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how can I add this 8TB HD to the system?

ingear said:
I have a relatively old FS at home

Dell Vostro 230

* 32 bit - Win 7 Home Premium

4 years ago I have added a 4TB HD to it BUT could only get 3TB to show up due to some OS limitations :/

now I want to add this 8TB HD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822178748

but am not sure how to get all 8TB to show up

and advice?

thank you ...

PS it's a
* Intel 2 Duo E7500 @ 2.9 GHz
* 3GB RAM
Click to expand...

Yeah in Windows disk drives with MBR Partitioning can detect upto only 2.19 TB. SO better to split into 2 drives of 2 TB each. Similarly for 8 tb drive - Make 4 partitions worth 2 TB each from disk management.
 
Namo said:
Yeah in Windows disk drives with MBR Partitioning can detect upto only 2.19 TB. SO better to split into 2 drives of 2 TB each. Similarly for 8 tb drive - Make 4 partitions worth 2 TB each from disk management.
Click to expand...

This is incorrect. The limitation with MBR partitioning, is 2.19TB of physical sectors, not logical partition sectors. So, using MBR partitioning, you would only be able to utilize 2TB of the space, no matter how many partitions you made.

The correct solution is to initialize the disk as GPT, and then you can utilize the entire disk.

Windows 7 32-bit, I don't believe supports boot disks greater than 2TB (only the 64-bit edition supports UEFI), but should support GPT data disks.
 
VirtualLarry said:
This is incorrect. The limitation with MBR partitioning, is 2.19TB of physical sectors, not logical partition sectors. So, using MBR partitioning, you would only be able to utilize 2TB of the space, no matter how many partitions you made.

The correct solution is to initialize the disk as GPT, and then you can utilize the entire disk.

Windows 7 32-bit, I don't believe supports boot disks greater than 2TB (only the 64-bit edition supports UEFI), but should support GPT data disks.
Click to expand...

Are you sure? So what if I buy a 4tb hdd and then make 2 partitions of 2tb each with MBR - then would it be Okay?
 
Namo said:
Are you sure? So what if I buy a 4tb hdd and then make 2 partitions of 2tb each with MBR - then would it be Okay?
Click to expand...

Yes, I am sure, and with MBR, what you propose is impossible, with a standard 512B or 512e sector-size HDD.

Edit: The reason is, MBR partitions have a 32-bit UINT field for physical sector start and sector size for partitions. That's 4 billion (binary) sectors, which, at 512B per sector, yields 2TB of size that MBR partitions can address. They literally can't access the rest of the drive. You need GPT for that.
 
VirtualLarry said:
Yes, I am sure, and with MBR, what you propose is impossible, with a standard 512B or 512e sector-size HDD.
Click to expand...

So you mean to say I can't use any hdd above 2tb with MBR even if I partition. Am I right?

And what about in case of external HDD's - like I am planning to buy wd my p.ultra 4tb. Wouldn't I be able to use that one also in my system? (they don't require initializing)
 
Namo said:
So you mean to say I can't use any hdd above 2tb with MBR even if I partition. Am I right?
Click to expand...
Correct. Unless they have 4Kn sectors. (Pretty-much only "enterprise" drives have this. And only Windows 10 supports this, but Windows 10 supports GPT too, so no reason not to use GPT.)
And what about in case of external HDD's - like I am planning to buy wd my p.ultra 4tb. Wouldn't I be able to use that one also in my system? (they don't require initializing)
Click to expand...
Depends. Some "large" (greater than 2TB) externals, spoof 4K sectors over the USB interface, in order to be compatible with MBR and XP. Most on the market these days have moved to GPT though. It depends on the enclosure used by the external. I will say that if it does spoof 4K sectors over USB, that you likely won't be able to recover your data if you ever remove the HDD from the enclosure.
 
Namo said:
Are you sure? So what if I buy a 4tb hdd and then make 2 partitions of 2tb each with MBR - then would it be Okay?
Click to expand...
Larry has you covered, but here read the MSKB on the topic yourself - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2581408

And as Larry directed, just use GPT. Follow the directions for creating a GPT simple volume drive on the page I linked. I have used the windows disk manager to make RAID arrays, simple volumes, and back up copies/clones of windows drives. I have not even touched the RAID functionality built into the last couple of boards I have used. I will issue the disclaimer that I do not know what the effects on system overhead or performance are. Anecdotally, I use a FX 8 thread@4.5GHz and 16GB 2133 DDR3 and have no complaints or issues with performance or reliability so far.
 
DAPUNISHER said:
Larry has you covered, but here read the MSKB on the topic yourself - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2581408

And as Larry directed, just use GPT. Follow the directions for creating a GPT simple volume drive on the page I linked. I have used the windows disk manager to make RAID arrays, simple volumes, and back up copies/clones of windows drives. I have not even touched the RAID functionality built into the last couple of boards I have used. I will issue the disclaimer that I do not know what the effects on system overhead or performance are. Anecdotally, I use a FX 8 thread@4.5GHz and 16GB 2133 DDR3 and have no complaints or issues with performance or reliability so far.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the article link. That clears everything 🙂
 
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