New External HDD

[Amnesya]

Hello, I'm about to ask a question showing how silly my understanding can be.

I just purchased a new 3TB external HDD from Seagate. (Seagate STBV3000) for use with my Windows 8.1 laptop.
I understand an internal drive has a capacity lower than expected for system files etc, but I was expecting the external to be as advertised or very slightly lower.

Upon plugging it in, it's showing as 2.7TB available, and 282MB in use.
Is this normal? Can someone explain why an external drive is using 282MB in unseen files (Checked drive for hidden files etc)

I'm sure it is normal and fine, but wanted to check if this is the case, and if someone can explain in idiots terms why.

[Calum]

Welcome to Computer Hope

The capacity discrepancy is definitely normal - 3000GB in manufacturers' terms is more or less 2.7GB is Microsoft's terms.  This is because HDD manufacturers label their drives where 1TB = 1000GB, whereas in most other areas 1TB = 1024GB.  Therefore 3TB = nearly 2.8GB, but because it's not over 2.8GB it'll be reported as 2.7TB.
282MB in use is also fairly normal - this will be metadata used by Windows for the GPT (GUID Partition Table, basically how Windows knows where files are stored on the drive) as well as reserved storage for the recycle bin etc.

Hope this helps explain what you're seeing.