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Question

How do I reformat SATA drive after it's been formatted......

Jan 25, 2015 8:19AM PST

Using WIN 8.1 and WIN 7 on different machines.

I have a couple SATA drives which I connected externally to my COX TV box for extra storage space. After removing them from that job I connected them to my computer to reformat them using a SATA docking station.

When the docking station is turned on the computer "bing/bongs" like it's supposed to to indicated it sees the drive, but the drive does not show up in Windows Explorer or in "Computer Management". Not being able to "see" the drive I'm unable to reformat it.

How can I reformat the drive?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
If you can't see it in Windows Disk Management
Jan 25, 2015 8:31AM PST

I'd try a bootable GPARTED CD next. It's not as picky as Windows.
Bob

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Answer
Entertainment drives
Jan 26, 2015 1:07AM PST

use a different format and that alone curses the PC when its returns or wants to play. I found, simply to wipe out the HD entirely not caring whatever is on it by using KILLDISK or DBAN dHD cleaners/erasers. That way it becomes totally blank and typical PC format can access it all again. GPARTed also will do the trick as Robert offered just be sure you know which partition or HD is being addressed, as multiple setups are common now.

FYI- I re-use HD from DVRs and such whether for security or entertainment and this problems crops-up often. But, I'm not trying to save anything. just get the HD back for PC installs.

tada -----Willy Happy