Solved GPT or MBR for a media drive?

[jonass21]

I formatted a 3tb hitachi deskstar to NTFS, used Disks app in ubuntu, and am currently moving all my media over to it. Not sure if it is GPT or MBR or if that matters since the OS won't be on it

 

[ignatzatsonic]

It would have to be GPT if you want to use the entire 3 TB capacity in Windows.

Other than that, I don't think it matters for a data-only drive.

Put another way: IF you can see the entire 3 TB in Windows Disk Management, then you initialized the drive as GPT.

 

[jonass21]

ok currently I am in ubuntu moving media across, in the Disks app for Ubuntu it is seen as a 3TB so hopefully it defaulted to GPT when I formatted it to NTFS

 

[AddRAM]

You can check in Disk Management. Right click the drive you want to check (circle) then choose properties, then volume.

 

[jonass21]

So using the parted tool it says that the partition type is "loop", does that work in windows 7? Again linux is seeing all 3TB currently

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So using the parted tool it says that the partition type is "loop", does that work in windows 7? Again linux is seeing all 3TB currently

I frankly never heard of "loop".

What does it say for "partition style" when viewed in Windows Disk Management per AddRam's post?

Does it show at full capacity in Windows Disk Management?

If in doubt, re-do it by initializing and formatting in Windows.

 

[jonass21]

I am in the process of switching my HTPC from linux to windows so I can't see the drive in windows. Using the Linux Partition tool it says that the partition type if "loop" and the filesystem is NTFS, it also recognizes all 3TB. I did find this tidbit on a website but it doesn't help me much

"The Partition Table field shows that I am using a msdos MBR partition table (the one still commonly used for Linux and Windows) on both disks. From the man page parted can create (and thus hopefully identify) the following types of partition table (or more broadly `disk label'):

bsd
dvh
gpt - this is a GPT partition table
loop - this is raw disk access without a partition table
mac
msdos - this is a standard MBR partition table

So it seems like it created a NTFS filesystem without making a partition table

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I am in the process of switching my HTPC from linux to windows so I can't see the drive in windows. Using the Linux Partition tool it says that the partition type if "loop" and the filesystem is NTFS, it also recognizes all 3TB. I did find this tidbit on a website but it doesn't help me much

"The Partition Table field shows that I am using a msdos MBR partition table (the one still commonly used for Linux and Windows) on both disks. From the man page parted can create (and thus hopefully identify) the following types of partition table (or more broadly `disk label'):

bsd
dvh
gpt - this is a GPT partition table
loop - this is raw disk access without a partition table
mac
msdos - this is a standard MBR partition table

So it seems like it created a NTFS filesystem without making a partition table

It's hard to like that. I haven't played with Linux in close to 20 years.

GPT stands for "GUID Partition Table", so if that info you found is correct, the implication would be that you don't have GPT.

All I can suggest is to continue as you are but be prepared for failure and a do-over if things don't behave as you want after you get Windows going. Don't get yourself in a position where you can't do it over.

Do you intend to install Windows from an ordinary Windows installation DVD?

 

[jonass21]

yes I have a regular install dvd but it will be to a separate boot drive, SSD, the 3TB is strictly for media

 

[jonass21]

I really don't want to, it's been moving files for 13 hours now, but I am debating just reformatting it and making sure I create a GPT on it

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Are you moving or copying data to it?

I'd hope you are copying.

I'd probably let it finish and re-evaluate. Worst case scenario is you've wasted time and have to install Windows to the smaller drive and then use it to put GPT on the 3 TB disc and re-copy data.

 

[jonass21]

How to recover and use a drive with a RAW format. - Hard Drives - Storage

This forum seemed similar to my problem. Stopped the transfer and rebooted, sure enough the drive would not mount after reboot. Reformatted again and made sure to create GPT this time around and restarted the media transfer. Thanks for the help

 

[ignatzatsonic]

OK, carry on. Glad you got it sorted out.