Issues with 2.5 internal HDD

[copperfacejack]

Hi
I'm having some issues with a Toshiba 500GB 2.5 internal drive. I can't get it to format, been through the usual like 'Windows couldn't complete the format etc, but when I look in Device Manager, it says the drive is working properly. It is also acknowledged in Disk Management, all report a healthy drive.
When I try it in Acronis Disk Dir.12,it can't see it, in True Image 15, it can see the drive but it's greyed out if I try to write to it. There are various error messages that have appeared, like the one above, but I can't get it running again. It was running perfectly, and it hasn't been physically dropped or anything, the drive dates back to November 2013 and was bought as a back up drive, has had very little use at all.

If it's relevant, the info on the drive is
Disk Drive MQ01ABD050
Disk Rev AZA AA00/AX001U
S/N Y3RUSWSTS RE8 HDKE803AZA01 S

Thanks

[drHDD]

Hello
Try to check it by MHDD or Victoria.
Thanks.

[fzabkar]

Can we see the SMART report? You could use CrystalDiskInfo.

http://crystalmark.info/software/Crysta ... dex-e.html

[copperfacejack]

Hi

Well first of all, thanks for the suggestions, I tried the MMHD, and to be quite honest, I couldn't understand it. The Victoria, was apparently not too enamoured with my 64bit SW and the CrystalDiskInfo, I couldn't even get that to download properly, my fault I know. So I tried another piece of software called HD Tune, it's on a friends PC and he let me use it. The options show that it supports the SMART facility in the info tab that fzabkar refers to, but my ignorance shows through again as I can't discover how to extract the report (the owner wasn't there when I used the PC). I did a screen capture showing the health tab but I don't know it's of any use because the 'upload attachment' bar at the bottom of the post won't allow me to attach the file, perhaps that's because I'm new, I don't know. I ran the error scan and all the blocks were green, none damaged. The drive is connected through a docking station but although it connects OK, it's not stable in that it will drop out again, then indiscriminately reappear - in disk management that is. There are no obvious errors apparent, then again,I don't know whether there should be, I think I just rather hoped the HD Tune SW would simply highlight any discrepancies, but there you go. I'll try the suggestions from spildit, thanks to you too, tomorrow when I get chance. I don't want this to drag on and cause any hassle, after all the cost of replacement ain't worth too much aggro, but I do appreciate the efforts thus far.

Many thanks again

[copperfacejack]

OK, I tried spildit's suggestion regarding the erase, but the message came back to remove the partitions before attempting this procedure. As far as I can see there is but one single volume, nothing shows up in Windows. It's odd the way the drive drops in and out, the error messages telling me how Windows couldn't complete the format, also that the drive is write protected - really got me that one. But running it through HD Tune shows no apparent errors, but it's clear there are problems beyond my comprehension, so there's a nice little space for it in the bin, so to speak. But thanks again for your efforts, I have learned some things, never realized these beasts were so complicated. I particularly like the potential preventative measures that can help determine when a disk is failing. So I'll keep coming back to the forum, try to learn a little more, until now I simply relied on Acronis, but that SW does seem a little crude and basic, the language used on the site here is complex, but intriguing too.

Good luck