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Resolved External hard drive issue.

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by BobbyScot, 2015/01/01.

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  1. 2015/01/01
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    My external Hard Drive 3TB capacity now showing 1.99TB of 1.99TB. How can I find the lost 1TB? I have formatted the external HD, then installing 3.59GB of software.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #1
  2. 2015/01/01
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Hi BobbyScot, Is this HD Western Digital os Seagate?
    It was formatted and then you put 3.59GB's of Data on it and it only shows 1.99GB's?
    Can you see the 3.59GB's on it? Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #2


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  4. 2015/01/02
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Bobby - you have fallen foul of the 2TB limit of the MBR (Master Boot Record - MBR works with disks up to 2 TB in size, but it can’t handle disks with more than 2 TB of space.

    To use the full capacity of the drive you need to either -

    Convert it to a GPT (GUID - Globally Unique Identifer) disk - Windows 8 gives the option to apply this formatting to a new disk by default.

    There are limitations, however which should not apply in your case -
    How to Convert a MBR Disk to a GPT Disk

    or

    In Drive Management the balance of your 3TB disk may be shown as Unallocated - right click in this space > new simple volume and create another partition.

    or

    Delete the volume on the drive so that it shows all unallocated and create 2 partitions, neither of which may exceed 2TB.
     
    PeteC,
    #3
  5. 2015/01/02
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Thank you both for detailed information. I really forgot that my computer most probably read only up to 2TB. The HD in question is WD Elements 3TB and bought only two days before Christmas. Speccy shows the drive as WD Elements 107C SATA 2794GB.

    Another HD connected is WD My Book SATA 2794GB and registers 1.70TB free of 2.72TB. I do not understand why both HD are 3TB, same make but one only shows as 1.99TB. I must admit that I have never partioned any of my HD's.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #4
  6. 2015/01/02
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I have made further checks using the Windows 7 Disk Management.

    NTFS. Capacity 2048.00GB. Free space 2041.00GB. 100% free. No fault
    Tolerance 0. 746.49GB Unallocated. "New Volume 2097150 MB ".

    I feel the New Volume is the cause of the error being discussed. Can this volume be removed? why it appears is a mystery. HD was formatted after error and before posting this topic. I hope this information is of interest.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #5
  7. 2015/01/02
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Which drive does your post above refer to? WD Elements or WD My Book?
     
    PeteC,
    #6
  8. 2015/01/02
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Sorry, HD is the WD Elements 3TB. Quotes 1.99TB free of 1.99TB. At present there is 3.60GB saved software.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #7
  9. 2015/01/02
    mmullen2

    mmullen2 Well-Known Member

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    I have the same HD from WD. Look at the WD site for support and downloads. They have a separate program that will correctly format the drive for 3 TB.
     
    mmullen2,
    #8
  10. 2015/01/02
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for your suggestion. I have tried unsatisfactory to contact WD Web site, received a new password and apparently it rejects their new password. Will try again and if successful will download what you suggested. Is it Data Lifeguard?.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #9
  11. 2015/01/02
    mmullen2

    mmullen2 Well-Known Member

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    mmullen2,
    #10
  12. 2015/01/02
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    If you go back into Disk Mgmt you can convert the 746.49GB Unallocated into another partition - format the drive and use the space.
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #11
  13. 2015/01/02
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Steve, checked Disk Management, right box shows 746.49GB Unallocated. I right clicked the Black Bar -- all greyed out. More actions. What do I require to do to remove the 746.49GB Unallocated?
     
    BobbyScot,
    #12
  14. 2015/01/02
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Right click on the actual Unallocated section of the drive. You should see something like a Create Partition.
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #13
  15. 2015/01/02
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Steve, right click box [Unallocated], all greyed out except Properties and Help.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #14
  16. 2015/01/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Under normal circumstances, i.e. with a drive not exceeding 2 TB you would have the option on right click to create a new simple volume. You have a 3TB drive which, as has been noted above, is not supported by the MBR - Windows does not see the unallocated space as usable.

    If you right click in the left hand column headed Disk X where X is a single number you should see the option to convert to GPT disk, which, as noted previously in Post #3, can be seen by Windows.

    Alternatively delete the partitions on the disk which Windows can see which should then show the whole disk to be unallocated and create 2 partitions by right clicking in the unallocated space and choosing New Simple Volume and following the wizard through, bearing in mind that neither partition may exceed 2TB.
     
    PeteC,
    #15
  17. 2015/01/03
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Just points to mention, formatting the HD, removes all software except that unallocated 746.49 remains shown. As said before, why does Windows recognise WD My Book as 3TB? Windows 8.1 does it recognise and accept
    3TB+ HDs? I tried the Free Paragon Partition Manager with negative results. I believe that if the unallocated shown on the right side could be removed as it was when WD Elements 3TB was first installed. I must have clicked some box which was not reversible.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #16
  18. 2015/01/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I have no idea - if it is 3TB only 2TB should be recognised unless converted to GPT.
    I don't have any 3TB drives, but, as I mentioned before, the drive will need to be converted to GPT - this applies to all OS's from Vista to 8.1.

    From Windows Answers ....

    I have a 3 TB drive. Windows 7 Ultimate won't format more than 2 TB in a partition. How do I get the entire drive in a single partition?

    If you have data on the allocated portion of the drive you will need to copy this off before deleting the volume and converting to GPT
     
    PeteC,
    #17
  19. 2015/01/03
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Well I seem to be in aright mess now, usual method of allocating the drive letter is no longer available. In Disk Management the HD Elements 107C is shown and working properly, but no access now available. I should have just accepted the maximum of 2TB and saved myself a complete mess up. Any suggestions, please.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #18
  20. 2015/01/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    It would be more than helpful if you posted what you have done to the drive today - regrettably we do not have access to a crystal ball :)

    What exactly is shown in Disk Management in relation to this disk?
     
    PeteC,
    #19
  21. 2015/01/03
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    In Disk Management: Disk 2. Basic 2794.36GB Online.[2794.36GB Unallocated No drive letter shown]. Clicked Popup selected GPT. (reverted to MBR - no change).
    Device Manager> Disk drives: WD Elements 107C USB Device.
    Data Lifeguard : Drive 3. WD Elements 107C 3001GB Pass. Logical Drive : Not shown.
    Periform Speccy: Storage : 2794GB WD Elements 107C USB Device (USB (SATA)) 40c Green colour square. S.M.A.R.T. Good 40c OK(less than 50C.

    It appears to have gone wrong after changing the Unallocated 746.49GB to
    2794.36GB Unallocated in unlined box. Box not display WD Elements (J) as previously.
    Changes were made after reading Windows Answers.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #20
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