[SOLVED] Reformatting an external HDD that was previously used on a PS4 ?

[Don78]

I am trying to format an external HDD that I had been using on my PlayStation 4 that I no longer need to use. When I go into Disk Management on PC it shows it as Disk 4 basic 3725.99 GB. However, then it is broken down into two different segments. One is 2048GB and the other is 1677.99GB. I have no options on the 1677.99GB part. On the 2048GB section it does allow me to create a new simple volume, but it is only showing the max disk space as 2097150MB. How can I reformat the entire drive to be able to use it on a PC?

 

[CelicaGT]

You're going to need to use Diskpart, a Command Shell utility in win10/11. I'm just pointing you in that direction as I'm away from my desk at the moment and on my phone. Do a quick internet search on it to familiarize yourself with it, and its commands. If I recall there is a Clean, or clean disk command that will wipe everything including all partitions.

 

[evermorex76]

I am trying to format an external hard drive that I had been using on my PlayStation 4 that I no longer need to use. When I go into Disk Management on PC it shows it as Disk 4 basic 3725.99 GB. However, then it is broken down into two different segments. One is 2048 GB and the other is 1677.99 GB. I have no options on the 1677.99 GB part. On the 2048 GB section it does allow me to create a new simple volume, but it is only showing the max disk space as 2097150 MB. How can I reformat the entire drive to be able to use it on PC?

A screenshot of Disk Management (hosted on a site like Imgur) would be helpful for this so we can understand what "segments" you mean. But essentially it comes down to the partition types/formats. Disk Management is somewhat limited in its ability to manipulate some formats, and the PS4 probably uses a type that DM can't work with. You should be able to simply wipe the entire drive which will remove everything. You can use a third-party tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant to wipe it (using the quick wipe option is fine) and create a new partition, or you can use the Windows "diskpart" utility via admin command prompt. That's a little more complicated of course. The "clean" command in diskpart completely removes all formatting and partitioning, after which you can use Disk Management initialize the drive (as GPT) and create your partition using the full space.

 

[Don78]

Thank you for the assistance.

https://imgur.com/a/CMa4rRz

View: https://imgur.com/a/CMa4rRz


I have used Disk Genius before, but it didn't look like it would be easy when I pulled it up. I will read up on Diskpart, thank you!

 

[evermorex76]

I have used Disk Genius before, but it didn't look like it would be easy when I pulled it up. I will read up on Diskpart, thank you!

I see. The issue is that the drive was initialized using the MBR format, which has a limitation of 2TB. You can't do anything with the 1677GB space because MBR can't address it. You just need to reinitialize the drive as GPT, which can address the full 4TB of space, then you can create whatever partitions you want. Just right-click on the left section that says Disk 2 and select Convert to GPT Disk. Only takes a few seconds. (This is only available if the disk has no partitions, like yours.)

 

[iTRiP]

Thank you for the assistance.

https://imgur.com/a/CMa4rRz

View: https://imgur.com/a/CMa4rRz


I have used Disk Genius before, but it didn't look like it would be easy when I pulled it up. I will read up on Diskpart, thank you!

Looks to me like two partitions of unallocated space, did you try just deleting said partitions first then creating a new simple volume, probably need some better soft for that like the other members have suggested.

Your outcome your looking for is probably having one drive with one partition, find a way to merge the free spaces.

 

[evermorex76]

partitions of unallocated space

By definition, a partition is space that has been allocated.

 

[iTRiP]

By definition, a partition is space that has been allocated.

Besides the point, yes could be... that doesn't help the OP though.

Thanks for the correction if that's the case, (still just a figure of typing to make it understandable to the OP) I'd still like to think that even if space is unallocated it's part of something.

Don't suppose it's two disks in one drive; they don't make them like that do they.

Won't mind reading what the solution is going to be.

 

[evermorex76]

Thanks for the correction if that's the case, (still just a figure of typing to make it understandable to the OP) I'd still like to think that even if space is unallocated it's part of something.

No, its NOT part of something. It's unallocated. It is not part of anything. The OS is ignoring it completely. It's not just a blank partition because there is no partition. There is nothing in the partition table that references that space. I already explained in a previous post what the issue is.

The only reason that it's looking like two separate spaces is because the MBR partition scheme can't address anything past 2TB, but the OS can see that this drive has physical space beyond that. It shows the 2TB space separately because you can create a partition there since MBR can address it. The other half of the drive is unusable currently. 3.6TB is the binary size of a decimal 4TB drive. 2TB binary is the amount of space that MBR can address. If this was a 28TB drive, it would show a 2TB space first and then a single giant unusable 22TB space (the binary space remaining; converting from decimal on a drive that large loses a whopping 4TB).

Converting to GPT partitioning allows it to recognize the full drive capacity as a single unallocated space, where it's still not part of anything until you allocate some or all of it to a partition.

 

[Don78]

I see. The issue is that the drive was initialized using the MBR format, which has a limitation of 2TB. You can't do anything with the 1677GB space because MBR can't address it. You just need to reinitialize the drive as GPT, which can address the full 4TB of space, then you can create whatever partitions you want. Just right-click on the left section that says Disk 2 and select Convert to GPT Disk. Only takes a few seconds. (This is only available if the disk has no partitions, like yours.)

Thank you! That worked and then I was able to format with no issues.

 

[iTRiP]

Thank you! That worked and then I was able to format with no issues.

Glad for you it worked out.