[Jdpowell]

I am trying to install and format a new internal hard drive.  The BIOS and the Administrative tools show it as 746 gb instead of 3 tb.  I though about updating the BIOS but everything I find is still ancient history.  I've tried the Seagate web site and DiscWizard but that has me worried too, that I will only have 746 gb to work with.  I have attached a text file made with Speccy that has my system info.  Hope that helps, I tried to take out any of the PC identifying info.  Any ideas?

Attached Files

•  Speccy - Copy.txt   750.21KB   478 downloads

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yes you will need to update your bios before the 3TB drive is seen and able to be used correctly.

 

if memory serves the problem has to do with limitations of mbr and the max size memory space it can access (2TB) so you need an updated bios that can work with guid partition tables for hard drives bigger than that.

bad memory and been a while since i read up on it so can't remember all the details now, but think that's more or less correct and why only a bios update will fix the problem.

 

Edited by terry1966, 05 October 2014 - 01:44 PM.

[terry1966]

yes you will need to update your bios before the 3TB drive is seen and able to be used correctly.

 

if memory serves the problem has to do with limitations of mbr and the max size memory space it can access (2TB) so you need an updated bios that can work with guid partition tables for hard drives bigger than that.

bad memory and been a while since i read up on it so can't remember all the details now, but think that's more or less correct and why only a bios update will fix the problem.

 

Edited by terry1966, 05 October 2014 - 01:44 PM.

[Jdpowell]

Updating the BIOS didn't change anything, that I could see.

[terry1966]

ok lets start from the beginning.

 

when in bios is the hard drive seen as a 3TB hard drive?

if not can you link me to the bios update page your using and confirm what version you have installed.

it may be you can only use the drive for storage and not for a boot drive using all 3Tb depending on uefi/bios compatibility.

 

also what os are you trying to install, and are you using the gpt and not mbr partition table?

 

http://www.howtogeek...ioning-a-drive/

http://msdn.microsof...5(v=vs.85).aspx

 

Edited by terry1966, 06 October 2014 - 04:23 AM.

[Jdpowell]

http://h10025.www1.h...t=3659706#N7881

Go down to the BIOS section and there will be a download

 

I have Windows Vista and Windows 7.  I am using Windows Vista to do all the updates right now because that is the OS that came with the computer.  Haven't initialized it yet so gpt or mbr have not been chosen.

[terry1966]

sorry to say i don't think you can use that 3tb drive as a boot drive(without sacrificing 1tb of space) because from what i can see the bios doesn't seem to have support for it.

 

so your only option if you want to use all 3tb of the drive is to use it as a data/storage drive,

 

just need to make sure you use gpt, so delete any partitions on it, make it gpt and then format it and then you should be able to use all 3tb in your vista 64bit. os

 

this video should help show you exact steps. :-

same steps in both vista and win 7 if memory serves.

 

 

i forgot you can use the unused capacity if you use it as a mbr boot drive by using seagate diskwizard you mentioned earlier.

here's a video explain how. :-

 

and here's a link if you problem is an intel rst problem (should have mentioned this earlier too.) :- http://www.servetheh...rd-drive-issue/

Edited by terry1966, 06 October 2014 - 02:55 PM.