New 4TB Hard Drive Only Showing 2TB
- Thread starter MaxArk
- Start date
Solution
Mike Prior
Honorable
- Jul 24, 2013
- 62
- 0
- 10,660
It sounds like you have the partitioning system set up as MBR, this will only recognise up to 2TB.
If this is the case you will need to change it to GPT and the world will be wondeful again.
To be safe you should start the installation again with the drive set to GPT, however, there are methods on the internet to do this "as is" but you can't be sure not to lose data.
Good Luck.
If this is the case you will need to change it to GPT and the world will be wondeful again.
To be safe you should start the installation again with the drive set to GPT, however, there are methods on the internet to do this "as is" but you can't be sure not to lose data.
Good Luck.
SkyNetRising
Titan
- Jan 4, 2016
- 32,715
- 4,808
- 126,640
4TB drive must be partitioned in GPT partitioning format for all the capacity to be available.
The problem is - GPT partitioned drive can be booted only in UEFI mode. So - you'll have to reinstall OS in UEFI mode.
However, if your PC doesn't support UEFI boot, you can't use GPT drive for OS. You can use it only as secondary storage drive.
The problem is - GPT partitioned drive can be booted only in UEFI mode. So - you'll have to reinstall OS in UEFI mode.
However, if your PC doesn't support UEFI boot, you can't use GPT drive for OS. You can use it only as secondary storage drive.
Thank you both for your suggestion. I discovered this a bit late LOL after having spent (as you can likely relate) hours reinstalling taking updates and reinstalling all my missing software.
My question now, is how to partition in GPT format? Especially now that my disk isn't virgin any more. I don't recall see any option during the OS installation process to do that. I do recall when being asked where to install Windows 7, I had two disk 0:
Disk 0 Unallocated Space 2048.0 GB 2048.0 GB
Disk 0 Unallocated Space 1678.0 GB 1678.0 GB
My question now, is how to partition in GPT format? Especially now that my disk isn't virgin any more. I don't recall see any option during the OS installation process to do that. I do recall when being asked where to install Windows 7, I had two disk 0:
Disk 0 Unallocated Space 2048.0 GB 2048.0 GB
Disk 0 Unallocated Space 1678.0 GB 1678.0 GB
SkyNetRising
Titan
- Jan 4, 2016
- 32,715
- 4,808
- 126,640
Can you post screenshot from Disk Management?
Do you have old drive still available?
Are you sure, your system supports UEFI boot? What's the motherboard model name?
There is utility mbr2gpt, that can convert OS MBR disk to GPT, but it's available only in windows 10. So - it's no good in your situation.
Anyway - post that screenshot. May be we can figure something out.
Do you have old drive still available?
Are you sure, your system supports UEFI boot? What's the motherboard model name?
There is utility mbr2gpt, that can convert OS MBR disk to GPT, but it's available only in windows 10. So - it's no good in your situation.
Anyway - post that screenshot. May be we can figure something out.
Mike Prior
Honorable
- Jul 24, 2013
- 62
- 0
- 10,660
Have a look at https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/free-convert-mbr-to-gpt-without-data-loss.html
I have used this product a lot (although not for MBR/GPT conversion) and found it simple and effective.
Better still it's free.
I have used this product a lot (although not for MBR/GPT conversion) and found it simple and effective.
Better still it's free.
- Mar 16, 2013
- 179,749
- 22,086
- 184,590
New function in win 10 may do change from MBR to GPT without losing data
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/convert-mbr-to-gpt-disk
http://www.disk-partition.com/windows-10/convert-mbr-gpt-windows-10-0528.html
However...as with any messing with partitions, a full backup is needed beforehand.
Is this a brand new install? It is probably easier and safer to just redo it.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/convert-mbr-to-gpt-disk
http://www.disk-partition.com/windows-10/convert-mbr-gpt-windows-10-0528.html
However...as with any messing with partitions, a full backup is needed beforehand.
Is this a brand new install? It is probably easier and safer to just redo it.
Thanks folks for your support.
Skynet ... I've posted a screenie here taken from the Disk Management application. I hope it's of some use.
https://ibb.co/cqX52Q
I had a peek at this ... https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/dn336946.aspx but didn't dare proceed having such poor judgement.
Mike, thanks for that link. I really have a fear working with drives, and partitioning is a concept I have very little familiarity with, so without an understanding, and guidance, I stay clear of things that could cause me grief. The reason I am where I am now is because of my lack of understanding lol. I messed up even at the 3rd step of Windows installation where I had to select a drive ...
Perhaps if worst comes to worst, that may be an option ... but it won't be without questions.
