Problem Erasing external drive with Disk Utility

I've just purchased some Western Digital My Book Pro 1Tb firewire drives. They come pre-formatted for Windows. When I try to initialize them, Disk Utility returns a failed message & the drive then disappears from the desktop. It is still visible in Disk Utility. I can reformat as a FAT partition but not as a Mac partition. I tried connecting the drive to machine running Tiger and was able to format as a Mac partition. Is there a problem with Disk Utility in Leopard?

I have seen some behavior like this a few times before. When this happens I go to my Linux box and dd a bunch of zeros to the beginning of the drive, this will blow away any partition tables and such.
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=100k
This writes 50MB of zeros to the raw device "sdb" (this may be different depending on your system)
I've tried to dd from MacOSX, but for whatever reason it's painfully slow.

Similar Messages

Problems formatting external drive with Disk Utility

Hi all
I'm having some odd troubles with using Disk Utility to format an external hard drive. For some reason, it is giving me all sorts of errors and problems.
Currently, it will let me format the drive in MS-FAT, but won't let me copy certain files to it (it gives an error code). I'm currently trying to re-format the drive in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) but the status bar give me the following error and continues to do its 'pondering' instead of giving me a progress bar:
!http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5019/picture2csm.png!
It is currently sitting like that, not doing anything (not even going unresponsive).
What am I doing wrong here?
Cheers.

Wait, scratch that, it suddenly started working again.
For some reason, I had to partition it, with one partition a Mac OS partition and the other an MS-DOS FAT... hey ho, no idea.

Why is there large used space after erasing external drive with disk utility?

I just used disk utility to erase a 2 TB external hard drive. After erasing it, it shows that the disk has 12 folders, 62 files, and 852 mb of used space. I thought the "erase" function is supposed to format the disk? Where does the large used space come from?
By the way, the disk used to formatted as a windows disk. I suspect it has something to do with it but have no idea what. Any help is greatly appreciated!

HI - i do not think this is purely metadata. (though it could be with your windows disk with such small used memory) i have a 1TB macbook pro drive that i have tried to reformat
METHOD 1 (recommended by advanced Apple Techy) - select hard drive (not partition) select mac os (journalled) and press 'apply' - "this will format drive removing all data. it is always best to work with the drive and not partition, if you are formatting an entire drive."
result at end - drive still shows single partition 999GB WITH 668GB USED
METHOD 2 (after response from Apple techy) - select hard drive and mac os (journalled), press secure erase and select 'write zeros' takes 12 hours
result at end - drive still shows single partition 999GB WITH 668GB USED

Format External Drive with Disk Utility, Make it Windows Compatible

I have formatted my external drive using disk utility, and it works great on my Mac. But no Windows PC can read it, and I need to use it on Windows PCs. I tried formatting as MS-DOS FAT but that didn't work either. What can I do?
Thanks so much in advance.

I've run into the problem fairly regularly were I format a drive as FAT32 on the Mac, but Windows won't read it. I just reformat it from the Windows machine as FAT32. My Mac always reads and writes to it just fine, so it has never been a problem, just a minor mystery.
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

Problem partitioning external hard drive with Disk Utility

I'm trying to create a new partition in disk utility in an external hard drive using disk utility and every time I click Apply it says that "Disk Utility has lost its connection with the Disk Management Tool and can't continue. Quit and relaunch Disk Utility". It is a 3TB hard disk and I already created the first partition of 2 TB, and when I click the + symbol to add a 1 TB partition and click Apply is when the error shows up. I have restart the mac, unplugged the hard disk but the error still shows up. Anyone has any idea??? Thanks for your help in advance
David

I solved this issue. I was able to create the partition with the format MS-DOS and then I erased it to the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.
Now it is working OK. Hope this help someone

Unable to verify or repair my external hard drive with disk utility, reason being ...

Hello there,
I have been facing this problem: After I started getting an error 50 error while trying to view in Quicktime player a movie which I had exported from FCPX today, I found that I was not even able to trash the movie [this was a test movie used for export and I had no need for the same]. A little while later when I opened FCPX, I found this message pop up:
Got a little worried and then tried to verify and repair my hard drives using disk utility, but I could neither verify nor repair the disk. What should I do now?

Hello Klaus,
I think I have been able to overcome the problem/s.
I have been using my Seagate 2 TB drive [2 USB] with a FW adapter and was using FW connectivity for the past several months without any problems. About 2 months ago I added a 2 TB Lacie, FW, to my workflow and this EHD was daisychained to the Seagate. Had been facing no problem with this arrangement until today.
Now let me try to tell you what I had done:
I ejected the Seagate drive with the intention of reconnecting it again. But, no, when I tried to reconnect, this message came up:
After several attempts, I did this, connected the Lacie by FW to the FW port on the Mac and connected the Seagate by 2 USB. Was I glad to see my Seagate HD icons shining in all their glory on my desktop! I utilised the services of disk utility and was informed that these prodigal sons were absolutely fine.
I also tried to do this: empty the trash. Was I happy to hear the sound of files being cast out?
Well, well, at least I will be able to get some peaceful sleep now! I have not yet opened FCPX, but I trust it will also be reading the Seagate HD once again.
Good night and thanks for being helpful.

