Partitioning New 3TB Hard Drive

[pancoon]

Hi guys, I just got a new 3TB hard drive, but when I went to partition it, Windows seemed to split the Hard Drive. Why is that? Can I combine them. Is there a 2TB Hard Drive max?

http://i.imgur.com/Q0F3InS.png

I also can't partition the other 746 GB drive.

[DirkW]

Hi guys, I just got a new 3TB hard drive, but when I went to partition it, Windows seemed to split the Hard Drive. Why is that? Can I combine them. Is there a 2TB Hard Drive max?

http://i.imgur.com/Q0F3InS.png

When you use MBR, there is such a limit, yes. Use GPT instead.

[pancoon]

When you use MBR, there is such a limit, yes. Use GPT instead.

N00b Here, what is MBR and GPT?

[Hangfire]

http://carltonbale.com/how-to-break-the-2tb-2-terabyte-file-system-limit/

[DirkW]

N00b Here, what is MBR and GPT?

Two different methods of partitioning. MBR = Master Boot Record, GPT = GUID Partition Table

GPT is more modern and does not have that limit.

[FizzyFantom]

In Windows you can use DiskPart to change the partition table.

This will delete all the data on the drive.

Open and elevated command prompt and run DiskPart:

C:\> Diskpart

 

List you drives:
DISKPART> list disk

 

Make sure to select the right one:
DISKPART> select disk 0

 

Make sure the disk is online:
DISKPART> online disk

 

Clear any readonly settings from the drive:
DISKPART> attributes disk clear readonly

 

Clean the partition table:
DISKPART> clean

 

Convert the drive partition table
DISKPART> convert gpt

 

Then format the partitions you want in Disk Management

OR
Make the partition(s) in DiskPart:
DISKPART> create partition primary

DISKPART> select part 1

DISKPART> format fs=ntfs label="System" unit=512 quick compress

DISKPART> assign letter d

 

I hope this helps. If you need any more help feel free to ask