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Resolved External hard drive issue.

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

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  1. 2015/01/04
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    From PeteC's first post link
    Removable disks are MBR disks by default.
    • Removable disks cannot be converted into a GPT disk.
     
    lj50,
    #21
  2. 2015/01/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    @ lj50 The term Removable Disk is a rather grey area - is an external hard drive a Removable Disk? - I think not. See below a snip from This PC (Win 8.1) showing an SD card inserted via a reader and an external drive (S) shown by it's name - if not named it would show as New Volume I think.

    @ Bobby A further article on converting a 3TB external drive to GPT ....

    Why my 3TB External Hard Drive only showing 2TB in Disk Management

    Did you follow this step from the Windows Answers link ....
    You may have to use delpart to clear the drive and then convert to GPT as outlined in the above link although whether or not this will do the trick I have no idea as there are no partitions to clear. If you attempt to use delpart double check that you have selected the right disk.
     

    Attached Files:

    PeteC,
    #22


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  4. 2015/01/04
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    PeteC, I have decided it maybe best to leave it alone, at least the HD works as a 2TB. Can the 746GB unallocated in the right hand side be used as a separate drive? what is procedure? I am forced to format the computer to factory settings. Avast free Antivirus has removed several software and MES can no longer be installed, Firewall is no longer working or can be reactivated, a complete shambles thanks to Avast.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #23
  5. 2015/01/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    In the light of posts #11, 13 & 14 and your response in post #15 it would seem to be unlikely. However, the usual procedure is to right click in the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume and follow the wizard through.
    I find that very hard to believe While I sympathize with your ongoing issues stretching back over several years and I cannot but help feeling that many of these are user induced - no disrepect intended :)

    FWIW I use Vipre Internet Security on my own computers (3) and have done so for many years, on my sister's laptop and have installed it on the PC's of several friends, all without any issues. A 30 day free trial is available.
     
    PeteC,
    #24
  6. 2015/01/04
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    PeteC, all my life I have appreciated help given by other people, and like most, I have made blunders as you kindly point out and most probably I am a nuisance. However having said this, your help is most appreciated.
    I am now trying out your suggestion, VIPRE as it can not be worse than AVAST which should have a health warning in block capitals. As of interest, what is the yearly charge for VIPRE.
    Checked HD in question, unallocated 746GB, clicking box, find entry New Simple Volume is greyed out. This means as you pointed several times,that 746GB is dormant in my case. Can you please tell me, procedure to split a HD as J and K as an example. Thanks Bobby.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #25
  7. 2015/01/04
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Did you install WD Smart Ware. If yes do you have to sign in to access the drive. When I don't sign in the Start Menu I right click Computer click on Manage then I choose Disk Management. I get a dialog box asking if I want to covert the drive from MBR to GPT. I do not know if this will work. I was doing some research early this am(0300) I found an article that stated if you download and in stall the latest updated version of WD Smart Ware it will recognize over 2GB, but I failed to save the article for when I signed in to the forum again. I'll try and find it and then post the link.
     
    lj50,
    #26
  8. 2015/01/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Bobby - far from being a nuisance :) WindowsBBS is dedicated to helping folk who have computer issues.

    Vipre Antivirus is £20 for 1 computer for 1 year, Vipre Internet Security is £30 for 1 computer for 1 year. Vipre pricing - check the appropriate button.
    In general terms, given that the capacity of the drive is 2TB or less and is shown in Disk Management as completely unallocated, i.e. no partitions.

    Right click in the unallocated space and select New Simple volume. In following the wizard through you are able to select the size of the partition to be created, assign a drive letter and format. Repeat for the remaining unallocated space to create a second partition.

    For further reading on Windows support for 2TB + drives see ....

    Windows support for hard disks that are larger than 2 TB
     
    PeteC,
    #27
  9. 2015/01/04
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    PeteC, my last post, I wrote that New Simple Volume was Greyed out. Thanks for information on VIPRE, is the Internet protection better to have.
    lj50, I am afraid that WD Smart Ware was removed for some reason?
     
    BobbyScot,
    #28
  10. 2015/01/04
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Try reading this article it may or may not help. I can't locate the article I found earlier this AM. http://www.anandtech.com/show/3981/...b-and-my-book-essential-3tb-drives-reviewed/2 Did you try downloading the software from the WD website you will need you product number(P/N), also did you register your product with Western Digital. Every time I don't sign into my WD External HDD using Smart Ware I get a conversion dialog box. When I do sign in I don't get the conversion dialog box. You're not the only one who has ever experienced this problem. I know its frustrating. So please don't give up yet.
     
    Last edited: 2015/01/04
    lj50,
    #29
  11. 2015/01/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I know - I was speaking generally if you re-read my post.
    It is now well established that the unallocated space on your 3TB drive cannot be converted into a partition. If you can delete the formatted part - right click > delete volume to show the whole disk as unallocated you should then be able to convert it to GPT. If successful you can then create partitions as desired.
    Yes IMO - you are then fully protected.
     
    PeteC,
    #30
  12. 2015/01/04
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    PeteC, I tried this exercise so many times now, can do it blindfolded. This time the HD "J" is formatted GPT with a single partition of 2.72TB as to previous size of 1.99TB. I will settle for this result. Read WD instruction states that the HD should be formatted before start of this exercise. Thank you all for patience and most helpful assistance. Bobby.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #31
  13. 2015/01/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Your figure of 2.72TB compares well with a figure taken from my last link of 2.79TB - the balance is taken up with the formatting and file system. You are good to go :)

    Now that the issue has been resolved to your satisfaction please mark the thread as resolved .....


    Marking a thread as 'Resolved'

     
    PeteC,
    #32
  14. 2015/01/04
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    lj50, have you looked in History to see the sites you visited?
    Won't work if you clear History on Shutdown though. Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #33
  15. 2015/01/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Neil

    The issue is resolved :) ....
     
    PeteC,
    #34
  16. 2015/01/04
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    PeteC, We must have posted at the same time and I was just trying to remind lj50 where he could look in future. Thanks Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #35
  17. 2015/01/05
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    retiredlearner: The history is deleted at shutdown. Thanks for the reminder.
     
    lj50,
    #36
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