Allocating space on new ext. HDD

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  1. Posts : 1,002
    XP Pro (x86) | 7 HP (x86) & (x64) | 7 Pro (x64)
       #1

    Allocating space on new ext. HDD


    With a new external HDD ... in Windows Disk Management the status is "Unallocated".

    When I RClick "Disc2" there are two options ...
    1. Dynamic Disc
    2. GPT Disk

    Allocating space on new ext. HDD-disc2_1.png

    When I RClick the hatched area of Disc 2 there is another option

    1. New Simple Volume

    Allocating space on new ext. HDD-disc2_2.png

    With 3 options I do not know what to do next ?
    - I don't know what any of the options represent

    I want to create 3 partitions on the the external HDD for data only.
    Can I create 3 partitions and leave part of the HDD unallocated or must entire capacity of the 500GB be allocated

    Would appreciate some help :)

    DEVICE:
    Case: Astone ISO Gear 481U3 (Sata to USB 3.0 External Storage System) Enclosure
    Disc: WD Blue 500GB
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  2. Posts : 1,992
    10 Pro x64
       #2

    For the size of that disk just leave it MBR and not GPT and make three simple volumes. When making the volume it will let you make the size you want just leave enough space to make three.
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  3. Posts : 1,002
    XP Pro (x86) | 7 HP (x86) & (x64) | 7 Pro (x64)
    Thread Starter
       #3

    @ rvcjew +1
    Should I run "Convert to Dynamic Disc" ?
    - I presume that is MBR ?
    -OR-
    Do I only run "New Simple Volume"
    - and leave "Convert to Dynamic Disc" and "Convert to GPT Disc" alone ?

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  4. Posts : 1,992
    10 Pro x64
       #4

    GrayGhost2 said:
    @ rvcjew +1
    Should I run "Convert to Dynamic Disc" ?
    - I presume that is MBR ?
    -OR-
    Do I only run "New Simple Volume"
    - and leave "Convert to Dynamic Disc" and "Convert to GPT Disc" alone ?

    Only simple, dynamic discs are for like spanning disks (software raid) your disk is already currently MBR.
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  5. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #5

    Don't use dynamic disks.

    You might have good reason to use 3 partitions, but you might find it more efficient to instead just use 1 partition, with a folder structure to separate stuff by category.

    You could leave part of the disk unallocated, although I don't see why you would want to do that.
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  6. Posts : 1,002
    XP Pro (x86) | 7 HP (x86) & (x64) | 7 Pro (x64)
    Thread Starter
       #6

    @ rvcjew :)
    Thank you for your help
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  7. Posts : 1,002
    XP Pro (x86) | 7 HP (x86) & (x64) | 7 Pro (x64)
    Thread Starter
       #7

    @ ignatzatsonic :)

    Didn't realise that buying my first HD enclosure + a new WD Blue 500GB 3.5 HDD, would become so complicated.
    - an observation, not a criticism ... just shows how little I know !

    I thought the hardest part was following the assembly instructions (fixing the HDD into the enclosure).
    - like Lego ... with care.
    - I will never buy another off the shelf enclosed HDD again

    Now I am in new territory again.
    - setting up the new "unallocated" HDD space
    - and discovering the technical limits (and politics) of NTFS and FAT32

    One of my partitions will be to store downloaded programs, including large ISO files.
    - at the moment I have all my laptop data on an external USB powered pocket drive (PD) through a mains powered USB hub -- (NTFS format)
    - 4,500 txt files + archived program downloads + Linux info (in MS format)... etc ... a hotch potch of data
    - the pocket drive is getting a flogging + it disconnects (not just asleep) at the most inconvenient times -- especially when I am about to save an open doc already on the PD
    - the PD is about 8 years old ... a miracle of life expectancy
    - add some ominous ticking from the PD ... its time to retire the PD before it dies.


    Just read What is a GPT disk and how to create a GPT disk? in an endeavour to increase my knowledge.
    From there a DuckGo-search for limits of FAT32 to Format FAT32 drives beyond 32GB limit
    From there to an undated FAT32 Format by Ridgecrop Consultants Ltd. (which focuses on Win-XP, so maybe 10 years old.
    Then from Ridgecrop to Description of Default Cluster Sizes for FAT32 File System

    My Toshiba laptop has only two USB2 ports (no USB3). One port is for a wireless keyboard + mouse. The other has a mains powered USB HUB connected.
    - laptop keyboards and touch pads are the stuff of RSI and bad posture.
    - I spend most of my time on AutoCad on real rigs.
    I want to store archived apps/programs on a separate partition because a separate USB device is stretching the HUB to the point of unstable.

    The new external HDD must be connected directly to the laptop USB port else it just is not detected. Leaving the other USB port for the HUB + wireless keyboard/mouse + incidental thumb-drives.

    I presume to partition the 500GB (max of 4) and then with a third party program (GParted disc) format the partitions as FAT32 (considering the 32GB limit of Windows built-in formatting)

    Am I on the right path ?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,992
    10 Pro x64
       #8

    Make the partitions on the external enclosure NTFS or EXFAT not FAT32. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...eze9hiB3XZzNGg, https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...H7LYL2ZS3u5Qpg, exFAT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia if your bringing your enclousre to amac ever it nees to be EXfat as they can not write to NTFS without issues. IF using programs ran off the drive then I would use NTFS.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,002
    XP Pro (x86) | 7 HP (x86) & (x64) | 7 Pro (x64)
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Just spent some time on GParted forum.

    I was advised to not bother with partitioning, which conflicts with their own Why Partition your Disk Device? -AND- with what I want to do.

    Download offerings are confusing to me
    - which to download for external HDD to be accessed by Win7 (and later, by Linux Mint-MATE)
    Allocating space on new ext. HDD-gparted-choices.png

    I have not downloaded anything from GParted ... yet (Only looked)
    - I did download an ISO file from sourceforge which turns out to be 2 years old
    - the best download source is GParted themselves

    I intend (later) using GParted to setup the spinner ready to install Mint-MATE onto a spare Acer laptop.
    - inspired by whs in other places on this forum

    SPECS:
    Win7 Home Premium 32bit
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,992
    10 Pro x64
       #10

    If it's linux it should support everything but maybe HFS/HFS+ (mac/some unix I think). I would for your setup run it this way and you can do this all in windows. In disk management right click the disk make it GPT (should wipe the drive) then make one big partition or smaller ones but make them EXFAT, in the part where it asks what to format it as when creating partitions. If you think you will ever need to bring it on a XP system then make them NTFS as XP can not read EXFAT.

    Hope this helps.
      My Computer


 
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