Problems installing 6TB HDD on W7 as storage drive.

[Frag_Maniac]

I know you have to go through special steps to install large capacity drives when installing an OS on them, or they'll show up as segmented into smaller partitions, but in Disc Management this drive is showing as a 5589MB capacity drive with 2TB and 4TB segments, and I can only partition the 2TB segment in Disc Management, as that option is greyed out on the 4TB partition.

There was a message that popped up as soon as I went into Disc Management about partitioning, but I don't recall what it said. I was not expecting to have to go through this just for a storage drive. Do I need to use GPT, and if so, can I do it without going into the BIOS or loading the OS disc?

If anyone has a good tutorial I'd appreciate it, because every one I've found so far is for installing an OS on a large drive. Not sure if it matters, but the drive is WD Black 6TB.

 

[Athlon2K15]

Yes you have to use GPT . just use diskpart and clean the drive then use GPT and create your partition.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

Yes you have to use GPT . just use diskpart and clean the drive then use GPT and create your partition.

Thanks, but is GPT hard to use, like command prompts? I'm used to using Partition Wizard, which is very easy. I tried to look for basic GPT tutorials, but they were all on installing an OS, vs partitioning a storage drive.

If you know of any links to easy to follow tutorials, that would help.

 

[Athlon2K15]

you switch it to GPT in disk management. right click.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

you switch it to GPT in disk management. right click.

LOL, that easy? OK, thanks, I thought maybe GPT was a tool like diskpart, silly me.

 

[Athlon2K15]

GPT is just a type of partition table like MBR.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Thanks, but is GPT hard to use, like command prompts? I'm used to using Partition Wizard, which is very easy. I tried to look for basic GPT tutorials, but they were all on installing an OS, vs partitioning a storage drive.

If you know of any links to easy to follow tutorials, that would help.

Right-click on Disk 4 (the 6 TB) and click on "Convert to GPT." If the option is grayed out, you may have to delete all of the partitions on it first then it should be clickable.

That's really all there is to it. It's low level stuff that generally doesn't concern the user once it is done.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

GPT is just a type of partition table like MBR.

I don't see any option to convert to GPT when I right click, and that is the case whether I format the 2TB segment or not. You sure this is possible in W7?

...never mind, I found out I was just clicking on the wrong part. For anyone wondering, you have to right click on the drive icon part. If you click on the drive space part like you do for partitioning, it won't show.

Thanks again btw.

 

[cadaveca]

Might be due to your older board not playing fair. There was a problem in the past with 3TB+ drives many years ago IIRC.

Maybe try a different plug, IIRC your board has both Intel and Marvell drive controllers.

So yeah, maybe an updated BIOS with newer RST firmware if you are on Intel ports, maybe Marvel ports will work; not sure. (this is assuming your listed system specs are correct).

You will still need to format in GPT format, of course.

ASUS page says:

P6X58D-E BIOS 0803
Fixed raid hdd size issue

*Note: Update Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver to v10.5.0.1026 to support full HDD capacity.(contained the driver)

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P6X58DE/HelpDesk_Download/

 

[Frag_Maniac]

Might be due to your older board not playing fair. There was a problem in the past with 3TB+ drives many years ago IIRC.

Maybe try a different plug, IIRC your board has both Intel and Marvell drive controllers.

So yeah, maybe an updated BIOS with newer RST firmware if you are on Intel ports, maybe Marvel ports will work; not sure. (this is assuming your listed system specs are correct).

You will still need to format in GPT format, of course.

ASUS page says:



http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P6X58DE/HelpDesk_Download/

Not MB or BIOS, just wasn't right clicking on HDD icon. If you click on the drive space you only get certain options. The same was true even in Partition Wizard. Oddly enough though, in PW, it showed as one segment already before even converting to GPT, don't know why.

It's all good now though. Tonight I shall run a diagnostic on it while sleeping, then start installing my games if it checks out OK. I actually decided to keep all 3 of my 1TB drives in the system too (was originally going to remove the older, slower Barracuda, and just keep the two WD Black 1TBs). So I now have 9 instead of 8 TB, actually more like 7.5 once you factor actual space and required free space for defragging, but it's a hell of a lot more than I had.

Just benched the speed of this drive real quick in DxTory, 231 Mb/s (peaked at 235 Mb/s after 3 tries), whoa! My WD Black 1TB drives were only 180 Mb/s when empty.