Hard Drive Becomes Uninitialized after Installing Large Size Software

How to Resolve Hard Drive Not Initialized Error& Rescue Hard Drive Files?

Hey, experts there! My WD Black hard drive has been used several times on my Samsung computer and always been detected as NTFS file system. And it also works well there. However, last time, when going to read this hard drive on the same computer, I just found it was detected as uninitialized in Disk Management. When I followed the suggestions to initialize it there, there was also an error popping out and told me: "The request cannot be performed due to an I/O error". What can I do to fix this hard drive problem? Is it sill possible for me to access the documents inside this not initialized hard drive?  

Hello, have you tried to reformat or initialize this hard drive with important files? Get any success to repair the hard drive and also recover hard drive data? If not, the below clues can help you somehow.

Step1: Go Try This WD Black Drive on Another Computer or Laptop.

Have you got the same WD black hard drive problem when you try to read the same drive on another computer or laptop? If you do, your hard drive must be damaged somehow and need to be fixed quickly. Have not tried this drive on any other computer or laptop yet? OK! Immediately remove it out from the original computer safely and go try it on another computer to see whether it is problem of your computer.

Please Note: Always safely extract hard drive from computer by clicking "Remove Hardware Safely" in case of damaging hard drive unexpectedly.

Step2. Recover WD Hard Drive Data with Data Recovery Software before any Initializing Process.

If you do get the same hard drive not initialized error when you do try it on another computer, you�d better keep this WD hard drive without any use to avoid worse troubles and run some WD external hard drive data recovery software to recover the original drive photos, files, songs, videos and the likes back as many a possible. Just search and select proper drive data recovery software over the internet. And then, download and run it on your computer to thoroughly scan this drive. And, at last, preview and recover deleted or lost drive data back to another storage device.

Please Note: In case of overwriting the original data inside this WD hard drive and cause permanent data loss, never download and install the data recovery software on this WD black hard drive. Just find another local partition, flash drive or storage device instead.

In case of farther data loss, also make the drive data backups on other drives or storage devices well.  

Step3. Fix Hard Disk Problems with CHKDSK Tools

Have recover your hard drive files back with selected WD hard drive data recovery software? OK! And then, without worrying about the hard drive contents, you can freely set out to fix this hard drive. In your case, you can firstly go try the CHKDSK tool like this: right click this Black drive in "My Computer" to open "Properties" interface and click "Tools" tab. And then, press "Check Now" button in the "Error-checking" sector at the top. At last, choose the desired testing options and wait till everything is done. Of course, if the error checking tool makes no difference, also download related drive diagnostic software to go on.  

Step4. Format or Initialize Drive at Last

After fixing the possible hard drive problems, you always can be easily format or initialize this hard drive to restore its common use. Simply open the Disk Management interface, right click the WD black drive displayed there to highlight "Format" option and wait till the formatting process is finished.

Please Note: If you do have no enough time to waste, when choosing the format option, you also can select "Perform a quick format" option to quickly initialize this drive with ease. 

Conclusion

The hard drive not initialized error problem could be caused by many reasons, including RAW file system issue, sudden drive extraction, instant power loss, power surge, hard drive damage, virus infection and even computer problems. NO matter whether you do know the reasons behind this hard drive problem, always stop using this drive to cause no farther data loss and apply drive data recovery software to recover important drive data. And then, try your best to repair hard drive. Of course, if you do have no idea bout how to fix drive errors, you also can consult hard drive repairing shops and ask for help there.

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SSD or HDD for Game PC

Which One Is Better for a Game PC, a SSD or a HDD?

Situation1: Hey, recently, I do have planed to build a wonderful game computer and wonder which type of hard drives is better for the future use, a HDD or a SSD. Is there any difference between them? Is there any issue if I get a mixed configuration? Thanks?

Situation2: Hello, I need your opinions here! I want to purchase an SSD for my game computer. But, I also do have a 500GGB HDD that has been used only for one year. Is it necessary for me to buy a new SSD instead of this old HHD? Thanks for any answers!

 

Situation3: Hey, I do have read some articles online and know the SSD can help improve the computer performance and make computer faster in comparison with the common HHD. Is that true? Do you have any idea for me? 

Hello, everyone! The common HHD and HDD are created differently and also have their own advantages. To pick a better one for your game laptop or computer, you�d better read the below brief introduction and make your own decision according to your needs.

Why to Choose a HDD for a New Laptop?

As the common computer internal or external storage device, the HDD is made of three parts: the platters, the reading/writing heads and the reading/writing actuators. When people do read or write something from or on the computer, the drive actuators will leads the reading/writing heads to write or extract data from the hard drive. Just in this way, the traditional HDD also has its own advantages.

1). A HDD is much cheaper than a SSD.

Since the HDD has been created much earlier than the SSD, the manufacturing technologies of the HDD is often more mature. That�s also why the price of a HDD is often cheaper than a SSD with the same capacity.

2). A HDD has a larger maximum capacity than a SSD.

Due to different structure and immature technologies, the HDD offer much larger maximum capacity for people than a SSD.