Skynet ... I've posted a screenie here taken from the Disk Management application. I hope it's of some use.
https://ibb.co/cqX52Q
Not sure. When I go into my boot option menu, my DVD has a UEFI option.
Its a GigaByte Z170XP-SLI-CF(U3E1)
I had a peek at this ... https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/dn336946.aspx but didn't dare proceed having such poor judgement.
Mike, thanks for that link. I really have a fear working with drives, and partitioning is a concept I have very little familiarity with, so without an understanding, and guidance, I stay clear of things that could cause me grief. The reason I am where I am now is because of my lack of understanding lol. I messed up even at the 3rd step of Windows installation where I had to select a drive ...
Perhaps if worst comes to worst, that may be an option ... but it won't be without questions.
Mike Prior
Honorable
- Jul 24, 2013
- 62
- 0
- 10,660
Hi,
You won't need to use the partitioning features. As I remember the process will be.
1. Click on your disc. (Your disc/s will appear automatically when the program loads.)
2. Click convert MBR to GPT.
3 Click Apply. (Actions are represented on screen but not actually applied as a safety measure until you press "Apply.")
4. Drink Coffee.
You won't need to use the partitioning features. As I remember the process will be.
1. Click on your disc. (Your disc/s will appear automatically when the program loads.)
2. Click convert MBR to GPT.
3 Click Apply. (Actions are represented on screen but not actually applied as a safety measure until you press "Apply.")
4. Drink Coffee.
SkyNetRising
Titan
- Jan 4, 2016
- 32,715
- 4,808
- 126,640
Ok - that supports UEFI boot for sure.
You have several options.
Option #1. Clean your 4TB drive, convert to GPT, reinstall windows (but I'm guessing you'd prefer not to go this route)
Option #2. Get another empty drive with size at least 500GB
a) clone OS drive to 500GB drive, change boot priority in BIOS and boot from 500GB drive (still legacy/MBR boot);
b) then clean 4TB drive, convert to GPT;
c) create EFI system partition on 4TB drive;
d) clone OS partition from 500GB drive to 4TB drive (partition to partition clone mode);
e) fix bootloader on 4TB drive using bcdboot;
f) change BIOS boot priority back to 4TB drive and boot mode to UEFI and boot from 4TB drive.
Done (reinstall avoided).
Does that sound like fun thing to do?
All fantastic support! I think it's great there are those out there that are willing and able to offer help.
This is what I have opted to do. I think the 4TB drive is a waste (to me) for simply hosting the OS. I work exclusively with video media, and one of the drives I use to retain my video projects is a mere 1TB and nearing capacity. I will swap drives. My 1TB will be my OS, and my 4TB will be simply a storage medium for my video projects. I assume I don't need to convert any drives to GPT in this scenario.
Just out of curiousity ... and since I have 8 hours worth of backing up to wait for before I do this, is it good advice from your guys to take this opportunity to convert reformatted and empty disks to GPT? And if so, Mike ... the EaseUS application you mentioned ... this is what I would use to reformat and convert once my data transfer has completed. That will leave my future 1TB drive clean and in GPT mode?
This is what I have opted to do. I think the 4TB drive is a waste (to me) for simply hosting the OS. I work exclusively with video media, and one of the drives I use to retain my video projects is a mere 1TB and nearing capacity. I will swap drives. My 1TB will be my OS, and my 4TB will be simply a storage medium for my video projects. I assume I don't need to convert any drives to GPT in this scenario.
Just out of curiousity ... and since I have 8 hours worth of backing up to wait for before I do this, is it good advice from your guys to take this opportunity to convert reformatted and empty disks to GPT? And if so, Mike ... the EaseUS application you mentioned ... this is what I would use to reformat and convert once my data transfer has completed. That will leave my future 1TB drive clean and in GPT mode?
SkyNetRising
Titan
- Jan 4, 2016
- 32,715
- 4,808
- 126,640
GPT is necessary for drives larger than 2TB. So your 4TB drive will need to be converted anyway.
If you want, you can convert 1TB drive to GPT also, but that's not really necessary.
If you want, you can convert 1TB drive to GPT also, but that's not really necessary.
GPT is necessary SkyNet even for just storage disks? I have two other disks, a 3TB and a 4TB (disk 2 and 4 on my screenshot) that aren't GPT. Can I assume I am not getting the full capacity of those?
If that's the case, can they be formatted to GPT without loss of data? Or would these need to e reformatted and converted as well?
If that's the case, can they be formatted to GPT without loss of data? Or would these need to e reformatted and converted as well?
SkyNetRising
Titan
- Jan 4, 2016
- 32,715
- 4,808
- 126,640
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
-
-
-
-
Discussion What's your favourite video game you've been playing?- Started by amdfangirl
- Replies: 4K
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram