External HD formatting

[Rex]

Recently started another thread regarding whether an external SATA hd, fitting within an Icy Box SATA/USB enclosure, needed internal cables, which where not supplied. The answer is, it does not. The hd just slides onto the SATA data and power connectors and all is (almost) fine.

I'm using W2k with a new Hitachi T7K250, 160 gb hd. This is a SATA hd and is connected to my T22 via USB. I can see the new hd in My Computer; I can see it under Administrative Tools, but it is unformatted. Last night, I did a NTFS format of it and after about 99% complete, I get the message 'Windows is unable to complete the operation.'

I had this problem previously with a 2.5" hd. I resolved it by putting that into my laptop, formating it and returning it to the enclosure. Obviously, I am unable to do this with a 3.5" drive.

Grateful for any advice as at the moment, the hd is useless!

Many thanks,

Rex

[Rex]

Update and new problem!

I have managed to format and partition the new external SATA drive by using the T22's USB1 socket rather than the PCMCIA USB2 card that I was previously trying to use.

The new problem is that now, I constantly get the W2k message of 'Unsafe Removal of Mass Storage Device' jumping up, even when I have not removed the device. Occassionally, the external drive icon (I:) flashes onscreen in My Computer, just before the removal message. If I click OK or close, the drive icon vanishes and a few seconds later the unsafe removal message reappears.

If it ain't one thing, it's another!

Grateful for any advice,

Many thanks,

Rex