How to handle the unallocated space on my external hard drive?

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  1. Posts : 24
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bits
    Thread Starter
       #11

    jumanji said:
    "PS: I have to mention I have never had any issues with this converted-to-GPT drive in two and a half years. But if I did decide "Oh what the hell" and right-clicked "New Simple Volume" on the unallocated space, that's when trouble could start, do you think? Or would it even wipe the rest of the drive? Or would it simply just not work?"

    Your question is "How to handle the unallocated space on my external hard drive?"

    One line answer: As long as you do not handle the unallocated space and/or want to make it usable, you are OK. :) ( Hmmm... you could have as well bought a 2TB drive and saved a few bucks......)
    Thanks. I mean, that's one thing that needed to be clear, and now it is.

    I can't believe I did things the exact wrong way when I bought it. How dumb! Well, I'll see if I can get another drive to empty this one and do things right this time... I'll post back when I do. In the meantime, to everyone who contributed: thank you. <3
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 24
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bits
    Thread Starter
       #12

    I'm back!

    I've recently been able to back up everything I needed to another drive, and am getting ready to convert this drive back to its original MBR state.

    Something has been confusing me though... Here's what happened before I converted it to GPT back in March 2014:

    • I did a quick format
    • I reduced the size of the existing partition to 200 GB (SeagSys), which created two new unallocated blocks
    • the first block was 1.6 TB in size and I couldn't expand it, so I created a new partition on it (SeagBig)
    • the option to create a third partition on the remaining unallocated space was grayed out; that's when I googled, figured I needed to convert the disk to GPT and did that.


    So, the question: why did it not work back then, if those special 2TB+ older generation Seagate drives were supposed to allow you to use the whole drive? What am I missing, what did I do wrong, and how can I make sure it will work this time? Was it because the first partition I created was too small? Or does it only allow two?
    EDIT: or does it only work when you don't partition the disk? Are you supposed to leave it as one big 3 TB block, or else?

    And also, how would you recommend partitioning the drive once it'll be back in MBR:

    • 1 TB - 2 TB (my preferred option, but just because it mimics what I had until now)
    • 2 TB - 1 TB
    • one big 3 TB partition
    • 3 or 4 partitions?


    Thanks!
    Last edited by Annaa; 18 Mar 2017 at 08:32.
      My Computer


 
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:35.
Find Us