HELP-SATA HD formatting software needed!

Someone help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a 60GB Maxtor SATA HD that has got some BAD viruses on it, beyond the safety of just "formatting" the hard drive. I need some DOS software that can "nuke" the hard drive, just write zero's to the HD (or close enough), but can recognize my SATA hard drive. I've tried Nuke-It and other software to try and erase my entire HD under DOS, but it doesn't recognize SATA HD's. I'm stuck in the mud until I can find formatting software that'll run under DOS and that can recognize my SATA HD and can get to the low level clean-up.

Does anyone know of anything at all!!!!!!!!! Please help!!!!!!!!

You should be able to run the Hitachi/IBM DFT utility here:

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm

It does support SATA and SCSI devices and is not manufacturer specific on drive type. Run the erase disk option from the boot disk. It does not have the Maxtor Powermax issue with Nforce chipsets.

There are other options on the Ultimate Boot CD here:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

a regular format should clear off any virus on it?...as long as you dont do a "quick" format.

Well, I tried the DTF utility to erase the disk, and it said it only supported HGST hard drives, but atleast it did see SATA, but big deal, lol

I can try to just format the hard drive, but this is one of those viruses that in windows, it lockes up your floppy drive, limits your programs, reboots randomly, and pop-up porn on almost every page. This all started in only one day on a search on Google.........it'll be awhile till' I do another search

I'm now looking for another DOS erasing utility for SATA HD's, anyone got any ideas?

Did you try to go into safe mode and try doing the formating in there?

nah, haven't done that, I can format any way I want too, by booting into WindowsXP CD and formatting there, in safe mode, during windows, I can do all of that.

But it won't be enough. I'll go ahead and format, but the virus is imbedded into the hard drive. I haven't a clue what virus it is, but it's starting to take over all the programs, randomly closing taskbar programs and windows. What I still need is a low-level erasing software, the thing that writes nothing but zero's to the hard drive like Nuke-It. I still need any program, Windows or DOS, that can write zero's to the hard drive.

But meantime, I'll format the HD with WindowsXP CD and see how it works.

Ummm there is something out there. I know maxtor has a dos level low level format program. You should of gotten it with the drive if it was boxed. If not im sure you can find it on the website.

I know a virus a while ago (around 2 years or so) that was taking out harddrives left and right. The only way to get around it was some sort of low level format multiple times. I had a drive that got infected and I did 20run low level format to make sure it was gone. Probley over done but better safer then sorry.

http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/M...tware Downloads/ATA Hard Drives&downloadID=22

There is the link to Maxtors HDD Diagnostics program, DOS based. It will allow you to LowLevel Format your HDD.

As far as SATA support, are you using a controller card? The utility should auto detect all channels and find your HDD.

Let me know if it doesnt.

Good luck

Foxy

I'm using onboard SATA controller. It's a ASRock P4S55FX+ mobo w/ onboard SATA. I'm downloading the program and I'll see if it works. I'll give the results in a few.

Maxblast 3 is the software. That is disc that comes with the Maxtor Drives. Lets you format, reformat size partitions, make a new boot drive. I like the program so much that is probably the reason I use their HDD's. I'm sure every manufacter has a similar program.


Hey my parents live in Ozark, AL

Go to maxtor.com Search maxblast3 then download the program. Sorry can't figure how to post the link. but that will work. Hope that helps.