Formatting a new Western Digital HDD in Windows 10 with a USB 3.0 Docking Station

Hi Mark

Click your Start Button, then just type cmd

On the resulting list, right click Command Prompt and choose 'Run as Administrator'

Run this command and hit Enter: 

diskpart 

Run this command and hit Enter: 

list disk 

(Make note of the disk number you want to convert and enter it into the next command - replace X) 

Run this command and hit Enter: 

select disk X 

Run this command and hit Enter: 

clean 

Run this command and hit Enter: 

convert gpt 

Then close Command Prompt and open Disk Management

Right click the 'Unallocated Space' on that drive and choose 'New - Simple Volume', accept the defaults and apply that . . .

It is strange you are having a problem because Disk Management, when it sees an uninitialized drive, it will ask you if you want to initialize it.  

And don't mark any partitions as active unless you are running an older Legacy install and are setting up a System (booting) partition..

I remember having a JMicron controller on an old motherboard and I seem to remember it was related to eSATA.. which is not on any of the new motherboards.  But they do appear to still be manufacturing new type of interfaces so if it is a new external caddy, it may be that.

A few months ago I had to purchase a newer version of an external USB caddy because it would not work with SSD drives..  The newer one worked fine.

Hello Mark, how are you?

Welcome to the Microsoft Community!

My name is Paloma B., I'm an independent advisor, I'm here to help you in the best possible way.

I understand that you would like to format your disk.

Please perform the procedures below.

First open the Command Prompt, press Windows + R, type cmd and click OK.

1. In the Prompt type DISKPART, when it opens, DISKPART will appear on the left.
2. Type LIST DISK, this command will list the hard drives installed on the machine, pay close attention not to choose the wrong hard drive.
3. Type SELECT DISK “X”, in place of the X put the number for the HD you want to format, put without quotes.
4. Now just type the commands below and press Enter at each command.
5. Commands:

CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

SELECT PARTITION 1

ACTIVE

FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK

ASSIGN

EXIT

I await news.

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