Accidentally formatted HDD on pc how to re format / Device now not reconized

R3gulate · Mar 25, 2020

So to start, thank you to everyone who took the time to read this.

I recently obtained a used Xbox 360 slim. I planned on using this console for my younger boys. The console has a 250gb Microsoft HDD inside. I have an old phat xbox 360 with a small 25 gb hdd or something of that size. So I thought I would use the transfer
cable I have to move some of the DLC I have through my computer. The drive was fully functional and contained some data from the previous owner. Now here comes the silly thing I did. Instead of formatting the drive through the console I used my pc to format
it to exfat. The device no longer displayed on the console and was only recognized by my pc. I tried to use software to convert to fat32 but still didn't recognize the device. I'm not sure what to do at this point. If anyone can help or has any ideas I would
greatly appreciate it. The 360 has not been online for a long time needs some updates but the device was discoverable and usable to start.

:)

WPAK

Hi there,

I'm not sure the option is available, but have you tried to format the HDD via the Xbox 360 console as mentioned on this link:

https://beta.support.xbox.com/help/xbox-360/console/hard-drive

Let us know the results

ArminatorX

Depending on how you formatted the drive, you might accidentally have destroyed the partition and security sector of the drive.

If you insert the drive into the console and go to the storage settings, try if the console detects a device, and if you can let the console prepare it as a storage device.

If that doesn't happen, I'm afraid you erased the security sector of the drive that makes this a "genuine" Xbox 360 drive, and not just a Storage device like an USB drive. And in that case, you can only hope that Microsoft still services Xbox 360 accessories.
Since they don't make any Xbox 360 spare parts anymore, they don't service Xbox 360 consoles.

If you're lucky, they might still be able to write their "secret stuff" onto the drive again to make it a real Xbox 360 drive.

If not, then you have now an unusable Xbox 360 hard drive, I'm afraid.

In order to know if the drive can be "rewritten" by Microsoft, contact the official support via
https://support.xbox.com/contact-us

daniel jakson

Hi !

You told "set up the HDD as per usal", you mean that you have formated it on a PC before connecting it on the Xbox?

The right way to install a new HDD on the Xbox is to plug it, then select the way you want to use it, and then, the Xbox will format it.

The best thing you can do is to erase the HDD (even if it's already empty) and then go in the Xbox external device menu and format it !

Tell us if it works now !

Regards

daniel jakson

Hi !

You told "set up the HDD as per usal", you mean that you have formated it on a PC before connecting it on the Xbox?

The right way to install a new HDD on the Xbox is to plug it, then select the way you want to use it, and then, the Xbox will format it.

The best thing you can do is to erase the HDD (even if it's already empty) and then go in the Xbox external device menu and format it !

Tell us if it works now !

Regards

KILLERHEDAKE

Formatted how? Through transfer cable from xbox to hdd or pc to hdd?

Accidentally formatted HDD on pc how to re format / Device now not reconized