:54:41ID: 25730165

another thing to try is to use the "parition" tab to erase it rather than the "erase" tab.  Go there and choose "1 partition" and partition as Mac OS Extended Journaled with no odd characters.

Let us know the results.

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:56:02ID: 25730184

Underscore should be okay.

If you have a Win computer handy, initializing the disk on a WIn computer, then re-installing it on the Mac and re-initializing with Disk Utility sometimes solves this problem.

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-11-03 at 07:57:00ID: 25730198

By the way, when you are partitioning it, make sure you partition it as "Apple Partition Map", not GUID. That might be your problem. See:


http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1282849

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 07:59:46ID: 25730242

Thanks for all the help guys,

Socratesphilo - I already tried using the partition rather than the erase tab, same thing formatter failed error.

nappy-d - I did try to connect it via the USB adapter to both a windows machine and the MAC and it was not recognized.  On the Mac on boot up it see's the drive, but then after the format fails, it disapears and is not visible again  until the MAC is rebooted.

Strung - I did try this already as well, made sure it was APR - See Disk utility log a couple posts above.

Anything else?  

thanks again for your help.

-E-

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-11-03 at 08:01:48ID: 25730277

Have a look and see if there is anything else in the link I posted.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 08:05:42ID: 25730332

I actually read through that forum post yesterday, and no luck.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1282849

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-11-03 at 08:07:47ID: 25730361

Did you try fdisk on the Windows machine to see if it was physically recognizable?  The reason is because if it fails formatting on another platform, the partition table would not allow it to be seen by Windows but fdisk will see it and allow formatting.

This could also be an issue with the version of the disk utility app you are using.

What is the OS version that is currently on your Mac?

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-11-03 at 08:09:06ID: 25730377

If you can't format it from a Windows machine either, I suspect a faulty drive.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 08:10:25ID: 25730393

I was getting ready to try fdisk on my windows machine right now.  T

he MAC is running MAC OS X, as to what name that is Leopard i am not sure, as the flavors of MAC remind me like those of Linux, lol.

Either way I  just used my USB adapter to attach it on my windows machine and it doesn't see it at all.  unless i am doing something wrong and need to run an fdisk command in the cmd prompt.

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-11-03 at 08:18:29ID: 25730506

Yes you should try fdsik from the command line:

try this disk /mbr
then do fdisk
then from the menu view the disks
then back to the main menu and switch to the disk that is your new 560GB disk
format the disk
if all is good try it on the Mac again
if that fails, as strung pointed out, it may be a bad drive.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 08:41:23ID: 25730777

I will try this and get back with any findings.

Thanks

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 08:46:46ID: 25730851

I am trying disk /mbr it is not working

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-11-03 at 08:47:51ID: 25730866

Bad disk....

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 08:47:58ID: 25730869

should i be in the root directory?  C:\  or the windows folder?  also the drive is reognized as disk 2, but doesn't show in teh manage devices menus.  This is the first time the device is recognized by my windows machine.

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-11-03 at 09:12:24ID: 25731134

No.

Open your command line

Type fdisk and press enter.

In the fdisk menu change disks and format.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 09:27:50ID: 25731302

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>fdisk
'fdisk' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-03 at 09:51:28ID: 25731548

I am starting to lean for sure towards it being a bad drive, I have to leave for the day, but will be back in the AM.  Again thanks for all your help.  I will post in the morning what the final outcome is.

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-11-03 at 09:56:48ID: 25731609

Here go and download this Windows boot disk and boot from it and run fdisk.  BE CAREFULL NOT TO SELECT YOUR GOOD HDD!

Select one of the Win98 boot disks

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

 

by: cusamisPosted on 2009-11-08 at 13:14:26ID: 25771944

i had a similar problem with a 2GHz G5 machine... though with Seagate drives.   turns out i had to throttle back the drive settings via jumpers.  (which i thought i'd never have to revisit again with SATA)

jumper diagram for your drive is here:
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1974

you might try SSC and 1.5 separately as well as together to see if it helps.

as a fallback, if you've got to have more space and nothing else will work, consider adding an internal controller from sonnet or someone similar.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-11-12 at 10:42:34ID: 25807407

All is well turned out it was a bad HDD all together.  not even the WD Installer helped.  Thanks for the help guys, i will award points shortly.

 

by: ineedleladybraPosted on 2009-11-18 at 05:54:00ID: 25849694

It may not be a bad hard disk after-all. Read this;
http://www.rustyrazorblade.com/2008/02/file-system-formatter-failed/
It seems that WD have some issues with MAC's and there larger drives.

Have you at all, it's annoying, but have you tried to partition into two smaller partitions.

Give that a go and let me know.

 

by: PrOwLeR84Posted on 2009-12-21 at 05:13:06ID: 26095503

Sorry for the length in time in responding.  All is well.  It was an issue with the HDD.  I have since then replaced the HDD and all is working great.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

3 Ways to Join

30-Day Free Trial

The Experts

98% positive feedback on 31,087 answers since March 2000. angeliii is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with MS SQL Server & Develoment.

He has also proven his knowledge of Visual Basic Programming, PHP Scripting and Oracle Databases.

The Experts

97% positive feedback on 10,752 answers since July 2000. lrmoore has more than 18 years experience in the networking industry.

The six-time Mircosoft MVPs specialties include firewalls, virtual private networking, and network management.

Testimonials

"...and excellent source for support... Kind of like having your very own IT dept." Electriciansnet

Testimonials

"I was apprehensive at signing up at first. However... it has already made my life as an IT administrator much easier." JaCrews

Testimonials

"WOW! You guys have great, active, and knowledgeable people on here." moore50

Business Clients

Business Clients

In the Press

"If you’ve got a question... Experts Exchange can supply an answer.”

In the Press

"...an invaluable aid for both IT professionals and those who require tech support."

In the Press

"where IT professionals provide quick answers on just about any topic"

Business Account Plans

Loading Advertisement...