If you want to know how to forcefully format hard drive, SSD, or do any data recovery task on your system then this article will help you with that.
If you own a computer with a hard drive or an SSD, then you know how frustrating it can be when you accidentally delete something important. Or maybe you just want to make sure that your data is always backed up. In this article, we’ll show you how to forcefully format a hard drive or SSD so that everything on it is erased.
This method is useful if you need to clear the room on your hard drive for another file, or if you need to reformat your SSD in order to use it with another computer.
Many people have encountered the “external hard drive won’t format” problem when trying to format an external HDD or SSD, a Micro SD card, a USB flash drive, a pen drive, or other device. “Windows was unable to complete the format” or “the format was not completed correctly” are possible error messages.
Because it erases all the data in an instant, formatting a hard disk or SSD is the same as returning the drive to a clean state, similar to when it was new. Internal and external storage media can be cleaned while formatting the hard drive.
We’ll walk you through the process of using the command prompt to format a hard disk step-by-step. But, before you do so, make sure you’ve backed up all of your data to avoid losing it forever.
Table of Contents
Why is an external hard drive not formatting?
In general, the following conditions may cause an external hard disk to refuse to format:
- A virus or malware infection
- Negative industries
- DLL, SYS, or EXE files that are missing or damaged
- A hard drive partition that has been corrupted.
- Write protection on the disk
- A hard drive that has been incorrectly formatted
- Incompatible or out-of-date hardware drivers, BIOS, and so on.
If the aforementioned situation happens, you may receive alerts like “external hard disk won’t format.”
The disk has not been formatted.
Before you can utilize the disk on drive F, you must first format it.
There is no recognized file system on this drive.
In such instances, many people opt to use the CHKDSK to resolve the problem. When you run chkdsk, however, you may get the error CHKDSK reports RAW.
Fortunately, we’ll show you another two efficient solutions to fix the Seagate, WD, or other brand’s external hard drive not formatted problem in this article.
How to Forcefully Format Hard Drive, SSD
Method 1: Using CMD to Format an External Hard Drive
Step 1: Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

Connect your PC to the external hard disk (HDD, SSD, USB drive, or other device) you want to format.
To enter the Command Prompt as Administrator, use “Win + R” to open the “Run” window, input “cmd,” and hit “Enter.”
STEP 2: Employ Diskpart

Type “diskpart” and hit Enter once the command line is open.
Step 3: Type List Disk.

A diskpart window will appear when you run the command above. Enter ‘List disk’ into this window.It will provide a list of all available drives.
STEP 4: Choose a Drive for Formatting

As demonstrated above, type “select disk (disk number)“. Enter the number of the drive that has to be formatted.
Step 5: Clean the Hard Drive

Type “clean” in this step. This command will erase all files and folders permanently, as well as clean up the drive.
Step 6: Create a Primary Partition

Type “Create partition primary” to restore access to the drive.
STEP 7: Format the Hard Drive
Now use the FAT or NTFS file systems to format the drive. Type “format fs=ntfs” and press Enter.
Step 8: Create a Drive Letter

