Trying to use my new 3TB HDD

Gustavus

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Same subject as another post -- but different problem.

Trying to install a Seagate 3TB SATA drive in a Windows XP machine. BIOS reports the drive and correct size. Device manager reported the same but no drive was reported in My Computer. Downloaded the Seagate Disk Manager from the Seagate page and tried to set up new drive. It did two things -- partitioned on it's own into a 2TB and a .76TB AVD drive. No drives show in My Computer and haven't found a way to assign a drive letter.

This is to be storage only. Ideally one big volume. Have no idea of where the AVD partition came from, how to access it, or how to get rid of it.

Help would be much appreciated. I think I really screwed up running Seagates Disk Manager software, but seemed like the reasonable thing to do since it is a Seagate drive
 

Nothinman

Elite Member
Sep 14, 2001
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I would think you need that extra partition because 32-bit XP doesn't support GUID partition tables and BIOS partition tables only do up to 2TB total. The Seagate software is most likely attempting to duct tape over that with its own driver to bond those volumes.

Do you not see anything about the new drive in Disk Management?
 

Gustavus

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Oct 9, 1999
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Thanks for the reply.

Disk Management doesn't show either of the drive partitions. They show in BIOS and in Device Manager
 

Gustavus

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Oct 9, 1999
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Phynaz
Don't know.
Disk Management shows:
Disk 0 Main C 931.51 GB (It is a WD Black 1 TB drive)

Disk 1 2048.00 GB Unallocated
Disk 2 764.51 BG Unallocated

Unlike when I have installed other drives can find no way to assign a drive letter
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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Phynaz
Don't know.
Disk Management shows:
Disk 0 Main C 931.51 GB (It is a WD Black 1 TB drive)

Disk 1 2048.00 GB Unallocated
Disk 2 764.51 BG Unallocated

Unlike when I have installed other drives can find no way to assign a drive letter

If they say "unallocated", then you have to create a primary volume first, then assign a drive letter.

Phynaz is right, though, XP really doesn't mix well with > 2TB HDs.
 

Gustavus

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Oct 9, 1999
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Virtual Larry

Had gotten there and it is going through what promises to be an all night format -- only 3% so far on the 2GB partition.

Don't know what I am going to do about an OS. I despised Vista, hated Windows 7 and haven't even tried 8. Microsoft went all goofy with visual crap in their OS. Will stick with XP for as long as I can kluge through and then who knows.

And that is on a 4.1 GHz machine -- i3 stably overclocked.
 

KillerBee

Golden Member
Jul 2, 2010
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So just be clear
your Bios sees the full 3TB size (Not just the name)

but with XP - partitioning it as a 2TB and 1tB,
or using Seatools to install the disk overlay - still doesn't work?
 
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tracerbullet

Golden Member
Feb 22, 2001
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Virtual Larry

Had gotten there and it is going through what promises to be an all night format -- only 3% so far on the 2GB partition.

Don't know what I am going to do about an OS. I despised Vista, hated Windows 7 and haven't even tried 8. Microsoft went all goofy with visual crap in their OS. Will stick with XP for as long as I can kluge through and then who knows.

And that is on a 4.1 GHz machine -- i3 stably overclocked.

I normally do "quick format". What you're doing might somehow be better but the quick version hasn't ever failed me in any way I know of.

I am moving to 7 shortly once the rest of my parts arrive and I get the new rig running. I have gotten used to it at work, and it can be made "XP-ish" so I'm good w/ it. Maybe give it another look? If not perhaps you can find a 64 bit version of XP for cheap that will make some things easier.
 

Gustavus

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Oct 9, 1999
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The BIOS reported the full size before Seagate Disk Manager did it's thing. Can't interrupt it now since it is nearly half way through the format.

Starting to assemble a new machine EVGA Z68 with i5 2500K which I hope to get close to 5 GHz. Bought a Z8 GT cooler the size of a toaster. The relevance is I may retry Windows 7 on it -- still hate it. Feels like what kids do in art class to me.