This is a step-by-step tutorial on how to use wipe-disk to reset (reformat) your Drobo.

NOTE: Resetting Drobo is a non-recoverable procedure: all data will be lost on the system and all drives will be restored to factory condition. Wipe disk also removes the internal identifiers for disks as part of a disk set. After a system reset, you’ll need to re-format your Drobo.

You should have at least one or preferably two drives in the chassis for the wipe disk. After these drives are wiped and then re-formatted, you can add other drives to Drobo without further formatting: just insert them into the chassis.

You’ll need a tool to reset the system: a small paper clip that’s been partially straightened out works well, but it can be any thin, rigid material about 2.5 inches long that’s easy to hold.

You’ll use this tool to hold in a small internal button/plate while you plug in the power cord and wait for the drives to reset. The internal button is located in a small circular hole to the left of the power and USB connectors on the back side of the unit.

Follow these steps to perform a wipe disk:

1. Turn off Drobo by first going into standby mode (using Safely Remove Hardware in system tray to USB cable from the PC or ejecting the Drobo Dashboard icon for Macs), then unplugging the USB cable from the system. All lights will turn off except the power light, which will turn yellow.
2. Unplug the power cord and wait a few seconds. Make sure you can reach the power cord easily because you’ll plug it in again shortly.
3. As you face the back of Drobo, to the left of the power and USB connectors, you’ll see a small circular hole.
4. Insert the unfolded paperclip into the hole. If you press gently, you’ll feel a small plate or button inside that you can depress slightly. You’ll need to keep this button depressed during the entire process, from this point forward.
5. This next step is a little unwieldy: while you’re still holding in the button with the unfolded paperclip, plug the power cord back in. The drives will make some different, louder noises; that’s normal. The drive LEDS and power light will turn red and the capacity and disk activity lights turn blue but you may not be able to see this.
6. Continue holding in the button, position the unit so you can see the lights and wait until all of the drive lights and power light turn green The wipe disk is finished. Remove the paperclip from the reset hole
7. Reformat Drobo. If you restart the PC version of the Drobo Assistant software, you’ll automatically be prompted to format the system: it automatically assigns Drobo to the next available drive letter and assigns it to the default volume name “Drobo. For Macs, you’ll need to use the Apple disk utility as the format option in the Drobo Assistant software isn’t implemented (yet).
8. Your Drobo is ready to use.