Hacking Couldn't format HDD

[Jhnsn]

So yeah, I've been trying to format my HDD with the Wii U. And it just can't get formatted! The Wii U regocnizes the drive and I can click format but then it says that the drive couldn't be formatted. It's driving me mad.

And no, the drive isn't corrupt. I can read and I can write on it on my PC. And I'm using an Y-cable and I tried different USB-ports. What's the problem?

 

[Spearel18]

What is the brand and type of your HDD?

 

[Jhnsn]

What is the brand and type of your HDD?

2.5 inch internal HDD (WD I think, not at home now) in an Inateck case.

 

[Spearel18]

This site sais that WD my book is compatible with the Wii U:
http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1359/~/what-external-storage-devices-can-be-used-with-wii-u?
Then again, the my book series is a 3.5 inch drive with exterior power source.
That's why its important what type and brand you want to use with the Wii U.
Some drives can be incompatible...

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Can you try with other HDD, and see if it works with that?

 

[Jhnsn]

Can you try with other HDD, and see if it works with that?

I don't know. My father has another one but he never wants anyone to touch it.

 

[Spearel18]

Lol.

I don't know. My father has another one but he never wants anyone to touch it.

Well, he must have his reason for that(important data).
I think it must be that the Wii U doesn't like the HDD you're want to use with it.
I suggest buy the ones nintendo approves.

 

[Jhnsn]

I suggest buy the ones nintendo approves.

Oh man. Just bought an Y-cable. But ok. It's not that much.

 

[Spearel18]

But before you do anything:
-Try deleting every partition on it, then try formating it with the Wii U.
-Or try formating with the PC (FAT32 or NTSC), then try formating it with the Wii U.
(These shouldn't make any difference in my humble opinion, but worth a try nontheless.)

 

[ppeterr]

Using this one since this morning, at first connection i got the same
error that it couldnt be formatted. Removed it from the wiiu
and pressed it a little harder in on the top usb at the back.

Now it works, transferring games and booting some seems oke/
Maybe later i will get Y cable if the performance seems slow.
Anyway, maybe its the connector on the back of your wiiU

 

[DeoNaught]

Try using a program that completely formats the drive,
do you have a windows or mac?
if you have windows try disk utility, (Just make sure you Format the right drive)

 

[apachehavok]

USE A Y CABLE!!!!!!!!! You are right at the cusp of having enough power to spin the drive but not enough to write to it. Trust me. USE THE Y CABLE

 

[ppeterr]

maybe test it out, with a powerd usb hub, then see if it works
then ofcourse use the Y cable

 

[Jhnsn]

But before you do anything:
-Try deleting every partition on it, then try formating it with the Wii U.
-Or try formating with the PC (FAT32 or NTSC), then try formating it with the Wii U.
(These shouldn't make any difference in my humble opinion, but worth a try nontheless.)

Try using a program that completely formats the drive,
do you have a windows or mac?
if you have windows try disk utility, (Just make sure you Format the right drive)

Gonna try this tomorrow. I have to go to bed now, I'm tired and I have a test tomorrow.

Using this one since this morning, at first connection i got the same
error that it couldnt be formatted. Removed it from the wiiu
and pressed it a little harder in on the top usb at the back.

Now it works, transferring games and booting some seems oke/
Maybe later i will get Y cable if the performance seems slow.
Anyway, maybe its the connector on the back of your wiiU

I have already tried different ports but I will try to push the cable a little bit stronger into the port.

USE A Y CABLE!!!!!!!!! You are right at the cusp of having enough power to spin the drive but not enough to write to it. Trust me. USE THE Y CABLE

YEAH I'M USING A Y-CABLE DON'T WORRY I CAN HEAR THE DRIVE SPINNING

 

[ppeterr]

lol

 

[Spearel18]

USE A Y CABLE!!!!!!!!! You are right at the cusp of having enough power to spin the drive but not enough to write to it. Trust me. USE THE Y CABLE

I'm using an Y-cable and I tried different USB-ports

Oh man. Just bought an Y-cable. But ok. It's not that much.

Omg, dude, can you read??? lol.

 

[ppeterr]

i see, that the enclosure is a little bit exotic. it should be backwards compatible but maybe the controller
in the case, or even the connectors give problems with the usb 2.0 protocol that uses the wiiU.

I dont know really much about it, but it is not a normal usb drive is it ?

how big is that drive ? i am using a 1tb now without a Y cable, and installing
goes smooth. Maybe 2 tb drives without external power is a bigger problem

 

[Jhnsn]

i see, that the enclosure is a little bit exotic. it should be backwards compatible but maybe the controller
in the case, or even the connectors give problems with the usb 2.0 protocol that uses the wiiU.

I dont know really much about it, but it is not a normal usb drive is it ?

What do you mean? It's a case, bought from Amazon. With an internal HDD. Need the link to the case?

 

[ppeterr]

sure, maybe i googled the wrong one

 

[Jhnsn]

German link: https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B00DW...tengehäuse&dpPl=1&dpID=31DZrpqmsLL&ref=plSrch

And I think that's the US one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D...0+hdd+sata+external+hard+drive+disk+enclosure

Drive is 160 gb big

 

[ppeterr]

ow well thats a different one that my google came up with sorry about that
let me see if i can find some specs about the controller from the enclosure

edit

what i see, is that the model is 3.0 usb, and not per see usb 2.0

I see different models from Inateck that have in the specs, specified usb 2.0 backwards compatability. This one only tells that it is 3.0 and faster.

So, maybe the hardware controller of this enclosure is the problem

Totally not sure about if this could be the problem. Needs confirmation about that.