External Drive saying Format

hip77

New Member
Messages
7
Hi All,

I have a laptop and bought a new 60GB SSD as a boot drive replacement for my 500GB SATA, I then wanted to use the 500GB in a USB caddy, for data storage.

I've installed windows 8.1 onto the SSD and it works fine, I then plug in the caddy SATA and it says, format the drive!

If I swap the drives back, (500GB in the laptop), it boots fine and I can see the SSD in the caddy fine as well.

Any ideas?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
Welcome to the forum. So you can't see any files in the caddy what does disk Management show for it? It's suggests that the caddy, cable USB port are faulty. You could do with trying another drive in the caddy to see if that works. Is the caddy powered or just USB if it's not powered it may not have enough power for the drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8 pro
Is your caddy a USB 3.0 or 2.0 caddy? A lot of USB 2.0 caddies lack the power to run the drive, and so have a 3 way USB cable. Does yours have said cable? If so, plug one end into a USB wall adaptor and the other into the PC, whilst obviously plugging one into the caddy. Also, does your caddy have a Micro/Mini USB plug or full sized? It could also be something to do with the formatting of the drive too. Does your PC have a UEFI or a BIOS?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Enterprise x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Portege Z20T
    CPU
    Intel Core M 5Y71
    Motherboard
    idk some toshiba oem thing
    Memory
    8GB DDR3-1600 (soldered)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated HD5300
    Sound Card
    Conexant HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1080P IPS Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Toshiba SATA M.2
    PSU
    45W Toshiba powerbrick
    Case
    yes
    Cooling
    a single plate of aluminium
    Keyboard
    chicclet
    Mouse
    yes
    Internet Speed
    50 mbps
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    n/a
Welcome to the forum. So you can't see any files in the caddy what does disk Management show for it? It's suggests that the caddy, cable USB port are faulty. You could do with trying another drive in the caddy to see if that works. Is the caddy powered or just USB if it's not powered it may not have enough power for the drive.

Thanks,
Disk Management says a single partition Raw (it has 5) I use the SSD in the caddy and it works fine. It's not powered, just two USB cables.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
Is your caddy a USB 3.0 or 2.0 caddy? A lot of USB 2.0 caddies lack the power to run the drive, and so have a 3 way USB cable. Does yours have said cable? If so, plug one end into a USB wall adaptor and the other into the PC, whilst obviously plugging one into the caddy. Also, does your caddy have a Micro/Mini USB plug or full sized? It could also be something to do with the formatting of the drive too. Does your PC have a UEFI or a BIOS?

2.0 Caddy, yes three way, will try plugging both in first. Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
Plugged both cables into the laptop, no difference. I don't have a USB wall adapter. Caddy has full size USB. Laptop has a BIOS. Both drives are MBR.

Tried deleting the USB Drivers, no change

Tried SATA caddy in another 8.1 PC, same problem.

It's using the usb to ata/atapi bridge driver
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
Interesting. If an SSD works it's a drive issue or a power issue, so that narrows it down. Does your laptop have any USB 3.0 ports? (Blue ones).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Enterprise x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Portege Z20T
    CPU
    Intel Core M 5Y71
    Motherboard
    idk some toshiba oem thing
    Memory
    8GB DDR3-1600 (soldered)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated HD5300
    Sound Card
    Conexant HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1080P IPS Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Toshiba SATA M.2
    PSU
    45W Toshiba powerbrick
    Case
    yes
    Cooling
    a single plate of aluminium
    Keyboard
    chicclet
    Mouse
    yes
    Internet Speed
    50 mbps
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    n/a
Also, if it was a power issue, wouldn't it be more off a power error, not a format message?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
You make a good point. I think your best option is to download a program like Macrium Reflect (Macrium Software | Your image is everything) and see if you can back it up to a disc image. If that succeeds, format the drive and restore the image to it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Enterprise x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Portege Z20T
    CPU
    Intel Core M 5Y71
    Motherboard
    idk some toshiba oem thing
    Memory
    8GB DDR3-1600 (soldered)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated HD5300
    Sound Card
    Conexant HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1080P IPS Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Toshiba SATA M.2
    PSU
    45W Toshiba powerbrick
    Case
    yes
    Cooling
    a single plate of aluminium
    Keyboard
    chicclet
    Mouse
    yes
    Internet Speed
    50 mbps
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    n/a
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