Re-Partitioning HDD

cloud_dog

Hi

This follows on from my recent HDD / NAS issue (Recovered MKV files not playing).

Soooo, I have recovered the files I needed to.

When my issue originated I wanted to take a copy of the HDD (2TB) before commencing my recovery activities, just in case I somehow destroyed/ruined the source HDD. My only option available at the time was to image the 2TB drive on to a 4TB drive using a USB HDD caddy to mirror it.

Obviously, this created a partitioned 2TB drive on the 4TB HDD.

I now want to 'blow' the partitions away on the 4TB so that I can start afresh with a 4TB drive.... and have run out of ideas.

I though the WD Drive Manager might facilitate this (it's a WD drive) by putting the drive into the USB caddy but all I am able to do is to 'initialise' the drive and that still leaves me with the original 2TB partition.

I seem unabel to action anything on the unallocated remainder of the 4TB drive.

I'm unable to do anything via Computer Management with the 'Unallocated' remainder of the 4TB drive. I was hoping I might be able to make the unallocated partition in to a simple volume and then delete or extend the current 2TB in to it but no joy.

pappa_golf

I use minitool partition http://download.cnet.com/MiniTool-Partition-Wizard-Free-Edition/3000-2094_4-10962200.html


delete all partitions and make new

Fightsback

It's probably because you set the 4TB drive up as old MBR which has a 2TB limit, you need to reformat the disk to GPT and this will allow you to use all 4TB. No extra downloads needed.

For Info:

http://www.howtogeek.com/193669/whats-the-difference-between-gpt-and-mbr-when-partitioning-a-drive/

cloud_dog

Fightsback wrote: »

It's probably because you set the 4TB drive up as old MBR which has a 2TB limit, you need to reformat the disk to GPT and this will allow you to use all 4TB. No extra downloads needed.

For Info:

http://www.howtogeek.com/193669/whats-the-difference-between-gpt-and-mbr-when-partitioning-a-drive/

Thanks for this (again)

I seem to have a little problem, when I go in to Computer Management and click on the HDD, then right click I am not seeing the 'Initialise' option.

Have tried deleting the partition etc but no joy....any ideas? (then I promise to go away)

maddogb

something in the back of my mind tells me this is due to the USB connection, try hooking it up via sata cable

cloud_dog

Ok, I'll give it a go.

cloud_dog

maddogb wrote: »

something in the back of my mind tells me this is due to the USB connection, try hooking it up via sata cable

No joy.

When I right click on the 'Disk 1' (for the disk) I only see Offline (greyed out), Properties, and Help.

This is where I selected 'Initialise' previously but obviously chose MBR instead of GPT.

maddogb

cloud_dog wrote: »

No joy.

When I right click on the 'Disk 1' (for the disk) I only see Offline (greyed out), Properties, and Help.

This is where I selected 'Initialise' previously but obviously chose MBR instead of GPT.

offline? where are you looking at the disk from? do you have the RAID controller for the sata port turned on? needs to be set to ahci.

pappa_golf

cloud_dog wrote: »

No joy.

When I right click on the 'Disk 1' (for the disk) I only see Offline (greyed out), Properties, and Help.

This is where I selected 'Initialise' previously but obviously chose MBR instead of GPT.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=euro+car+parts&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGHP_en-GBGB690GB690&q=convert+mbr+to+gpt&gs_l=hp..6.41l1037.0.0.3.4786616...........0.CEN8N2UaI-o&gws_rd=ssl

pappa_golf

or as I previously suggested using mini partition tools


https://www.partitionwizard.com/help/convert-MBR-disk-to-GPT-disk.html

pappa_golf

maddogb wrote: »

offline? where are you looking at the disk from? do you have the RAID controller for the sata port turned on? needs to be set to ahci.

the disk , is a single disk held in a USB caddy , why the raid and sata suggestions