Solved 3TB HDD GPT Problems

I'm having problems with my new 3 TB HDD.

XP can't cope with >2 TB HDDs (BSOD).
I downloaded a utility (3TB+ Unlocker) from ASRock, which was suppposed to allow XP to use HDDs >2 TB HDD in capacity.
There were no instructions on how to use the utility.
The only information I could find said install it and it will appear in the Device Manager as a driver.
I did that and it did appear in the drivers list.
However XP would still BSOD during the boot up.

I deleted XP and rebuilt my entire PC.

I deleted the entire drive and then rebuilt it using GParted (set it to GPT and formatted the entire drive as a single NTFS partiton).

However Windows and Linux Mint disagreed about how big the HDD was, due to the GPT backup being in the wrong location.
If I let LM fix it, I could copy files to it, however when I booted into Windows, it actively deleted all of the copied files.

I just spent all night copying my data off of the drive and tried using "diskpart clean all" on it.
It gives contradictory size info.I knew that my first attempt at using GPT was going to end in disaster.

Does anyone know how to fix this issue?

3TB HDD GPT Problems (More)

Here is what GParted says (in Linux Mint 17.1).

3TB HDD GPT Problems (Even More)

Booting into Windows 7 breaks the disk.

I reformatted the HDD using GParted (in Linux Mint 17.1).
I rebooted the machine and returned to LM and no error messages appeared.

I ran the file system check in GParted and it found no errors.
I rebooted the machine and returned to LM and no error messages appeared.

I then booted into Windows 7.
I rebooted the machine and returned to LM and the GPT error messages reappeared.

Summary and Solution

Symptoms

1. Excessive BIOS load time (~20 seconds)*
2. Excessive Windows shutdown time (~20 seconds)*
3. Windows and Linux Mint disagreed about the HDD size
4. GParted (in Linux Mint) complained that the GPT backup was in the wrong location
5. Windows would delete files added in Linux Mint

My friend found a post by someone who was having a similar issue.
His problem was caused by an NVidia SATA Controller driver.

Solution

1. Delete 3rd party SATA Controller device & driver in Device Manager.

After I deleted my AMD SATA Controller device & driver and performed several reboots, the HDD started behaving normally.
Rebooting and starting GParted in Linux Mint provoked no error messages.
So far I have been able to write files using both operating systems and there have been no errors.
My BIOS load and Windows shutdown times dropped to a few seconds.*

I won't be 100% certain until I have copied at least 2 TB to the HDD, but the HDD is behaving itself now.

*I wasn't sure these were related, but they've stopped now.

Large capacity drives require latest SATA controller driver. Older versions of Intel drivers are also affected and it's a known issue.

Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) drivers and Support for Disk Drives Beyond 2.2 TeraBytes (TB)

I think MS updated default Windows 7 SATA controller driver to improve compatibility with large capacity disks ( as part of Windows update ). That might be the reason why uninstalling AMD SATA controller worked for you.

Untold Misery

Anshad Edavana said:

Large capacity drives require latest SATA controller driver. Older versions of Intel drivers are also affected and it's a known issue.

Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) drivers and Support for Disk Drives Beyond 2.2 TeraBytes (TB)

I think MS updated default Windows 7 SATA controller driver to improve compatibility with large capacity disks ( as part of Windows update ). That might be the reason why uninstalling AMD SATA controller worked for you.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that info.
I wish I'd known about that before as it would have saved days of frustration.

Searching for drivers is usually a complete waste of time and since my PC is running OK now, I won't bother.

Drivers are a source of untold misery and may as well be classified as malware.

How many billions of dollars are wasted each year, as a result of lost productivity, due to driver issues?
When is some authority (e.g. the Government) going to step in and "bang a few heads" together?

I don't know about your government but my government can screw up a one car parade.
I would just like to keep them away from computer drivers.

Basic Models

Layback Bear said:

I don't know about your government but my government can screw up a one car parade.

Click to expand...

Luckily for us the current government here is even more politically inept and incompetent than the last lot.
We'd be in diabolical trouble if they were actually able to implement any of their 1929-Great-Crash-style policies.
Apparently mass sackings and massive wage cuts will increase consumer confidence and spending.

As far as I'm concerned, both Corporations and Governments are corrupt/incompetent/morally bankrupt.
The main difference is, I might be able to vote the Government out of office, but I can't do squat to the Corporations (especially a foreign ones).

Layback Bear said:

I would just like to keep them away from computer drivers.

Click to expand...

As for drivers, the basic functions should be specified by the Government and ruthlessly enforced.
The Corporations can add any extras they want (if it doesn't break the basic model).