You can type “assign” to assign a drive letter, as seen below.
Method 2: Using AOMEI Partition a free partition manager to force format an external hard drive.
If you still can’t format the external hard drive with CMD, you should try AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard, a free partition manager. It has fewer constraints and the following advantages over Windows’ built-in formatting tools:
- Format a big hard drive (more than 32 GB) with the FAT32 file system.
- Under Windows, format the hard drive as Ext4/Ext3/Ext2;
- Easy formatting of an internal hard drive to exFAT;
- Successfully force format a RAW, write-protected, encrypted, or corrupted hard disk.
- When an external hard drive refuses to convert to FAT32 or NTFS, you can use the free AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard to force format the drive in three steps.
Download Freeware for Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP.
Step 1: On your Windows 11/10/8/7 PC, install and execute the AOMEI Partition Assistant. In the primary interface, you’ll see all of your computer’s drives. The “Unformatted” status of the impossible to format external hard drive raw can be seen here. Select “Format Partition” from the context menu when you right-click it.
Step 2: The Format partition window will then appear, where you can configure the details. Select a file system from the list and click “OK.”
Step 3: Finally, to complete the process, click “Apply”->”Proceed.”
The three steps will, in general, format your external hard disk. If it still fails, you can utilize AOMEI Partition Assistant’s Wipe Hard Drive to help you solve your problem.
Method 3-EaseUS Partition Master-Format Hard Drive with Free DiskPart Alternative
In comparison to DiskPart, a free DiskPart alternative formatting program is an easier way to format a disk. We propose that you download and try EaseUS Partition Master Free.
You can format or clean up an internal HDD, an external USB stick, a pen drive, or an SD card, among other devices, with a few simple clicks.
It is available for download for free.
It’s a lot easier and faster than using the DiskPart command prompt to format a hard drive.
DiskPart Format Alternative allows you to quickly format a hard drive in four steps.
To format the disk, download the EaseUS free disk formatting application and follow the instructions below.
See Also: How to Erase Duplicate Photos on Your Android Device
Step 1: Open EaseUS Partition Master and select “Format” from the right-click menu of the hard disk partition you want to format.
Step 2. In the new window, for the partition to be formatted, select the Partition title, File System (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size, then click “OK.”
Step 3: Next, you’ll get a warning message; click “OK” to proceed.
Step 4. Review the modifications by clicking the “Execute Operation” button in the top-left corner, then click “Apply” to begin formatting the partition on your hard drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to reformat a hard drive via the BIOS?
A partition may consume the entire drive at times, but there may be multiple partitions on a single disk. Next to Volume Label, give the drive a name and select the file system with which it should be formatted. If it’s an internal hard disk, NTFS is the format to utilize. Set the allocation size to the default value.
What is Format fs NTFS quick?
fs = File-System fast label = DRIVE-LABEL formatReplace FILE-SYSTEM with the name of the file system you want to use, such as NTFS or FAT32, and DRIVE-LABEL with the drive’s name as it should appear in File Explorer in the command. The fast option is available if you want to perform a format rapidly.
Why isn’t my internal hard drive formatting properly?
If you get the “Windows was unable to complete the formatting” error notice when trying to format a hard disk or memory card, it’s possible that your disk is in the RAW file system structure. This could be due to a faulty disk or a previous format that went awry.
How do I wipe my hard drive without logging in?
How to Reset a Windows 10 Laptop, PC, or Tablet Without Having to Log In
1. When Windows 10 starts up, it will prompt you to choose an option.
2. Click the “Reset this PC” button on the next screen.
3. Choose between “Keep my files” and “Remove everything.”
4. I’d like to keep my files.
5. Enter your user password next.
6. Select “Reset” from the drop-down menu.
7. Get rid of everything.
How do I wipe my ASUS hard drive from BIOS?
Step 1: In the BIOS, specify the boot priority for the bootable USB or CD/DVD. Step 2: Select Wipe selected partitions and unallocated space on the disk, or Wipe the disk in the wiping type window.
What is the best way to format a boot drive?
When you’re running Windows, plug in the bootable USB device and then type “diskmgmt. msc” in the Run box to open Disk Management. Select “Format” from the right-click menu of the bootable drive. Then follow the wizard’s instructions to finish the formatting.
Why do I need to format my hard drive?
Why is it necessary to format a hard drive? The file system and cluster size of the partition will be determined by formatting. So, if you have file system errors, want to alter the file system, or want to change the cluster size of a partition for extending purposes, formatting is the best option.
How can I force a FAT32 or NTFS format on an external hard drive?
Successfully force format a RAW, write-protected, or corrupted hard disk. When an external hard drive refuses to convert to FAT32 or NTFS, you can use the free AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard or EaseUs Partition Master to force format the drive in three steps.
How can I force a Windows 10 external hard disk to be formatted?
Method 1: Using CMD to Format an External Hard Drive1. Connect your PC to the external hard disk (HDD, SSD, USB drive, or other device) that needs to be formatted. 2. 2. To launch the “Run” dialog, press Win + R. 3. To launch the Command Prompt as an Administrator, type cmd and press Enter. 4. Press Enter after typing in “diskpart.”
How to format hard drive partition in Disk Management?
How to Format a Hard Drive Partition in Disk Management is a step-by-step guide. Step 1: Select “Manage” from the context menu when you right-click “This PC.” Step 2: Select “Disk Management” from the drop-down menu. Step 3: Select “Format” from the context menu of the target hard drive partition. Step 4: To begin formatting the drive, set the volume label and file system, then click “OK.” # 6.
How to format HDD/SSD or storage device in File Explorer?
In File Explorer, learn how to format a hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), or storage device. Step 1: Open Windows File Explorer, locate and right-click the hard drive you want to format, then choose “Format.” Step 2: Rename the hard drive and reformat it to NTFS or another file system.Step 3: To begin the formatting, click “Start.” # 5.
Conclusion
On this Article, we’ve listed three methods on how to Forcefully Format Hard Drive, SSD with two primary free tools for cleaning and formatting a hard drive disk: Many Windows managers and experienced users advise that you can format a hard drive on your own using File Explorer and Disk Management. AOMEI Partition and EaseUS Partition Master are your best Free free tool for rapid and smooth operation. Let us know in the description box below other tools you have tested.
very impressive article.