System Update caused my Hard Drive to be unformatted

InundatedDad · Jan 10, 2015

I have had no issues with my 3 year old xbox 360 until today. I turned the xbox on this morning and it prompted for a system update. The system update completed without any noticeable issues.

Then I went to go play a game and I only had a handful to choose from. Went to look at the system storage and I noticed right away that it said the 320 GB hard drive was unformatted. The games that were there were loaded to my two USB thumb drives. That
means that my 2 year old 320 GB hard drive is currently waiting to be formatted. Is there a way to fix this?

I tried restarting the xbox, but the hard drive status still shows as unformatted. Please help!

:)

t4255 · Jan 10, 2015

Problem, problems, problems.

Where to start? A few weeks ago I updated my system seemingly without issue. Then trying to access Netflix or other apps caused a hard lock. Then the flash screen began taking a long time to load. This was followed by a prompt that a system update was
needed when I selected Ok a message appeared saying that not enough storage space existed which is untrue as I have over 200 gb remaining. Then when I go to storage on the system blade it says the hard drive is unformatted. I have gone though all steps on
the support website. What ended up working was using USB storage to take the update and then reformatting the hard drive which caused all saved data to be lost this worked for awhile then I began getting the system update/not enough storage/ unformatted hard
drive prompts again. This was solved occasionally by restarting the Xbox. I have been stuck in this loop for the last three weeks. I have wasted countless hours of my holiday time off work trying to resolve this. So Angry.

DaffodilMage498 · Jan 10, 2015

Hard Disk Drive Unformatted?

With the recent installment of the latest update on my 360 my 250GB hard drive appeared unformatted. Is there any reason as to why this might happen? I have tried everything I can think of. Blowing in the Drive and in the Xbox. Turning my system off and
on .Clearing the cache. Deleting the update even. All the same result. Unformatted.

EggsBoxJuan · Jan 10, 2015

Hi, it's more likely what has happened is that the hard drive has failed or become badly corrupted hence why you're getting the system update request because the system can't find the software on the hard drive.

All you can do is try to format the hard drive, if it formats that's great, if it won't format or formats then shows as unformatted again after a restart of the xbox you're looking at needing to buy a new hard drive.

As you already have usb devices configured as xbox storage you can remove the hard drive and the xbox should update and use one of your usb device rather than the hard drive for the system software. You will then at least be able to use the xbox until you
get a new hard drive.

VivaVideri

So, a failing hard drive is what causes the frequent system updates? My partner's xbox has unformatted itself three times now. It's the 360s with 4gb drive. I didn't see a compartment for a hard drive like mine has (360e), either.

EggsBoxJuan

Hi, it's more likely what has happened is that the hard drive has failed or become badly corrupted hence why you're getting the system update request because the system can't find the software on the hard drive.

All you can do is try to format the hard drive, if it formats that's great, if it won't format or formats then shows as unformatted again after a restart of the xbox you're looking at needing to buy a new hard drive.

As you already have usb devices configured as xbox storage you can remove the hard drive and the xbox should update and use one of your usb device rather than the hard drive for the system software. You will then at least be able to use the xbox until you
get a new hard drive.

Crow Ride

320 GB.

The system update i was getting stop after I put in a flash drive but without it, the system update appear. the console will not let me get on the hard drive cause it say unformatted and I dont have a or get the data back up

Mister Cerb

Hey there Fir! Are you saying that your hard drive is unformatted? When you go to System, then Storage does your Hard Drive read as unformatted? I'm trying to make sure I understand the situation.

Interceptor2551

Thanks. I checked and was going down the list and noticed when where it says to download again it only gives me the option of saving it to my memory unit. I go over to the storage devices screen and it says my hard drive is now unformatted. If I hit select,
it gives me the option to format the drive, but this is crazy because the update cause my hard drive to be unformatted..again. Like I said, 2nd time in about a year an update has done this. Anyone know why this would happen and how to prevent it in the future?
It's not like I have an option to opt out of an update.

System Update caused my Hard Drive to be unformatted