Overall, in these days, it is really easy and common for people to get a traditional HDD with different brands, like Western Digital, Toshiba, Samsung, Seagate or Hitachi, etc.

Why to Choose a SSD for a New Game PC?

Being designed differently from a HDD, a SSD often composes of flash memory, not the some moving physical parts. Just due to this different structure, the SSD also get completely different advantages:

1). A SSD is faster than a HHD.

Since the SSD uses the flash memory, not some moving parts, to store computer data, to access or view the data stored on a SSD is often much faster than a HHD.

2). A SSD generates no noise.

Since the traditional hard drive or HDD is made up of some moving physical parts, when the drive is working, it also generates noises, too. That�s also why people test their drives sometimes according to the noises. But, since SSD composes of flash memory, there is no any sound that will be created.

3). A SSD also generates no heat.

Of course, also due to the different structure, they are also different in generating cheat. When using a traditional HD or HDD, you�d better always keep an eye on the drive or computer temperature to make sure they will not be damaged or failed for overheated. However, as with a SSD, you often have no such worry, for the SSD produce no heat when it is in use.
Overall, in this way, a SSD often help people get a faster computer performance.

Use a SDD & a HDD to Improve Computer Performance Together If possible

Every subject does have their own advantages and disadvantages. You�d better make your decision wisely. And, in my opinion, if there is enough money, you�d better get a mixed configuration. Just use the SSD and HDD together on your new game PC:

1). Save operating system files, programs, games and other essential stuffs on the SSD.

Since it is always faster to access or view data from a SSD, just remember to save the frequently used and some essential information on the SSD, like the operating system files and folders, programs, large games and the likes. In this way, you often will have a pleasant computer experience.

2). Save some videos, music, pictures, documents on the HDD.

Though the HDD often will not run faster than a SSD, it is also a good storage device to safely keep your data for a really long time. Therefore, always save some trivial stuffs and something that is not used often on the HDD, just like the videos, pictures, files, mails, songs, messages and the likes.

Additional Tips:

1). Make drive data backups well no matter which type of hard drives is better for you.

No matter which type of hard drives you�ve choose for your game computer, always remember to back up your game computer data well at least on two hard drives or locations in case of data loss troubles.

2). Prepare computer drive data recovery software to cope with different data loss troubles.

Except some commonly-used programs, you�d better also choose data recovery software for your computer in case of any unexpected data loss problems, including accidentally deleting something important off from hard drive or memory card, mistakenly format HHD with much crucial data, wiping SSD for drive dropping and RAW format hard drive error, etc.

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Why to Format a New HD, USB HDD or Flash Drive before Use?

You Are Suggested to Format a Newly Bought Hard drive, USB HDD or Flash Drive before Use?

Hey, have purchased a new external/internal hard drive or USB flash drive with proper capacities? Cannot help using it on your computer or laptop, but, many people around just suggest you should format it there before any first use? Don�t know why, but, also really curious about the reasons behind this? Or really want to know whether it is necessary to format this new drive when it is used on your computer at the first time? OK! You definitely come to the right place. This article will help you know the answer clearly. Simply continue your reading.

Any Reason to Format a Drive When It Is Firstly Used on Your Computer or laptop 

Honestly, many people do format their newly bought hard drives, USB hard drives, removable hard drives or flash drives before storing or writing anything new on this drive. Why? The first formatting process does have many advantages and help avoid many unwanted drive troubles. Here are some major merits for you:

1).The format can help delete all drive contents and clean it up.

Though this hard drive or flash drive is a new one, there is also no secure that it has held nothing else. Perhaps it has been used by the sellers or someone else somehow and has stored something unwanted. Hence, in case that anything else is really stored there and reduces the useable drive space, the immediate formatting process before any first use is really necessary and can help you delete all possible drive contents to clean it up for you future use.

2).The format can help avoid incompatible file system error and also set up the drive file structure.

Many hard drives or thumb drives on the outside markets are manufactured with different file system, like NTFS or FAT32. However, not all computer or laptops can read the hard drives with such file system. Hence, in case of some unwanted incompatible or unsupported file system troubles, you�d better firstly format this storage device and convert its file system to the compatible NTFS or FAT32. Moreover, the formatting process also is able to help set up the file structure so that you can use this drive with ease.

3).The format can help partition or repartition your drive well.

Many new hard drives or pen drives are not preciously partitioned by manufacturers so that the customers or users can freely partition this drive according to their requirements. And that formatting process is relay helpful when people are trying to properly device their drives into two, three, four or more partitions. Of course, if you just think the new drive partitions are not as reasonable as you hope, the first formatting also helps to repartition this drive.

4). The Format can help avoid some drive data loss troubles.

Have ever tried to blindly move or transfer all important data from the old drive to this new one? And then, when trying to access this new drive again, you are asked to format this drive and also cannot access anything inside before any format? Really cannot format this drive to lose everything inside? And also want to go on using this new drive? OK! Why not to format this drive before you firstly use it on your computer and then, go copy your old drive contents there. This really helps to avoid many related data loss troubles.

Whether It Is Necessary to Format This New Thumb Drive or Internal/External Hard Drive?

