cannot format external hard drive windows 7

#Cannot format external hard drive windows 7 how to
#Cannot format external hard drive windows 7 install
#Cannot format external hard drive windows 7 driver

It is also possible that his external USB drive software registers the drive as a permanent fixed disk, thus appearing ineligible for use as a backup destination in Windows. Gordon Lincoln to use Windows 7 Backup, even if he is also using truecrypt or some other drive virtualization software. So, unfortunately, I can not offer a solution for Mr. Windows 7 Backup does not allow you to back up to a permanent fixed disk, only to removable disks or network disks.

#Cannot format external hard drive windows 7 driver

I am using TrueCrypt drive encryption on my external USB hard drive and according to some posts that I have read on other forums, the truecrypt virtual disk driver registers itself in Windows as a permanant fixed disk, not a removable disk. Coincidentally, and relevantly, this is exactly the same problem I am having.Īnyway, I believe that I have discovered the answer my question, though I'm not sure my answer will apply directly to the original poster's problem. According to the help files and the documentation, Windows 7 Backup is designed specifically to use external USB drives for backup. The bigger problem though is that his external USB hard drive was not available as a backup destination. Yes, you're correct that the C: drive won't appear. I suspect you may have missed the part of the original poster's message which explains 'Both the C: drive and an external USB hard drive fail to appear in the choices during Windows Backup setup.'. How do you see that as hijacking the thread? Besides, who do you think you are? Please, if you don't have anything useful to contribute, don't waste everybody's time with your spam and ranting. Windows 7 Backup does not allow me to choose my external USB hard drive in the setup routine. Rick Dee - I have the exact same problem as the original poster. START YOUR OWN THREAD WITH DETAILS OF YOUR PROBLEM.ĭO NOT HIJACK ANOTHER THREAD AS YOU HAVE DONE! I'm going to post this as a new question because I don't expect anyone will find my reply buried in here.

#Cannot format external hard drive windows 7 install

But its annoying because I'd really like to try Windows Backup and I prefer not to install software if there is already a program available that should work.

#Cannot format external hard drive windows 7 how to

I suspect I will shortly start trying to figure out instead how to disable the Action Center message that has been pushing me to Set Up Windows Backup since clearly Windows Backup isn't working and there are plenty of free backup programs that work just fine. The SD card shows up fine but its only got 3gigs free after Ready Boost. Possibly this is because it appears in Windows Explorer as a Local Drive not a Removable Drive?

I didn't expect any problems using my external western digital USB drive, but for some reason it just doesn't appear in the list of available drives that can be used for backup. I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium and I tried Windows Backup for the first time.