Burn ISO to USB or external HD with Disk Utility

I am desperately trying to burn a ISO file to a USB and external HD but Disk Utility does not want to. Instead I get the error message "Could not validate source - error 254". So there must be a problem with the source which is the ISO file.
I already tried setting the Partition Map Scheme to both Master Boot Record and GUID Partition Table. I also formatted the drive to FAT and HFS+. I cannot find the cause of this error. It clearly looks like Disk Utility does not like burning ISOs to USBs or HDs.
However, I really really need to this since I cannot burn ISOs with my SuperDrive which is also a common problem ( http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1918925&start=0&tstart=0 ) with my MacBook Pro.
I am 100% sure the ISO file is fine. Also checked the SHA-1 and everything else is fine. I should also mention that the ISO file is the Windows 7 RC. So yeah..this time it's not Windows' fault.
I just need a way to install Windows without using the optical drive. I don't even want to think about what I will do when Snow Leopard comes out...

Start with the google hits for a search of *error 254 disk utility.*

Change the partition of an external drive using Disk Utility?

I wish to change partition scheme, sizes, in an external drive. All the partitions are MacOS extended (Journaled) and they map, according to the layout in Disk Utility, as follows: Partion 1, 2, 3,4 where 1 is at the top and 4, the bottom. I want to make partition 2 larger, so I decreased partition 1 by half. Now the layout is 1 a, 1b, 2,3,4., where 1b is now free space. Disk Utility will not allow me to increase the size of partition 2 by dragging the corner. Which of the following options (if any) will allow me to increase the size of partition 2, without erasing the data, using Disk Utility:
Select partition 2 and manually writing a new value in the size box, equal to the present partition’s size plus the free space?
If I delete partition 1 completely, will I then be able to increase the size of partition 2?
If I delete partitions 1, 3, and 4, will I then be allowed to increase the size of partion 2?
Is there another option?
Thanks
(Actually, partition 3 is an eDrive, a data recovery utility created by TechTool Pro 7, so I don’t really know how it’s formatted.)
OS10.9.4, MacBook Pro, SeagateHD 1.5TB USB drive.

You cannot re-size the existing partitions in such a way that you can take the space from a shrunken partition and add it to another partition. Disk Utility cannot do that. If you have an existing partition that lives above another partition, then you can delete the lower partition in order to expand the upper partition into the freed up space. This concept applies to any additional partitions that are below another partition. Disk Utility can do this. You can resize down, but not up, except when creating new partitions. You would need third-party software such as iPartition 3.4.3 to accomplish that feat.

Can I create a raid drive with disk utility

I recently bought a 2TB seat gate external drive.
I want to use this drive with time machieve as well as set it up as a raid drive to strode photos.
Is this possible to do with disk utility?

Hello
you can not make any kind on RAID type with only one hard drive you need at least tow drive to perform a RAID volume
then , hard drive utility can be use to perform software raid ( Level 0 an Level 1 only )
for more info about RAID technologie http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID
Pierre

Problems verifying external HDD in Disk Utility

I initially had a problem with iPhoto suddenly unable to open due to problems with permissions. The original thread can be found here.
After several posters helping me isolate my problem, it seems that my new 4TB Seagate external HDD is not playing nice (cannot create a new iPhoto Library on the external HDD, but I am able to create a new iPhoto Library in my Pictures folder).
Thus I was asked to "Verify" my external HDD via Disk Utility. I managed to, but apparently it was pointed out that it was missing the verification process usually appears in green: "The volume *** appears to be ok."
What could be the problem with my external HDD that is playing havoc with my iPhoto Library?
As you can see that the external HDD have been properly formatted to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in 8 February 2015. It has been working fine as my iPhoto Library destination until recently.
SPECS
Mac Mini (Mid 2011)
OSX 10.10.2

Wait, scratch that, it suddenly started working again.
For some reason, I had to partition it, with one partition a Mac OS partition and the other an MS-DOS FAT... hey ho, no idea.

Copying a drive with Disk Utility

I have a USB drive used for Time Machine that is failing. Disk Utility says it can't fix it, but says I can copy files from it.
I attached a new drive and am using Disk Utility's "Restore" function to clone the new drive from the failing one (both are 1TB drives).
Disk Utility says on the screen that it is "copying blocks". Does this mean it's doing an image copy rather than a file-by-file copy? It seems to me an image copy in this case might be bad, because it could cause any file or directory corruption on the old drive to be copied to the new drive.
Are my worries justified? Would I be better off just using the Finder to copy files? Are there third-party programs that might be better? (DiskWarrior says it can't fix the old drive because of insufficient memory.)

