Can't Extend Volume Partition on HDD

[JackALope52x]

Hi All,

I just got a new 60GB SSD and a new 3TB HDD for my computer. I planned on using the SSD as my boot device and the HDD for my storage device. I installed Windows 7 on the SSD with no problems. Once I opened Computer I didn't see the HDD so I went to Disk Management to assign the drive a letter.

Inside Disk Management I noticed that the HD was separated into 3 partitions:
1. 100 MB System Reserved
2. 2047.90 GB Unallocated
3. 746.52 GB Unallocated

I wanted to combine the two unallocated partitions into one but since they were not formated all my options were grayed out. So I formated the first unallocated partition and then I went to the Extend Volume.. option and it was still grayed out.

For some weird reason I have no control over the second unallocated partition. I cannot format it or change the size of it, it gives me no options. No matter what I do with the first partition it still won't let me do anything with the second one. I have even downloaded third party programs the combine the partitions and they still won't give me control over the second unallocated partition.

Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here? I feel like I am over looking something very simple. Any help at all would be much appreciated.

-Thanks

 

[bigmck]

When you installed Win 7 on your SSD, you did not disconnect the HDD from the motherboard. The System file was written to the HDD. It should be on the SSD. There are two things you can do. Reinstall Windows again on the SSD and this time disconnect the HDD. You can also attempt to transfer the System file to the SSD using this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html Let us know how it goes. This is not the answer to the question you asked, but this needs to be done first and then we can tackle any other problems.

 

[Pauly]

I believe the other two partitions are because win 7 by default can only handle 2TB partitions to remove then you would need to covert disk to gpt
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/244566-hard-drive-gpt-mbr.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26193-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-disk.html
personally i would just leave as MBR an redo partitions to suit my needs but as bigmck says you need to sort boot stuff first this is just minor issue

 

[TVeblen]

In agreement with Bigmck. You should do ^that^ chore first to get the installation right.

As for your 3TB disk, I will bet money it is currently formatted as a MBR disk. There is a 2.2TB partition limit for Windows on a MBR disk. So the drive manufacturer sets it up that way because...... Who knows why? There is no good reason I can think of!

If you format the drive as a GPT disk then you can see and use all of the drive in Windows. Here's how:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26193-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-disk.html

To check to see which format the drive is right now do this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/244566-hard-drive-gpt-mbr.html

(Laughing) I gotta learn to type faster!

 

[bigmck]

... all of the drive in Windows.

Is this like Burger King or McDonald's?

 

[TVeblen]

... all of the drive in Windows.

Is this like Burger King or McDonald's?

Yes, they have replaced the Hobbit toys in their Happy Meals with GPT partitions. The kids love em!

I am now fully awake, so I see that I should have said Partitions - not drive(s)!

I checked and found that on older BIOS platform systems the 2.2TB limit exists on the system level, so unless the disk is partitioned GPT then Windows will not be able to see anything beyond that size on a single drive. That might explain why the manufacturer set it up that way (to work on older systems). On modern UEFI systems Windows 64 bit can recognize drives larger than 2.2TB, regardless of format, but still can't deal with MBR Partitions larger than 2.2TB. We need GPT for any partitions largher than 2.2TB.

 

[JackALope52x]

It Worked!

Wow guys! Thanks for all the quick replies. So I took Bigmck's advice and used EasyBCD to move the System Recovery partition over to the boot disk. The program then informed me to go into my BIOS to check if the system is booting from the proper device. I realized that my fist boot device was the HDD which I changed to the SSD.

I was then able to delete the System Recovery partition from the HDD. After that I just converted the disk to a GPT drive like you guys said and both the unallocated partitions formed one giant one and then I could format the drive from there.

Thanks again guys, I was getting pretty worried there for a while.

 

[bigmck]

I realized that my fist boot device was the HDD which I changed to the SSD.

Glad you got it sorted out. Actually your DVD should be the first boot drive and the SSD the second. Change that before you forget and you will be in good shape. Good job on the changes.