How do I re-format a 4 TB drive to NTFS used in a Linux raid EXT2(?)

I just checked the BIOS and the drive model shows up as a 2nd boot option. So the laptop recognizes its existence which is a good thing but not its correct 4 TB size.

Hi there
I'd remove it from boot option -- or do you use MBR or EFI boot (the MBR boot option might be legacy boot)

If you are using MBR boot then only up to 2TB will be recognized. You will need to change Windows so it boots via EFI. You need also to set BIOS to boot via EFI not MBR (or legacy mode). Note this is NOT the same as secure boot so don't enable that -- whole set of other problems if you do.

Get Free Macrium, create bootable media of it, convert your boot disk to GPT. Now windows won't boot initially so boot free macrium and then select fix windows boot problems -- then you should be fine.

Cheers
jimbo

bofhlusr said:

-Dupe, deleted-

Hello!

From the photo is seems you have connected the disk using a SATA to USB adapter. This adapter probably doesn't support disks larger than 2TB, hence your problems. If you have a desktop computer (not laptop) then I suggest to connect the disk directly on your motherboard using SATA cable and power. Of course you have to power off the computer for doing that. Then use Diskpart with the commands mentioned above. Old good MBR is for disks up to 2TB. Anything larger has to be either GPT or split in 2TB partitions (not convenient). It reminds me of the old days when FAT was up to 2GB and for anything larger you had to format the disk with FAT32.

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
I'm almost out of ideas

Are you using EFI or MBR boot -- although that disk doesn't appear to be boot disk so that really shouldn't matter.

Try booting up a live Linux distro and then see if that HDD formats as a full 4TB HDD

After you've booted the Linux distro say the HDD is /dev/sdf

then as root (or sudo) type the following mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdf -f
you'll be prompted to use whole drive
after formatting you should see if disk is recognized as 4TB. If that works then you've proved the HDD is OK -- now we can have a go at the windows problems.

Cheers
jimbo

I was hoping I didn't have to go the Linux route... but I guess I have to. First I need to look for a Linux boot disk. Any suggestions? (The last linux I used was Centos and that was in VMware). A distro on CD if possible but DVD is do-able too. Thanks.

I'm going to have to break off and get some sleep. Hoping to catch you again tomorrow. Thanks Jimbo.

P.S. @spapakons... I don't have a working desktop at the moment unfortunately. I have a feeling you are correct with regards to the docking station being a possible culprit for the problem with the 4 TB drive. I'd love to get these drives inside a desktop. I'm waiting for Black Friday to build a new system.

Anything larger has to be either GPT or split in 2TB partitions (not convenient).

I would be interested if you could split 4tb into 2x2tb partitions using mbr.

You don't have to use Linux, just put the disk inside a desktop and do as suggested. If you want a Live CD you can either use the latest Ubuntu ISO (on DVD or USB) and then Gparted or use WinPE, download it here: Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

SIW2 said:

I would be interested if you could split 4tb into 2x2tb partitions using mbr.

Initialize new 3TB or larger disk as MBR. If you try to create a partition, you can create a maximum of 2TB and leave the rest area unallocated. Then create a second partition etc. We had a 3TB disk at work and had a 2TB partition on it. No matter what I tried, I could not create a single partition or expand the first to use all the disk. So I Googled and found out it has to be converted to GPT. I used Minitool Partition Wizard to convert from MBR to GPT without losing data and sure enough, I was then able to expand the partition to the whole disk area.

From the photo is seems you have connected the disk using a SATA to USB adapter.

Sapakon is probably correct about that bit.

Initialize new 3TB or larger disk as MBR. If you try to create a partition, you can create a maximum of 2TB and leave the rest area unallocated.

Yes, I know that.

But your earlier post seemed to suggest you could have 2x2tb using mbr. That isn't what you meant, obviously.

Hi there
leaving the HDD as MBR is a bad idea anyway - even if you split into partitions.

MBR allows max of 4 primary partitions -- don't even go there when considering "Logical partitions -- more trouble than they are worth !!".

GPT allows as many as you want.

Note also if installing Windows you can also get into mega problems if Windows thinks there are more than 4 HDD's /partitions around (OK after install though) -- you might get the dreaded error "No HDD found to install windows on" or "Windows can't be installed on this partition".

Cheers
jimbo

Disagree with Jimbo. Nothing wrong with using MBR in many situations. Never had any difficulties with extended partitions. Never come across windows being confused, even when installing to machine with 20 or more partitions in mbr style.

However, it is not suitable for disks above 2tib, so in the OP situation obviously use gpt