I have SuperDuper! but didn't have it installed on that machine and thought I would give the Disk Utility process a try.
I'm fairly sure SuperDuper! must use file copying, not image copying, and I suspect Disk Utility does too. But that "copying blocks" message made me wonder.
BTW, Disk Utility is telling me it's going to take over 24 hours to copy the terabyte. Both drives are connected via USB 2.0.

Ok to use computer while restoring a drive with Disk Utility?

Hey everyone,
I'm backing up my HD onto an external by using Disk Utility's restore function. I was wondering if it was ok for me to use my computer during this process or if it'll screw up the process. I know it'll make it go slower, but I was wondering if that was the only draw back.
Thanks alot!
Message was edited by: ewanog

No, not is not wise. Run the program and than continue. I know this takes a while, yet wait until you go to Leopard, in which the average time is over 10 minutes. But, please do not interrupt Disk Utility.
Ray

Unable to erase external hard drive with Disk Utility

Macbook Pro (mid 2010) running 10.9
Hello
Recently, my Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1 TB external hard drive has not been showing up on my desktop or in finder. The light is on when connected, and in the Disk Utility it appears.
1. It was naturally created with a partition on it (all of the 1TB allocated to it) and it appears in the Disk Utility as well; however, it is grayed out.
2. I clicked the actual drive in DU and it was verified as being ok. I clicked on the partition next to verify and it said "Error disk needs repaired"
3. So I clicked repair, "Disk Utility cannot repair the disk..restore as many as your backed-up files...etc."
4. No problem (the data on the hard drive is used for my Time Machine back ups and my current internal hard drive is working fine with all the data intact)
5. Ok, so I click the erase tab on the entire external hard drive...erase..."Disk cannot be unmounted"
6. Ok, I try to erase the invidual partition..."Could not open disk"
It seems every time I try to erase this drive completely im hitting blocks. I even tried this method from the OS X Recovery menu (Command+R on startup). I would greatly appreciate any help to just get this whole thing external hard drive erased and start anew. How else would I go about this?
(pictures for reference)
Thank you all

If this is your only backup device, you need to start a new backup on another drive immediately. Don't erase (or try to erase) your only backup.
After you have the other backup, boot into Recovery and try again to erase the volume. You will have to unlock it before you can do anything with it, because it's encrypted.
If you still can't erase it, the drive has failed.

HT1553 How to backup an image of internal hard drive on external hard drive with disk utility

I've followed the instructions under the paragraphph 'Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility
in this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1553. My external hard drive is plugged in. I mount my install DVD of Leopard and restart. Press C to boot on the DVD, select the language and go to Utilities -> Disk utility.
However I'm blocked in step 9 when I have to choose the destination. I don't have the option to select my hard drive to back up the image. I only have 2 options: root or Applications to save the image. Nevertheless, I can see my external hard on the left.
- Could it be because the internal hard drive is encrypted?
- Could it be because the external hard drive is encrypted?
Note also that the button 'Verify disk' is greyed out.
Any clue?

I always advise Mac users to never:
encrypt a disk
set a firmware password
In my experience they cause more loss of data than they are worth.
On Leopard I always use the latest free Carbon Copy Cloner to backup and clone disks - it is so simple to clone to either a disk or disk image. The free version may not be compatible with later OSs.
As you appear to be on the wrong forum I will follow this with my standard message.
Whilst it may not be your fault I am afraid it appears that your post is on a forum which is not the best for your OS. It will save the time of the unpaid volunteers here, and may resolve your issue faster, if you could examine the list below and see if there is a more appropriate forum to which you could direct your question.
OS X 10.9 Mavericks
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
OS X 10.7 Lion
OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
OS X 10.5 Leopard
OS X 10.4 Tiger
OS X 10.3 and earlier
OS 9, OS 8 & System 7
OS X Technologies
OS X Server
iPad
iPhone
iPod
Other

I create a new partition in an external hard drive with disk utility. Now it says mounting disk and it's taking forever. Is that normal? Please help!

I have an external hard drive from seagate. Tonight I decided to give it a try and add a new partition to it so I could have a bootable version of mountain lion in it it just in case of emergency and no internet. After creating the partition, disk utility says "mountain disk", and its been doing it for at least 20 minutes and not moving... Any ideas? btw, now the external drive is not even showing on the left-side bar...
Thanks!

I would try reformatting the drive and creating the partition again. Make certain that you erase the drive and format it as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" and the partition the drive.
What you describe is not normal... try again.
Clinton

Problem Erasing external drive with Disk Utility

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for