I had a power outage and now I can't access the drive and at first it wanted to format but said formatting wasn't possible

Buy a new one on Amazon. They are not expensive and are essentially throw away items.

Absolutely...just make sure you have any data you want to keep backed up. If there's no data, then it's pretty straight forward.

1. To format right click on My Computer (or just Computer in Windows 7) and select Manage.
2. Go down to Storage and select Disk Management
   
3. You'll see a list of drives connected to your system. If the drive you need to format doesn't have a partition, it will show as either Unallocated or Not Initialized.
4. If it's not initialized right click on the drive and select to initialize it.
   
5. Once complete, the box will show "Unallocated".
6. Right-click on the box to the right of the drive listing (Disk X) and select New Partition.
7. Accept all of the default parameters, or change the volume name it's up to you. You might want to select quick format to save some time.
   
8. The formatting will start and will be busy until complete.
   
9. Once the formatting is complete your drive will be accessible.
   

Hi
To "format C" means to format the the C drive, or the primary partition that Windows or your other operating system is installed on. When you format C, you erase the operating system and other information on the C drive.
However, it's not a straightforward process to format C. You can't format the C drive like you can format another drive in Windows because you're within Windows when you perform the format. To format C from within Windows would be like lifting a chair in the air while sitting on it - you can't do it.
The solution is to format C from outside of Windows, meaning you need a way to format a drive from somewhere other than your Windows installation. The easiest way to do this is to boot to an operating system (with formatting abilities) from a CD/DVD/BD drive, flash drive, or floppy drive.
This might all sound very complicated but it's actually quite easy to format C. Below are 5 completely free ways to format your C drive:
Note: If you're trying to format your C drive because you want to replace or reinstall Windows, you do not need to format C ahead of time. Formatting is done automatically during the Windows installation. Skip this article entirely and instead see How To Clean Install Windows.
Important: Formatting your C drive does not permanently erase the data on the drive. If you want to completely erase the information on the C drive, see Option 5 below, Wipe the Drive Clean With Data Destruction Software.
1. Format C From a Windows Setup Disc
The easiest way to format C is by completing part of a Windows installation. It's not easiest as far as number of steps goes, but since most of us have a Windows Setup DVD lying around, we have easy access to a means to format drives outside of Windows.
Important: You can only format C this way using a Windows 7 Setup disc or a Windows Vista Setup disc.
However, it doesn't at all matter what Windows operating system is on your C drive, including Windows XP. The only requirement is the disc you use to format C - either a Windows 7 or a Windows Vista Setup DVD. Feel free to borrow a friend's disc if you'd like to try this method but you only have Windows XP... or some other operating system.
2. Format C From a System Repair Disc
If you don't have access to a Windows Setup DVD, but you do still have access to a working copy of Windows 7, you can create a System Repair Disc and then boot to that disc and format C from there.
You can only format C using a System Repair Disc if you have access to Windows 7 to create the System Repair Disc. If you don't have access to Windows 7, find someone who does and create the repair disc from their computer.
Note: A System Repair Disc created from Windows 7 can format a C drive that has any Windows operating system on it, including Windows XP or Windows Vista.
3. Format C From Recovery Console
If you have a Windows XP Setup CD, you can format C from the Recovery Console.
The biggest caveat here is that you must also have Windows XP installed on your C drive. However, if you don't have access to Windows 7 or Windows Vista, this option may be your best to format C.
This Recovery Console method to format C also applies to Windows 2000. Recovery Console does not exist in Windows Vista or later, nor does it exist in Windows ME, Windows 98, or earlier.

I feel for you. Since you said it was a backup I would highly recommend getting another hard drive and backing up your data from the original machine before you lose it all, then work on recovering the existing one.

When the power went out it probably wrote garbage to the MBR and possibly other areas. If the data is as important as you say, I would contact a professional, one mistook could make the data unrecoverable.

I would suggest Electronic Restoration Services (http://ers-us.com) at 1-888-355-001) or any other realiable service.

You can always try rewriting the MBR with one of the many utilities available but be sure you know what you are doing. Only you know the value of the data on the drive.

Good Luck,
Gil Shultz

Hello,

you need to format the HD. The sudden power outage is the reason the unit is freezing. As a matter of fact, the HD is the cause of the freeze. The HD has not been able to recover from the sudden power outage.

Format the HD and hopefully the unit should be back to normal.

But if unit is not in order after formatting the HD, please let me know for further direction.

Good luck.

If your drive is showing up in the drive list, but you can't open it, it's possible that it is formatted for another file system (like, if you have a MAC and the drive is formatted for Windows.) If you are unsure of a file format to choose, I would recommend formatting the drive using the FAT32 file system, it's usually readable by both Windows and Apple computers. In Windows, you can right click on the drive and choose FORMAT. Apple you would use the Disk Utilities to format.

NOTE formatting a drive ERASES all data on the drive. So make sure you choose the correct drive to format. If you have not yet used the drive, you don't have to worry about it having any data on it to erase, however, if the drive was working previously, you don't want to format it, or else you will lose your data.

If the drive is not showing up in your list, it's possibly a power problem. Make sure the drive is plugged in to a live outlet, and make sure any switches on the drive are turned on. You should be able to hear the drive spinning if you put your ear to it after it's powered on....many drives also have a light that indicates it is receiving power.

If neither of these help, it's possible you have received a bad drive, or the enclosure that encases the drive (and has the power connectors and interface) is a problem. You may want to take it back and have it replaced by the manufacturer or retailer you purchased it from.

Good Luck

Hi,

The message you're getting indicates that windows/Mac isn't recognizing a valid file format on the drive. This usually results to to power loss(outage, tripping ove the cable or brownout), or due to being disconnected while the drive is active.

Although there is NO way you should format this as you're correct in assuming it will damage your data, there's also no surefire way to get the files back yourself. There are DIY methods I would recommend if you're on a tight budget and nothing on the drive is sentimental but considering the low cost of this type of data recovery I would suggest using a pro for this if possible.

Let me know if you prefer DIY instructions or the help of a pro, if you choose the latter include your Country, State and City in your reply so I can refer you to an appropriate pro.

Hope this helps FixYa,

Chris

Hi,
Do you want to format your C:?
if you want to format just insert a bootable windows service pack 2. It has a format option installing a new windows.

Or if you don't want to format because there is an important file..

insert windows service pack 2. then there is an option before the format if you want to repair or configure your old Operating System. You can access there. its default location is C:\WIndows\...

1. Download this tool:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4040651/HPUSBFW_2.2.3_MASTER.exe

2. Format

(Before removing USB flash drive click on the Safely Remove
Hardware icon and then click on USB flash drive you want to remove)

since the device uses usb power there is no way that you might be able to retrive data if the computer wants to format it.