Is there a max. TB size limit with Windows 7 64 bit machine?

[stuart253]

Hello,

I have a DELL Studio XPS Desktop 8100 running with Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.

Is there any limitation as to the max size exrternal drive (TB 2, TB 3 or greater)
that will works with Windows 7?

Is there a max size that will work with e-sata?

Thanks

Stu

 

[Wallonn7]

Hi stuart253. Up to 3TB you will not have problems with 64bit versions of Windows 7 and Vista.

 

[mjf]

Have a look at the information here
http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/tech...0235119/$file/Deskstar_3TB_FAQ_finalwebv2.pdf

 

[C32C3]

Have a look at the information here
http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/tech...0235119/$file/Deskstar_3TB_FAQ_finalwebv2.pdf

Thanks for the weblink. I am even more glad that I've stepped over to a x64 OS.

I have several external hdd's, my largest being a WD 2TB. Defragmenting it is a bit problematic for the O&O Defrag 14 Pro that I am using. It takes forever to defragment that hdd; that being the case I do not think to purchase another third party defragmentation software. Instead I will use the software incorporated within Win7 and later Win8.

 

[mjf]

Have a look at the information here
http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/tech...0235119/$file/Deskstar_3TB_FAQ_finalwebv2.pdf

Thanks for the weblink. I am even more glad that I've stepped over to a x64 OS.

I have several external hdd's, my largest being a WD 2TB. Defragmenting it is a bit problematic for the O&O Defrag 14 Pro that I am using. It takes forever to defragment that hdd; that being the case I do not think to purchase another third party defragmentation software. Instead I will use the software incorporated within Win7 and later Win8.

On the whole the Windows 7 defrag appears to get the thumbs up by forum members (my observation).

 

[Ciara]

Hi stuart253. Up to 3TB you will not have problems with 64bit versions of Windows 7 and Vista.

Thanks Wallonn7 +1 thats good to know as I want another exrternal drive.

Ciara ... X

 

[Wallonn7]

Hi stuart253. Up to 3TB you will not have problems with 64bit versions of Windows 7 and Vista.

Thanks Wallonn7 +1 thats good to know as I want another exrternal drive.

Ciara ... X

In cases like this I would simply say "you're welcome" ... but as it came from a lady, I will say, "totally at your disposal, mademoiselle!"

 

[stuart253]

Hi,

Thanks to all who replied. Have purchase a LaCie d2 Quadra 3 TB external hard drive. Connected it to my machine via e-sata. It shows that it is only 746 GB.

My other drives are western digital and are 1 TB and 2TB, these show their proper
capacity, whereas my Lacie 3 TB does not.

While I am waiting for LaCie to respond, anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

Stu

 

[mjf]

If your Lacie 3TB is formatted with GPT then Windows should see the 3TB.
See post #3. Of course 3TB is base 10 and TiB (base 2) will record less.

 

[Wallonn7]

If your Lacie 3TB is formatted with GPT then Windows should see the 3TB.
See post #3. Of course 3TB is base 10 and TiB (base 2) will record less.

And... just type "compmgmt.msc / s" without quotes in the search bar at the "start" and hit enter. On the left half of the window that opens, click "Disk Management". There, click the right mouse button on the hard drive in question and click "convert to GPT disk" as shown below. Let us know the results.

 

[stuart253]

Wallonn7,

Did as you suggested, but still show capacity of 746. I went to format it but when I selected New Simple Volumne, the max size is 764307 MB.

I have a ticket open with the vendor. LaCie want me to exchange for another unit. My belief is that it will not work.
I previously had a 8TB LaCie device that had a similiar problem. Even after the exchange I did not have the storage that I expected.

When I bought my Dell, I paid for extra support. I think it is time that I contact them. From what I have been told, Windows 7 64 bit should be able to accept 3 TB external drive. Maybe it is a DELL restriction.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Stu

 

[mjf]

A screen Management screen shot would be useful.
You could also look at the disk with Partition Wizard
Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to boot computer directly to manage partition.

There is a move to larger sector sizes than the standard 512 bytes for larger drives.
What is your sector size?

 

[stuart253]

mjf,

Be glad to supply a display, which one do you want? How may I find what my sector size is?

Thanks

Stu

 

[mjf]

Be glad to supply a display, which one do you want?

The complete screen shot of what Windows thinks is on your Lacie from "Disk Management". Partition Wizard may shed some extra information.

Chkdsk x:
where x: is the Lacie drive will give you the sector size reported to Windows.

 

[stuart253]

THIS IS A DELL PROBLEM

Greetings,

Sorry for the "shouting" in the title, but it look like the problem is a Dell issue. It looks like my desktop will not allow me to setup an external drive over 2 TB.

No matter what I did, I could not setup external drive to be 3 TB.

Somewhere I saw a suggestion to try connecting to another machine. Used my daughter's laptop and it works, Converted over to GPT and formatted the drive. I formatted the drive and all is well.

Connected the drive to my desktop and it also show up as 3 TB.

Why I do not know. I will be contacting DELL.

Thanks to all who have attempted to hel me.

Stu

 

[mjf]

Please keep us informed what Dell have to say.

 

[Shmoo]

I used Seagate's DiscWizard for a 3TB drive on Win7-64 system

Not sure it will work on non-Seagate drives, but I don't see why not.
Simple GUI, and it handles HDDs over 2.2 TB so they show-up in Win7.
I am just using this as a data drive, not a boot drive.

Support for Disk Drives Beyond 2.2 TeraBytes (TB) and 4K Advanced Format Sectors

 

[DonM123]

4T external Drives work ?

4T external Drives work on windows 7 ? Also on win 7 if I put a 4T SSD hard drive in it will see it but I will have to split it up in 2 volumes is this correct ?

 

[townsbg]

That isn't a compatibility with Windows 7 but it depends upon if you used MBR or GPT when formatting the drive. What’s the Difference Between GPT and MBR When Partitioning a Drive? If it is MBR you will need 2 TB partitions. If it is GPT Windows will see it all with only one.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

On the whole the Windows 7 defrag appears to get the thumbs up by forum members (my observation).

What he said. I always recommend using Windows Defragger. It may not be as thorough as some third party defraggers but Windows Defragger is an example of godd enough being good enough. Your HDD can handle up to 10% fragmentation before needed defragging.