Hardware Problem with Wii U-formatted HDD

[smileyhead]

My mother had an old computer that she didn't use since she bought herself a laptop, so I was allowed to take the Hard Drive out of it, because I wanted to use it with my Wii U.
Now, the problem is, I bought a SATA->USB converter to connect it to the console. The HDD was recognised and formatted successfully, but didn't show up in Data Management. I thought "maybe Hard Drives aren't hot-swappable on the Wii U", so I've rebooted it... then the HDD was recognised as a non-Wii U-formatted Hard Drive, again. No matter how many times I formatted with the console, it just wouldn't recognise it as Wii U-formatted, so I gave up.
This was months ago.
Now, I want to revive the old computer as an Android console, but for that, I need the Hard Drive as well, but it's not recognised in Ubuntu, or Windows. They don't do anything when the damn thing is plugged in. How am I supposed to format it back to NTFS like this?
Thanks in advance.

TL;DR: The Wii U fucked up the formatting of my HDD and it's not recognised by a computer, or the console. How do I format it back to NTFS?

HDD: Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L080P0 80GB PATA133 HDD[/B]

 

[smileyhead]

*cough*

 

[Olmectron]

Have you tried a different HDD case? Or putting it back inside the computer?

 

[KiiWii]

Can it be seen in disk management on PC? If not plug it in go to devices and reset the mode it's in under the HDD it self (gpt/mbr IIRC) then apply, reboot, disk management, format, new volume.

I had a similar issue with a Xbox one specific external drive recently.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

I can 95% guarantee the issue is it isn't getting enough power. Does the adapter you're using have an AC power cord as well?

 

[KiiWii]

I can 95% guarantee the issue is it isn't getting enough power. Does the adapter you're using have an AC power cord as well?

Good call for the Wii u, but in formatting it back to NTFS, it could be in an odd mode.

Idk.

 

[smileyhead]

Or putting it back inside the computer?

I don't think it would do any good with no operating system, and a proprietary format.

Can it be seen in disk management on PC?

No.

Does the adapter you're using have an AC power cord as well?

Yes.

Have you tried a different HDD case?

What do you mean?

 

[KiiWii]

No.

Like I said, check in devices & printers / usb devices and if its there: change the mode.

 

[smileyhead]

Like I said, check in devices & printers / usb devices and if its there: change the mode.

I'm not using Windows, but I'll try to find an alternative.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Like I said, check in devices & printers / usb devices and if its there: change the mode.

It's not seen at all by the system.

 

[KiiWii]

I'm not using Windows, but I'll try to find an alternative.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


It's not seen at all by the system.

What are you using? mac?

 

[Olmectron]

I'm not using Windows, but I'll try to find an alternative.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


It's not seen at all by the system.

Are you on a Linux distro? Is it recognized by gParted?

 

[smileyhead]

What are you using? mac?

Ubuntu, but it's not seen in Windows either.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Are you on a Linux distro? Is it recognized by gParted?

Yes, and no.

 

[Olmectron]

Ubuntu, but it's not seen in Windows either.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


Yes, and no.

I understand you're connecting it using an HDD case (for making SATA to USB). You could try putting the hard disk drive inside the computer and start the system using a live CD from a Linux distro, and check if it's recognized that way.

If the HDD is completely broken, it won't damage your computer, it will only be unrecognizable. Don't worry about it making something to your system. Just be careful with everything when you put it inside.

 

[KiiWii]

Ubuntu, but it's not seen in Windows either.

I'm no expert on ubuntu, but I found this:

sudo vim /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

blacklist usb-drive remove if you want to access the usb

sudo vim/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

blacklist usb-storge make it comment

 

[smileyhead]

I'm no expert on ubuntu, but I found this:

sudo: vim: command not found

lol

 

[KiiWii]

sudo: vim: command not found

lol

Finally I have solved the problem.

It was indeed caused because I blacklisted my USB drive when I was following a post on how to get my Broadcom 4312 wifi card working.

I ran sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist in the terminal, came up with the blacklist, deleted each entry and rebooted. All my memory sticks are now working. The wifi card still does not work but I have got used to that.

any use?

 

[smileyhead]

any use?

My blacklist is empty.

 

[smileyhead]

You could try putting the hard disk drive inside the computer and start the system using a live CD from a Linux distro, and check if it's recognized that way.

It didn't work.

 

[KiiWii]

I'm 99% sure it's to do with MBR/GPT.

Google for a method to check for connected devices and how to initialise a readable option on an unknown device.

 

[Captain_N]

the issue might be the drives jumpers. Hes got a EIDE Drive (Pata) i know these drives will work on the wii u. Power should not be an issue if its a desktop drive which it seems to be. Usb cant power a desktop drive as it needs 12v. The adapter comes with its own power.

You have to make sure the drives master/slave/cable select jumper is set in master mode. Some of those usb adapters will not work correctly if the drive is not jumper-ed as master. I have close to that same drive hes got laying around in my stack of drives. You should not disconnect the drive while the wii u is on. this can/will corrupt the data.

What brand of adapter is it? I happen to have 3 of them and i might have the one you have. I have tried the adapters on the wii u and they do work sept for 1 it sometimes does play nice. As for the adapter on pc i have not have many issues except it wont work with a old 42 megabyte ide drive i have. That drive is to old for it. I mostly use those adapters for easy data recovery/cloning. They will work with cd/dvd/blu ray burners also. They even will work with IDE ZIP 100/250/750 MB Zip drives lol. i managed to get a zip 250mb drive worki ng as external storage on a wii u and played Nano assult neo off a zip disk. And it still loads faster then loadiine.......