Puzzling Hard drive problem

[foxhole]

Have a 60gb external 2.5" from an old laptop. When connected via usb the movies on it auto play and can play all.But cannot delete any or add any, 'failed to write' error message.
When checking the properties the HD is listed as fat 32, but when trying the format option to try and clear it the HD shows as being NTFC? and only options available for formatting are NTFC and ex-fat.
Any ideas folks?
[When tried in my Mac it does not mount at all and cannot be seen by formatting tool.]

[kujoe2002]

see if they are set as "read only" or "hidden" under properties of each file.

[foxhole]

None are set as hidden or read only .

[kujoe2002]

I thought I remember something about size limitation to the FAT32.. I'd copy the files to another device then reformat as NTFS then replace the files.

[foxhole]

Can't copy files, cannot format.Size limit is 4gb on fat32 so not a problem movies all under 1gb.

[SpywareDr]

Did you try Disk Management or Diskpart?

[foxhole]

Unable to complete any disc check, defrag leaves some file untouched.

[foxhole]

Unable to complete any disc check, defrag leaves some file untouched.

Any other ideas folks?

[James]

1. Check that the drive in the enclosure doesn't have any kind of jumpers on it that might set it to read-only or something. (old school option, but might be viable).

2. Try something like JKDefrag.

3. Use linux to format the drive to a different format. You can use a live-CD style (boot from CD) distro, or if you have a linux system, so much the better. (Ubuntu has the option for running from a Live CD, as does Knoppix.)

As always, it would be worth backing up the information from the drive first, before you do anything destructive on it like a format, etc.

[SpywareDr]

How to Delete a Partition or Volume in Windows 7 using Disk Management and Diskpart

[foxhole]

How to Delete a Partition or Volume in Windows 7 using Disk Management and Diskpart

XP pro, not windows 7.

[foxhole]

1. Check that the drive in the enclosure doesn't have any kind of jumpers on it that might set it to read-only or something. (old school option, but might be viable).

2. Try something like JKDefrag.

3. Use linux to format the drive to a different format. You can use a live-CD style (boot from CD) distro, or if you have a linux system, so much the better. (Ubuntu has the option for running from a Live CD, as does Knoppix.)

As always, it would be worth backing up the information from the drive first, before you do anything destructive on it like a format, etc.

No jumpers, I could not have written files too it if it was read only.
I defraged with LKDefrag, still unable to delate files or write.
Don't need any of the files on it just want to clear it and be able to add files.

[SpywareDr]

XP has DISKPART.

Did you try HP's USB Disk Storage Format Tool (SP27608.exe)? What about DBAN (Darik's Boot And Nuke)?