How to format WDBWLG0040HBK from 512e to 4kn

So, I did it, thanks to a post on please, help convert HGST He10 and He12 to 4kn | ServeTheHome Forums and a hidden WD utility called Hugo.

Do this at your own risk, it is possible to brick your drive using this procedure.

On Windows 10:

  • download & install Hugo from HDD Firmware Downloads. PC-3000 Support Downloads. Data recovery and HDD repair tools

  • open up an adminstrative command prompt

  • change to the Hugo install directory
    cd c:\Program Files\WDC\HUGO\bin\

  • Make sure your device is visible to Hugo
    hugo s --device

  • NB the physical device path in the output above

  • Run a fast format on your physical device path, with the new block size (this can also be to used to go from 4k to 512e!)
    hugo format -g \\.\PhysicalDrive<n> -b 4096 --fastformat

  • And voila
    C:\Program Files\WDC\HUGO\bin>fsutil fsinfo sectorInfo D:
    LogicalBytesPerSector : 4096
    PhysicalBytesPerSectorForAtomicity : 4096
    PhysicalBytesPerSectorForPerformance : 4096
    FileSystemEffectivePhysicalBytesPerSectorForAtomicity : 4096
    Device Alignment : Aligned (0x000)
    Partition alignment on device : Aligned (0x000)