[SOLVED] Advice about 4TB or larger external HDDs

[ErickParker]

Hi, I would like to know if 4TB or 6TB external HDDs, intended for data only, when connected via USB 3.0 cable, to older PCs with BIOS and Windows 10, are recognized and at full capacity?
If yes, as they are larger than 2TB, is it mandatory that they are GPT?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Lafong]

It is NOT mandatory, but as far as I know (as of 8 or 10 years ago when GPT came into play):


Data hard drives must be GPT if you want to use more than 2.2 GB, regardless of the number of partitions. MBR drives CANNOT recognize more than 2.2 TB of a larger drive (even with multiple partitions) UNLESS the drive manufacturer can provide a special driver to access the full capacity.

 

[USAFRet]

There is no reason to NOT have them as GPT partitioning.

For access to more than 2.2TB, GPT is needed.

 

[ErickParker]

Thanks for the answers.
Would PCs with BIOS be able to load a 4TB external HDD (an expansion, for example) if it is in GPT?
If the HDD has a single 4TB partition, will Windows show 4TB, 2.2TB or not load the drive?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for the answers.
Would PCs with BIOS be able to load a 4TB external HDD (an expansion, for example) if it is in GPT?
If the HDD has a single 4TB partition, will Windows show 4TB, 2.2TB or not load the drive?

GPT partitioning, all 4TB will be accessible in a single partition.