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Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: Michael on April 28, 2021, 08:21:23 AM

Title: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: Michael on April 28, 2021, 08:21:23 AM: I bought a WD 4TB HDD today to be used for backup. Upon initializing the drive, there are two unallocated "partitions" of 2048GB and 1678.02GB each. I set up the first 2048GB part as a new volume, but can't do the same for the second 1678.02Gb part. The context menu is greyed out.

After some googling, it seems that Windows 7 only recognises up to 2.5TB.

So what I need to do now in order to be able to use the remaining 1678.02GB?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: BC_Programmer on April 28, 2021, 01:56:07 PM: It is a limitation of MBR partitioning.

Windows Vista and later can access >2TB disks but you need to be using the 64-bit release and the drive must be partitioned using GPT.
Title: Re: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: Michael on April 28, 2021, 06:54:38 PM: Yes, I am aware of that after the googling. My Win 7 is 64-bit.

My question is, what I can or should do now in order to make it work?

From what I read, I will need to reformat my system drive, partition it using GPT, and reinstall Windows 7.

Just wonder if that is the only way.
Title: Re: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: BC_Programmer on April 29, 2021, 03:49:32 PM: In Disk Management, you would need to remove all partitions from the disk, and then a "Convert to GPT Disk" option should be available when right-click on the drive. Then you can create a 4TB partition. (or I guess whatever partitions you like) and it will be able to use the fill disk capacity.
Title: Re: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: Michael on April 29, 2021, 06:26:18 PM: There is no option to remove the partitions. See attached.

As I understand from a few IT friend and also some articles, the drive containing the OS will need to be GPT in the first place. That’s the trouble I want to avoid.
Title: Re: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: Lisa_maree on April 29, 2021, 11:15:32 PM: You need to Right Click in the square under Disk 0 and select convert to GPT then make the NTFS/Fat32 partitions inside the GPT partition.
There is no need to change your other drive to GPT to do this.

This is what a 4TB drive looks like first changed to GPT

And then Partitioned as EXFat and NTFS

Then re partitioned as single 4TB NTFS
Title: Re: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: Michael on April 29, 2021, 11:24:08 PM: Ok I’ll try.

Btw, why is the need to partition as ExFAT + NTFS first?
Title: Re: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: Lisa_maree on April 29, 2021, 11:46:21 PM: I only showed it as an option to have both xfat and NTFS partitions. It could be a single 4TB NTFS or any number of smaller NTFS partitions. Once you have it in GPT format it is the same as partitioning a 2 TB or smaller drive.
Title: Re: Using a 4TB HDD as backup on Windows 7
Post by: Michael on April 30, 2021, 09:24:30 AM: Quote from: Lisa_maree on April 29, 2021, 11:15:32 PM
You need to Right Click in the square under Disk 0 and select convert to GPT then make the NTFS/Fat32 partitions inside the GPT partition.

It works! Thank you very much!