Cannot partition external USB hard drives

hardbap · hardbap #1 (**permalink**)

11-08-2007, 08:43 AM

I have 2 IDE hard drives, Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 200GB and Hitachi Deskstar 7200rpm 250GB, that I have attached via a Vantec NexStar NST-350U2 external USB enclosure. I have a MBP running Leopard.

I'm am trying to create a single GUID partition and format the drives with Mac OS Extended (Journaled) using Disk Utility. When I attempt to create a partition it hangs at "Creating partition map". Here is the log:

2007-11-08 08:22:41 -0500: Disk Utility started.

2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Preparing to partition disk: “USB 2.0 Storage Device Media”
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Partition Scheme: GUID Partition Table
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: 1 volume will be created
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500:
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Partition 1
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Name : “Seagate”
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Size : 186.3 GB
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500:
2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Creating partition map.
2007-11-08 08:32:07 -0500: Partition failed for disk USB 2.0 Storage Device Media Input/output error
2007-11-08 08:32:08 -0500: Partition complete.
2007-11-08 08:32:08 -0500:
2007-11-08 08:32:08 -0500: Error with partition: Input/output error

The funny things is that I was able to do this on the drives before. I am having some trouble with Time Machine and I needed to erase the drives numerous times during my troubleshooting. I can also partition and format the drives in WinXP without a problem.

Any help is much appreciated.

powerbook · powerbook #2 (**permalink**)

11-08-2007, 12:31 PM

Don't know if this will help, but I would try and zero out the hard drives.

I have noticed that sometime when I need to format and partition a HD, it acts like something is still writing to the disk and not letting me format it correctly.

If you go to http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/sup...ads/discwizard and d/l the diskwizard, then burn it to a CD.

If you connect the extra HD's to your Windows Box and then boot up your Windows with the diskwizard in the CD-Rom, you will have the option to zero out any drive connected to your computer.

It may take a while to zero out a large HD, but when it is done it will be completely wiped clean. After that I would try and hook it up to you Mac again and try to format.

Hope that helps. Good Luck.

hardbap · hardbap #3 (**permalink**)

11-08-2007, 09:20 PM

@powerbook - that worked perfectly! Thank you very much.

powerbook · powerbook #4 (**permalink**)

11-09-2007, 01:27 PM

Excellent, glad I could help. Have fun.

-powerbook

jamesl · jamesl #5 (**permalink**)

08-29-2008, 09:19 AM

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I have the same problem with my Western Digital Caviar 200GB drive. I have it mounted in an enclosure going through USB 2.0.

2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Preparing to erase : “Untitled”
2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Partition Scheme: GUID Partition Table
2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: 1 volume will be created
2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Name : “Untitled”
2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Size : 186.3 GB
2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Creating partition map.
2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Disk Erase failed with the error:

Input/output error
2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900: Erase complete.
2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900:
2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900: Erase complete.
2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900:
2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900: Error with partition Input/output error
2008-08-29 22:11:21 +0900: Erase complete.
2008-08-29 22:11:21 +0900:
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Preparing to partition disk: “WDC WD20 00JB-00GVA0 Media”
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Partition Scheme: Apple Partition Map
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: 1 volume will be created
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900:
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Partition 1
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Name : “Untitled 1”
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Size : 186.3 GB
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900:
2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Creating partition map.
2008-08-29 22:12:56 +0900: Partition failed for disk WDC WD20 00JB-00GVA0 Media Input/output error
2008-08-29 22:12:56 +0900: Partition complete.
2008-08-29 22:12:56 +0900:
2008-08-29 22:12:57 +0900: Error with partition: Input/output error

Thanks in advanced!

