Change a HDD from 512-byte sector to 4096-byte sector

[Ste221]

Hey all,

I've begun upgrading my backup drives, one external 5Tb and one internal 6Tb, I'm also encrypting them first with Veracrypt/Truecrypt. The external was no problem, I was able to read wipe, partition, encrypt and copy all on windows 7 no problem.

However when installing my 6Tb internal, it is detected on BIOS bootup, however windows 7 and 10 are unable to read any drive at all, it will not initialise it (I forget the error) even after changing to GPT so encrypting it was out of the question. (drivers fully up to date, Intel drivers wont support my Mobo after 2012 or something daft...)

Ubuntu Live CD will read the drive and it all works fine however I cannot encrypt it due to "Error: The hidden volume to be created is larger than 2TB (2048 GB)."
-Use a drive with 4096-byte sectors to be able to create partition/device-hosted hidden volumes up to 16TB in size.

I cannot find out how to change my hard drive that read as 512/4096, it has Advanced Formatting so should be compatible with 4096 byte sector or at least able to go to 4096/4096. everyone seems to be wanting to go the other way so I cant find any info at all.

Any help?

Windows7 * 10 -Ubuntu Live CD
Motherboard - Asus P6T Deluxe V1
Internal - Toshiba x300 6Tb [Advanced Format]
External - Seagate 5Tb

 

[drtweak]

Well
1) the drive has to be initialized before it can even be used. So go back and get that error.

2) Once initialized as GPT and you create a new partition on the last part where it ask to format, select 4096 from the Allocation Unit Size drop down menu and that SHOULD do it.

 

[Ste221]

Thank you very much for your reply,

1) I will load windows and respond with the error, i have google the message previously and found others with the same issue with no solution, i think it was down to intel RST drivers not being supported for my motherboard but i will post the message soon.

2) I have previously initialised as GPT in Linux, i'm using GParted, but there isn't an Allocation Unit Size drop down menu, could you please tell me which program and OS you are using so i may do the same?

[GParted has the following options:
Allign to: Cylinder, MiB or None. i'm not sure if this is what you meant]

 

[Ste221]

Somehow my problem of not being able to be read on windows has been fixed! i was also then able to convert the drive into a 4k sector drive!

I'm not sure how this is now visible to windows but maybe from constant reformatting and playing with partition sizes it is now able to be read!

Thanks for your time, good luck to others if you have similar issues, just keep playing with partition size and NTFS formatting until windows can read it!