Unable to format hard drive

[kool moe steve]

I am using an eMac running 10.3.9

I was running Disk Utility to repair permissions and the machine locked up.
Upon restart, could not get the OS to boot, so I started from DVD to reformat the hard drive. Disk Utility will see the hard drive (38.3 GB Maxtor Internal) but upon trying to format the drive I get "Disk Erase failed with the error, Unknown error: -20". I have tried Mac OS Extended, Mac OS Extended (Journaled), MS DOS File System and UNIX File System format (with zero all data and 8 way random write selected) with the same error appearing.

I knowticed upon searching the forum the entry below, but no solution.
http://macosx.com/tech-support/i-can-t-reformat-my-hard-drive/2123.html

I am open to any ideas. Information on the disk is backed up so no recovery of data is needed.

Stephen

 

[bobw]

Error -20 is an I/O error, which usually means defective hardware.

My guess, the hard drive is bad.

 

[laddu]

hi guys this is naresh and i have brought a new apple mac os x and i wonder why i cant run applications fast now a days, i just want to format my hard drive so can any one help me and tell me how to format hard drive on mac os x

I am using an eMac running 10.3.9

I was running Disk Utility to repair permissions and the machine locked up.
Upon restart, could not get the OS to boot, so I started from DVD to reformat the hard drive. Disk Utility will see the hard drive (38.3 GB Maxtor Internal) but upon trying to format the drive I get "Disk Erase failed with the error, Unknown error: -20". I have tried Mac OS Extended, Mac OS Extended (Journaled), MS DOS File System and UNIX File System format (with zero all data and 8 way random write selected) with the same error appearing.

I knowticed upon searching the forum the entry below, but no solution.
http://macosx.com/tech-support/i-can-t-reformat-my-hard-drive/2123.html

I am open to any ideas. Information on the disk is backed up so no recovery of data is needed.

Stephen

 

[bobw]

To format, boot from your OS disc by holding the C key down.

You'll get the Installer window. Follow the prompts.

 

[Kees Buijs]

To format, boot from your OS disc by holding the C key down.

You'll get the Installer window. Follow the prompts.

You can try removing the partition and recreating it afterwards. Maybe the partition itself is invalid, thus causing the error. Otherwise looks a lot like a crashed drive.


Good luck, Kees