powerbook #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 06, 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 30 Mac Specs: PowerBook G4 - 768 SDRAM - 667 MHz - 15" - Keeping it REAL..... real old that is...	11-08-2007, 12:31 PM Don't know if this will help, but I would try and zero out the hard drives. I have noticed that sometime when I need to format and partition a HD, it acts like something is still writing to the disk and not letting me format it correctly. If you go to http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/sup...ads/discwizard and d/l the diskwizard, then burn it to a CD. If you connect the extra HD's to your Windows Box and then boot up your Windows with the diskwizard in the CD-Rom, you will have the option to zero out any drive connected to your computer. It may take a while to zero out a large HD, but when it is done it will be completely wiped clean. After that I would try and hook it up to you Mac again and try to format. Hope that helps. Good Luck. There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary, and those who don't.
	QUOTE Thanks

powerbook #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 06, 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 30 Mac Specs: PowerBook G4 - 768 SDRAM - 667 MHz - 15" - Keeping it REAL..... real old that is...	11-09-2007, 01:27 PM Excellent, glad I could help. Have fun. -powerbook There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary, and those who don't.
	QUOTE Thanks

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Cannot partition external USB hard drives

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hardbap #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 08, 2007 Posts: 2	11-08-2007, 08:43 AM I have 2 IDE hard drives, Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 200GB and Hitachi Deskstar 7200rpm 250GB, that I have attached via a Vantec NexStar NST-350U2 external USB enclosure. I have a MBP running Leopard. I'm am trying to create a single GUID partition and format the drives with Mac OS Extended (Journaled) using Disk Utility. When I attempt to create a partition it hangs at "Creating partition map". Here is the log: 2007-11-08 08:22:41 -0500: Disk Utility started. 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Preparing to partition disk: “USB 2.0 Storage Device Media” 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Partition Scheme: GUID Partition Table 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: 1 volume will be created 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Partition 1 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Name : “Seagate” 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Size : 186.3 GB 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled) 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: 2007-11-08 08:23:41 -0500: Creating partition map. 2007-11-08 08:32:07 -0500: Partition failed for disk USB 2.0 Storage Device Media Input/output error 2007-11-08 08:32:08 -0500: Partition complete. 2007-11-08 08:32:08 -0500: 2007-11-08 08:32:08 -0500: Error with partition: Input/output error The funny things is that I was able to do this on the drives before. I am having some trouble with Time Machine and I needed to erase the drives numerous times during my troubleshooting. I can also partition and format the drives in WinXP without a problem. Any help is much appreciated.
	QUOTE Thanks

jamesl #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 21, 2008 Posts: 29 Mac Specs: 15.4" MBP, 2.4ghz Penryn, OSX 10.5.6, 200gb HDD, 4gb ram; 32gb iPod Touch	08-29-2008, 09:19 AM Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I have the same problem with my Western Digital Caviar 200GB drive. I have it mounted in an enclosure going through USB 2.0. 2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Preparing to erase : “Untitled” 2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Partition Scheme: GUID Partition Table 2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: 1 volume will be created 2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Name : “Untitled” 2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Size : 186.3 GB 2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled) 2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Creating partition map. 2008-08-29 22:11:19 +0900: Disk Erase failed with the error: Input/output error 2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900: Erase complete. 2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900: 2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900: Erase complete. 2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900: 2008-08-29 22:11:20 +0900: Error with partition Input/output error 2008-08-29 22:11:21 +0900: Erase complete. 2008-08-29 22:11:21 +0900: 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Preparing to partition disk: “WDC WD20 00JB-00GVA0 Media” 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Partition Scheme: Apple Partition Map 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: 1 volume will be created 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Partition 1 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Name : “Untitled 1” 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Size : 186.3 GB 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Filesystem : Mac OS Extended (Journaled) 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: 2008-08-29 22:12:55 +0900: Creating partition map. 2008-08-29 22:12:56 +0900: Partition failed for disk WDC WD20 00JB-00GVA0 Media Input/output error 2008-08-29 22:12:56 +0900: Partition complete. 2008-08-29 22:12:56 +0900: 2008-08-29 22:12:57 +0900: Error with partition: Input/output error Thanks in advanced!
	QUOTE Thanks

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