How to reformat a non Windows HDD within Windows 10

Langtang

I posted on here a while back that my WD MyBookLive NAS drives had been subject to an online attack, and were subsequently wiped. WD got involved and the drives were sent back to WD for them to try and recover the files. This was successfully done and the files (but not drives) were returned to me.

Before I sent the drives off to WD, I took cloned copies of both drive "just in case"

I now do not need the backup drives and wish to format them to create storage drives. According to some on here, the WD drives were not in "Windows" format, but Linux (someone correct me if I'm wrong here) and would not be able to be reformatted by normal methods.

Can anyone here talk me through how to reformat these drives? They do not appear under "This PC, but do appear under Disk Management section of the Computer management programme within W10. this is how they look (both identical)



Right clicking on the far left box brings up the choices of new spanned or striped volumes - neither of which I want. Right clicking on the first 15Mb sector brings up New simple partition. Is this the one I need to use to format the complete drive? Will doing this erase all the other partitions to the right of the 15Mb partition?

The 931.50 unallocated section at the far right also brings up the new simple volume choice. do I also need to use simple volume on this partition too, or will doing it on the first one cover the whole disc.

Is there a (free - MSE content) programme that I need to download to make this task easier, or am I on the right tracks anyway.

I appreciate that this is an MSE forum and not a pc helpdesk, but I'd been given some incredible advice when creating the cloned disks in the first place that I thought I'd give it a try again (I did try and keep the threads together, by asking on my initial thread but it may have slipped under the radar)

Original thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6291096/how-to-create-an-image-of-my-hard-drive/p1 

cx6

rt-click on each in turn starting from the right and choose 'delete'

once everything is deleted you will see one big 'unallocated' - rt click on this and choose 'new simple volume'

[Deleted User]

Good to see you back @Langtang with good news about the files being recovered, I'm really pleased to hear that.

Above comment is spot on, nothing else for me to add other than the drives are probably ext3 or ext4 format which is the preferred Linux format.

Langtang

cx6 said:

rt-click on each in turn starting from the right and choose 'delete'

once everything is deleted you will see one big 'unallocated' - rt click on this and choose 'new simple volume'

Excellent, thank you kindly. 

[Deleted User] said:

Good to see you back @Langtang with good news about the files being recovered, I'm really pleased to hear that.

Above comment is spot on, nothing else for me to add other than the drives are probably ext3 or ext4 format which is the preferred Linux format.

Yes, all good with files. They’re all renamed in a random order but they’ve all been put into folders of the same file type - which will be a godsend. I think it’s c600,000 files or so, so just as well I’ve just retired 😀

I cannot thank you enough for guiding me through the process of cloning (I still have Macrium Reflect installed. Excellent programme)

I’ve just taken delivery of a Yottamaster 5 bay drive enclosure to house all the disks I bought. Looks pretty good on the desktop, I must say. 

Thanks again my friend. 

googler

I would have said look on WD's website for their downloadable utilities ...... install it or them, and ....

moneysaver1978

Langtang said:

I posted on here a while back that my WD MyBookLive NAS drives had been subject to an online attack, and were subsequently wiped. WD got involved and the drives were sent back to WD for them to try and recover the files. This was successfully done and the files (but not drives) were returned to me.

....

Original thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6291096/how-to-create-an-image-of-my-hard-drive/p1 

That's shocking. I was looking to buy NAS as I don't fancy the monthly subscription model. Glad you have managed to recover your data though!

Langtang

moneysaver1978 said:

Langtang said:

I posted on here a while back that my WD MyBookLive NAS drives had been subject to an online attack, and were subsequently wiped. WD got involved and the drives were sent back to WD for them to try and recover the files. This was successfully done and the files (but not drives) were returned to me.

....

Original thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6291096/how-to-create-an-image-of-my-hard-drive/p1 

That's shocking. I was looking to buy NAS as I don't fancy the monthly subscription model. Glad you have managed to recover your data though!

This was really an isolated event that only affected one line of their products. it has, however, put me off going back into NAS territory (not that I used it properly anyway)

NAS is a great idea, don't let the WD saga put you off.

Langtang

Thanks to all for their input. The drives are now formatted and running perfectly. Thanks again everyone.