Still don�t know whether it is necessary to format this new flash drive or internal/external drive before you use it on your computer? All right! In my opinions, in case of unnecessary troubles, like the above mentioned incompatible drive problems, unsupported file system problems or not formatted drive errors and the likes, you�d better format this drive as you are asked.

Tips:

1).The quick format is better than the full format.

There are two types of hard drive formatting process: the quick format and the full format. The quick format is fast and does no real damage to the selected drive. However, the full format takes a really long time and also does more damages to your physical drives, especially when you do this type of formatting processes on this drive often. Therefore, if there is no special reason, always perform the quick format there.

2). Do not format drive too frequently.

No matter what type of drive formatting process you are performing on your hard drives or flash drives, too frequent formats often damage the drive more or less. Hence, remember not to format your drive too regularly. 

3). Recover lost data from formatted flash drive or hard drive with format recovery software.

Have formatted the newly hard drive or flash drive though you do have transferred everything important there in advance? Or have formatted some old hard drive or pen drives without data backups prepared earlier? OK! If you still wonder to recover the formatted drive data, it is not impossible. Stop saving new files or other stuffs on this drive after that format and download drive format recovery software to unformat this original hard drive or flash drive.

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Simple Way to Boot from a Flash Drive or External Hard Drive

Need Boot from External HDD or USB Flash Drive?

Situation1: Hello, recently, for some special reasons, I do have removed the internal hard drive of my Samsung laptop and also connected another external hard drive in a USB port of this same computer. And wonder whether it is possible to boot from that plunged external drive. Honestly, this attached external drive really works well and holds nothing important. What can I do to boot from this USB hard disk? Is there any special requirement? Do you have any idea? And I am using Windows 7 OS. Thanks for any idea!

Situation2: Hey, recently, since the laptop internal hard drive seems to be seriously damages, this computer just cannot be booted well and always ask me to insert a boot CD. But, I do have no such bootable CD and only got a 64GB USB flash drive and 560GB external HDD. Is it possible to boot this computer from this external hard drive or USB flash drive? What am I supposed to do if it is possible? Thank you very much!

 

Hey, friends! It is not impossible for people to boot a computer from an USB hard drive or USB flash drive. Honestly, when it comes to booting a computer from an external storage device, it often means to open your computer with the operating system that has been stored on the external USB hard disk or flash drive well, not the commonly-used internal hard drive. In other words, to successfully run your computer from an external device, you�d better firstly install the operating system well on your storage device and also set your computer well. Furthermore, before you really start to do the actual things, there is also much prep work that needs to be done in advance.  

Prepare Everything Well in Advance:

To avoid some unexpected problems, like incompatible troubles, you�d better also prepare your external storage devices and the computer well. Here are some common requirements you can follow:

1). Prepare a compatible USB flash drive or external hard drive.

If the USB flash drive or external hard drive is not compatible with your computer, the computer often even cannot recognize it. Needlessly to say, you can smoothly open your computer with the Windows systems installed inside. Therefore, firstly check the file system of this storage device, like NTFS or FAT32, is compatible with your computer.

2). Move all important data inside this USB drive to another storage device in case of data loss.

In case of some unwanted data loss troubles, before you really start to install operating system on this thumb drive or HDD, remember to extract everything important out and also move it all to a safe drive or location, like another flash drives, hard drive or online storage.

3). Keep enough free space

Make sure your storage device have 15GB of free space at least. If it is possible, also format or clean this device well to avoid any unwanted troubles.

How to Boot from USB Storage Device on Windows Computer?

After preparing your external devices and your computer well, simply install your operating system well on this flash drive or computer and set out to set your computer well. What you are supposed to do now is only to find the computer boot menu and set the CD or USB drive as the first one on the provided list

Here are the detailed steps that you can follow:

Step1. Restart your computer as usual and press "Del" button to open the "BIOS SETUP UTILITY". (Generally, most of computer can allows you to open this computer interface. If yours is not, simply restart your computer and press "F12" instead. )

Step2. Press the "?","?","?" and "?" on the keyboard to highlight the "BOOT" option.

Step3. Choose your connected storage device from the popped-out boot device menu. In your case, you are often supposed to choose "Removable Device" from the list and click "Enter" button there.

Step4. Press "Esc" button to exist and also save these changes.

Step5. Reboot this computer again from the attached USB flash drive or external hard drive.

Additional Instructions:  

1). Use the computer keyboard to set your computer carefully.

When comes to the "BIOS SETUP UTILITY" interface, you are often only allowed to use the computer keyboard. Different buttons often stand for different orders. You�d better check the instructions well on the bottom of the screen.

2). Use data recovery software to recover lost data when you do forget to extract everything important out.

The external storage device often is supposed not to hold any important files, songs, videos and the likes in case that the future operation can rewrite the drive information and also make everything inside gone permanently. But, if you really store something useful there and also format this device latter, you�d better also have chances to rescue the original stuffs back with device format recovery software.

3). Consult the experts for help, if it is necessary.

From the above description, it seems not to be a difficult task. But, different computers, different conditions and even different people can lead to different actual troubles. If you really cannot handle this personally, do not be afraid to ask some experts for help, before the situation goes worse.

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