Cannot partition unallocated space on 4TB hard drive

[whs]

Ignatz, Creating the partitions ahead of time is always a good idea. And why does he not check in the properties of the disk whether he really has a GPT disk now.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So do I do everything again in command prompt and when it says successful just do the added instructions to create primary partition as 4tb?

I will try. Give me some time. I am a bit slow.

That's right.

"create partition primary" would give you a C covering the entire drive, which you could later shrink.

"create partition primary size=200000" would give you a C of 200 GB and leave the rest unallocated, which you could later make into partitions as desired after installing Windows.

Don't attempt to make more than 4 standard primary partitions---DO NOT ever say yes to a choice mentioning "dynamic disks". You may have to use logical disks, which is fine.

I'd make a single C of the desired size in Diskpart, if you know how large you want it to be. Worry about the other partitions after you get Windows installed.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Ignatz, Creating the partitions ahead of time is always a good idea. And why does he not check in the properties of the disk whether he really has a GPT disk now.

He says in post 14 and 16 that he did check and found that it was MBR. So he then tried Seagate Disk Wizard to simulate 2 different disks when in fact there is only a single drive in the PC.

 

[tahaminey]

I will create a c partition of 800gigs. Well see if it works this time.
Going to do this now.


Btw I am a she ^__^

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Btw I am a she ^__^

Aye aye, madame.

Good luck.

After you run those extra commands, just exit diskpart as before. Don't reboot. Continue on with the Windows installation. When it completes, check again to see if you have an MBR disk or a GPT disk.

We'll get it sorted one way or the other. WHS is very skilled in this.

 

[whs]

"

create partition primary" would give you a C covering the entire drive, which you could later shrink

Primary active is better. Then you do not get a system partition on installation.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

"

create partition primary" would give you a C covering the entire drive, which you could later shrink

Primary active is better. Then you do not get a system partition on installation.

Are the commands in post 17 accurate?

Is there any need to assign the drive letter in Diskpart? Or can it just be ignored and just direct the installation to the pre-made partition?

 

[tahaminey]

Okay I am in command prompt and it says successfully converted disk to GPT format.

What is my next step?

 

[whs]

Btw - for resizing such a big partition, you will most likely need the Partition Wizard again because disk management cannot move the MFT (master file table) which sits in the middle of the empty space of the partition.

How to Move/Resize Partition | MiniTool Partition Wizard Tutorial

 

[whs]

Okay I am in command prompt and it says successfully converted disk to GPT format.

What is my next step?

Run these commands:

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your HDD in List disk)
Clean
Create partition primary size=800000
Format fs=ntfs quick
Active (assuming you want to install an OS)
Exit

 

[tahaminey]

When I get to the active command it says selected disk is not a fixed MBR fisknd active command can only be used on MBR fixed disks

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Okay I am in command prompt and it says successfully converted disk to GPT format.

What is my next step?

Continue as stated in post 17, modified for your desired 800 GB for C.

Should be this:

create partition primary size=800000

select partition 1 (this selects the partition you just made)

active (this marks that partition active)

format fs=ntfs quick (this formats that partition)

exit (this quits the diskpart program)


That drops you back into Windows installation at the language screen. Select your language and continue. Choose the 800 GB partition when asked "where do you want to install Windows".

Finish and then go back to Disk Management and see what you have.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

When I get to the active command it says selected disk is not a fixed MBR fisknd active command can only be used on MBR fixed disks

Hmmmmmm.............................

WHS, what do you make of that?

Maybe do a "clean" on the disk?

 

[whs]

When I get to the active command it says selected disk is not a fixed MBR fisknd active command can only be used on MBR fixed disks

Right, my bad.

I have to go to bed now. It is nearly 2AM. Will see how you are doing tomorrow.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Tahaminey:

My last idea before going to sleep myself:

Try it again, skipping the active command.

Other than that, I'm out of ideas, but I wouldn't give up. I'd assume you can get it to work as a GPT disk. It's late here for me too. I'd suggest hanging on for another 24 to 48 hours. Let WHS get some rest and give this another look tomorrow.

You could try Partition Wizard, which is a good tool------but I don't have any reason right now to think it will solve your problem. I'm not sure why Diskpart balked at the "active" command. It may be that it is inappropriate for GPT disks. So omit it and see what happens.

 

[tahaminey]

Ok Ive tried it again. After creating primary partition the command says to select partition 1 but when i do that it says specified partition not valid.

I will try again and skip he active command and see.

Night guys. Time difference is a pain.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

after you do the create partition primary, enter a "list part" command. That should show you the partition you just made.

I'd expect it to be partition 1, but make sure.

Whatever it shows as, then enter "select partition 1" or "select partition 2" or whatever it is. You need to find out the number of that 800 GB partition.

when you make a GPT disk, I think there are a couple of partitions automatically created on it, so that 800 GB partition may have some other number. Whatever that number is, you need to "select" it with the select command so it can be formatted with the the "format fs=ntfs quick" command.

 

[tahaminey]

I redid everything in command prompt again and crated prinary partitio following a step by step tuturisl and everything was good and went according to the tutorial. I then proceeded to install windows on that partition but it says 'windows cannot be installed to selected drive of GPT partition style.'

Should I go back to using that seagate disc wizard which seems to work?

I'll probably be sleep when you guys are awake do if I don't respond I swaet I'm not ignoring you.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Should I go back to using that seagate disc wizard which seems to work?

What particular step by step tutorial do you refer to?

I'd use Seagate Disk Wizard only as an absolute last resort.

You're not there yet. You need to get more eyes on this thread and more opinions.

It could be a motherboard or BIOS issue, but I don't understand why everything seems to go OK with Diskpart in your latest attempt, but you then can't install Windows to what is seemingly an ordinary GPT disk.

After conversion to GPT in Diskpart, when you walked through the Windows install and got to the "where do you want to install Windows" screen, did you see your previously made 800 GB partition and were you able to at least tell Windows that that was where you wanted Windows to install?

And you could not go beyond that point?

That error message would seem to indicate that you in fact do have a GPT disk at that point, so it may be a motherboard/BIOS issue--in which case you may be forced to Seagate Disk Wizard as a workaround.

 

[tahaminey]

Are you still awake?

After converting to GPT I used this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html
It didn't say to create the 800gig. I just followed step by step on this tutorial.

After that I proceeded to install windows but when I selected that GPT volume it says I couldnt install windows becos its gpt.