jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that a local guy gave me two HDD cases-boxes-holders(?). You put drives into them, and connect them to your computer. I have a 2-drive LaCie and a 4-drive Buffalo. One of the drives is driving me crazy. It's a 3TB HGST. When I connect it, the computer beeps. It shows up as Disk E, but when I try to access it, I get , "E is not accessible. The request failed due to a fatal hardware error."

I used Disk Manager, and it sees a 3TB drive, "not initialized, unallocated," and it began formatting it. No good. It started but stopped because of a problem. Using Diskpart, I began formatting it, but it stopped because of "an incorrect parameter."

I don't like to give up on things, but this seems to be a dead end. The computer can see and access the drive, but that's as far as it gets. I could buy another one for $35, but I'd be willing to spend (waste) all day playing around with this one.

I looked online for solutions, but nothing has worked. I'd appreciate any suggestions, but this is probably waiting to be disassembled so I can maybe use the parts for something else. These drives have great magnets. : )

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

If I understand correctly,...
I would try another drive in the case. If that drive doesn't work either, I'd loose the case.

Brian S. Loc: Oak Park, MI

Now you know why he gave them to you.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I should have explained this better. I haven't even turned the cases on yet. I put the drives into one of those desktop adapters to see what was on them. You know the kind - you can quickly insert and remove a drive.
That's when I came across this odd one.

The guy had the original cardboard boxes, all the packing materials, and even all the little screws. I was surprised at that. I'm assuming they work. Looking up the Buffalo on Amazon, it's listed for $1,263, which seems kinda pricey. It's a very nice unit with lots of operating options.

https://smile.amazon.com/Buffalo-DriveStation-4-Drive-Desktop-HD-QL12TU3R5/dp/B004Z9Y008/ref=sr_1_5?crid=21C3RRTXYT4M4&keywords=buffalo+12+tb&qid=1676730884&sprefix=buffalo+12+tb%2Caps%2C502&sr=8-5

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow, years ago I got a dual drive dock at B&H for maybe $70 (now $99), built like a tank, works great (made by OWC).

If other drives work in your dock, I would suspect the one drive that doesn't.

BebuLamar

In this case try another HDD with the adapter. I had adapter that wen bad on me and did something similar.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've tried different everything.

I have one drive that doesn't show up at all and this odd one. All the others are fine. The next time I go to my computer repair guy, I'll bring the drive and see if it's recoverable.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

A 1/4" hole drilled halfway between the center and outer edge of the unit will put an end to your frustrations and you can use your time more productively like making ukes and cases!

BebuLamar

My point is to find out if the drive is good or bad or the problem is else where. When I know for sure the problem is with the drive I simply toss it. It's not worth trying to fix the drive.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's definitely the drive. What's frustrating is that it begins formatting, but then it runs into a problem. If I can't get it working, I'll take it apart.

BebuLamar

I took a few drives apart but then I don't know what to do with them. The platten spin well and the head sometimes moves but I can't make it do anything useful.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Recycle them.
Hopefully you wiped them before you took them apart.

I wouldn't re-assemble and use unless the opening and re-assembly was done in a clean booth.
Dust just got introduced to the drive insides.
Heads and dust do not get along. Dust wins, eventually.

BebuLamar

The motor spin fast so I was thinking of removing the platten and use the motor for a fan. And no you can't wipe them with software because as Jerry said his drive doesn't format. What about demag the platten?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, I wiped the drive. I sprayed it with Winder, and then I wiped it with a microfiber cloth.

Diskpart did a Clean. No one will ever have access to these platters

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Demagnetizing might work, the platters underneath might not get the full strength of the magnetic field though (farther from the magnet), unless maybe one used the head control magnet, those buggers are very powerful.
Maybe an old bulk tape eraser might work better.