If i buy a new seagate 3tb and it turns out to be MBR, can i change it to GPT?
GPT seems to be better because it stors multiple copies of data and if data gets corrupted or even overwritten, it can be recovered.
Someone also wrote a review saying with windows 7, if the external is 4tb or maybe 3, you dont get the full amount and the size is reduced, maybe this can be sorted and maximised if turned to gpt?
Since I had stopped purchasing any hard drives especially drives greater than 2TB, I wouldn't know whether the current breed of > 2TB externals come formatted as MBR or GPT out of the factory. But generally if the specifications say Windows XP, Vista ,Windows 7 and later you may expect it to be MBR formatted. If it says Windows 7 and later (omitting Windows XP ) then you may expect it to be GPT formatted. If you give details of the specific model you intend to buy, may be someone who has purchased it recently should be able to tell you correctly.
See the following screenshot which shows my 750GB Seagate GoFlex GPT formatted drive.
In Windows Disk Management showing your external drive right click on the left most portion of the disk map. If the menu shows Convert to MBR - whether greyed out or not - then it is a GPT drive. You can also click on Properties > Volume the partition Style will be indicated as GUID Parttion Table (GPT)
Next GPT does not store multiples copies of user data. It only has a backup of the GPT structure - GPT Header and GPT Partition Table - in the last 32 sectors of the drive. If the primary GPT Header or Partition Tables get corrupted it automatically reads those from the backup so that your drive and user data will still be accessible.
All these are explained in detail in the posts I had referenced in my post #40 and so I do not want to repeat.
As per your post #28, you were able to see all the files and you only had to copy the files.
In your PM you had mentioned the drive has now turned as not initialized and unallocated. I really do not know how this could have happened unless you had tried to do something.. Did you try any further operations with any software since your post at #28?
Post a screenshot how that drive looks in Windows Disk Management as well as in Partition Wizard.
Oh no I did not try any further operations because you told me to give the drive a rest.
I Just turned it on a few days ago and went to disk management and say given a prompt. That's when it showed as unallocated.
This is what the prompt message said I think.
The only things I tried say going over the test disk instructions when I brought a new external. But no luck. Didn't show the list like before. And now I'm trying partition wizard. Its still scanning and I'm not at home right now. I will return home tomorrow to check on it.
The only things I tried was going over the test disk instructions you had left*
I was reading one of your other instructions from another thread and tried a little of that because wasn't getting the results like on test disk last time when you was around jumanji.
The furthest I have reached is just upto scanning stage. It was upto any 75 percent when I left home.
I presume you are doing a Quick Scan with Partition Wizard.
Please read my post here Raid 5 became unallocated.
It applies in this case too.
Just post the screenshots and cancel PW. Let me examine and see whether it gives any hope.
It was scanning and now its gone onto this type of scan and it might take a long time to complete.
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