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View Full Version : Need App to wipe out MBR on USB External drive..

Shinobi
03-11-07, 02:02 PM
Is there any Windows app out there, that could wipe out the MBR on USB External drive?

Thanks. :)
TonyT
03-11-07, 08:00 PM
The external hd is bootable?
Shinobi
03-11-07, 08:04 PM
The external hd is bootable?

It was at one point. :)
mnosteele52
03-11-07, 08:25 PM
You should be able to just format it, try using your computer management tools.

:)
Shinobi
03-11-07, 08:28 PM
You should be able to just format it, try using your computer management tools.

:)

Does formating it get rid of the Master Boot Record?
mnosteele52
03-11-07, 08:53 PM
Yeah, a format erases everything, it replaces your filesystem.

:)
Shinobi
03-11-07, 09:18 PM
Yeah, a format erases everything, it replaces your filesystem.

:)

Hmm.. I thought a low level format could do that..
... but a regular format, wouldn't touch where a boot loader is, on the hard disk.. :confused:
TonyT
03-12-07, 06:07 AM
Hmm.. I thought a low level format could do that..
... but a regular format, wouldn't touch where a boot loader is, on the hard disk.. :confused:
Yes, even a quick formart gets rids of a mbr. The mbr gets written to disk after a formatted partition has been flagged as bootable, else no mbr is written to the partition (disk).
morbidpete
03-12-07, 06:32 AM
if your still scared and not cnvinced about the mbr being erased. you can do it thru the repair option wiht the xp setup disc
Shinobi
03-12-07, 11:27 PM
Well I formated the USB Hard Drive. (FAT32) Then loaded some files on it.
My Bios is still set to boot from USB HD , before the internal IDE Hard Drive.
IWhen I reboot my computer, I get GRUB (the linux boot loader) and then everything freezes.
I turn off that USB Hard Drive, reboot, goes into Windows XP.

Not to be rude.. but how can that "GRUB" bootloader still be on the hard drive, if you guys say that formatting it wipes out everything out?
Sorry.. this just frustrates me :irate:
YARDofSTUF
03-13-07, 12:04 AM
fdisk /mbr, FTW.
Shinobi
03-13-07, 11:25 PM
fdisk /mbr, FTW.

Hmm.. I didn't think you could fdisk /mbr USB External drives...
YARDofSTUF
03-14-07, 04:54 AM
Hmm.. I didn't think you could fdisk /mbr USB External drives...

hrmm, evil usb! Ya fdisk wouldnt know usb huh?

Is it just a reg drive in usb enclosure?
TonyT
03-14-07, 07:57 AM
If grub is still on the usb drive then you failed to delete the partitions prior to formatting. Delete ALL partitions, including non-windows, create a new partition, then format it. R U certain grub is not on hd0?
YeOldeStonecat
03-14-07, 08:30 AM
Give "Delpart" a shot.
Shinobi
03-14-07, 11:09 PM
If grub is still on the usb drive then you failed to delete the partitions prior to formatting. Delete ALL partitions, including non-windows, create a new partition, then format it. R U certain grub is not on hd0?

I have deleted all partitions and re-formated.. the only thing I am trying differently now is formating the 10 gig drive as NTFS vice FAT32.

Nope.. not on hd0... only happy sda :-)
Shinobi
03-14-07, 11:09 PM
Give "Delpart" a shot.

Tks.. I'll give that a shot..
TonyT
03-15-07, 05:06 AM
if no joy, set the usb drive to be first boot device, then cdrom, then hd. Disconnect any hard drives & boot using one of those emerg boot cds w/ dos utils on it, such as mbr-wipe. Try to delete the usb mbr that way. Or use a win 98 floppy w/ usb support and do fdisk /mbr. Bootdisk.com has a guide on how to add usb support to a boot floppy.
(check PMs for link to a custom bootcd)
Shinobi
03-16-07, 12:30 AM
FIXED! This is what I was looking for..
This App "HDD Low Level Format Tool"
formats External USB and Firewire Hard drives.
It freeware, and the author looks like he has a bunch
more cool stuff on his site.
http://hddguru.com/content/en/software/

My Tks goes to mnosteele52,YoS,Yosc and TonyT.. :thumb:
Shinobi
03-16-07, 10:02 AM
Now Fedora Core 6 is installed and bootable on the usb drive. :D :thumb:
Gorignak320
12-22-08, 05:55 PM
Some time back (before I even knew what MBR was) I was messing around with computer settings and messed up my external hard drive (I learned alot the hard way, hehe)- and I'm assuming I ruined the drives mbr. I know it's a software issue and not hardware, but the drive doesn't work. If window's won't even recognise the drive, how can I go about formatting?
YeOldeStonecat
12-22-08, 05:58 PM
Does it show in the BIOS during bootup?
Does it show in Device Manager from within Windows?
Gorignak320
12-22-08, 06:01 PM
In the device manager, yes. I get code 10 (Device cannot start) and have tried all of the troubleshooting advice. I've not noticed if BIOS recognizes it or not.
morbidpete
12-22-08, 11:50 PM
that err or is more of a hardware issue. not the MBR or partition issue. i would check power cables, usb cable. even a different slot. With an error 10 windows has the proper drivers installed but the device will not respond kind of thing
YeOldeStonecat
12-23-08, 07:19 AM
Is there any data on this drive that you need?
Gorignak320
12-23-08, 06:28 PM
Well, it's recognized now but still wont read.
In device manager it shows up under disk drives with the correct device name, and properties says its working fine. But Under the Volume tab when I click populate it comes back with unreadable.
Anyway, I figured it's software related because I had tried to put a partition on it and it worked up until I did that (I didn't know what I was doing at the time).
Gorignak320
12-23-08, 06:29 PM
Only a bunch of music that I can do without. I'm fine with wiping it all, just can't figure out how to do it, hehe.
Gorignak320
12-26-08, 12:13 AM
Anyone know anything about SeaTools?
At first when I got this none of the tests were available for my drive, but after a few tries I got the short generic test to run- and it passed. The long generic then failed. I can't seem to find what this means though; at the seagate site i can really only find customer service support, which I don't qualify for.