Help with max number of HDD

[Alloneword]

I'm running a straight forward Win 7 U x64 machine allbeit with now 10 hard drives I have tried to initialize and partition a couple of new drives but it just comes up with errors saying i need to convert to gpt or gpd (sorry can't remember what one) i rebooted with a bootcd for an app called mini tool partition wizard home v6.0 and it will format to ntfs but its size is only 2048gb and 746 is unallocated, if i convert to this format called GPT it makes a hidden partition of 128mb and a data partition of 2794GB.

My question is why can't i just format like i used to with drives C, D, E, F etc? Is this GPT safe to use in windows and apps like Acrinics true image or do i need to buy another bit of software to format these new drives.

All1

 

[TVeblen]

10 individual hard drives? Do you have 10 SATA ports on that motherboard, or are some of these drives externals?

There is a 2.2TB limit to drive size on a MBR disk. So if you are attempting to use a larger drive than that you will run into the limitation problem unless you go GPT. These limitations only apply to an individual hard drive, not all of them together or anything.

GPT format is safe. GPT is better. Nothing changes in terms of programs or utilities like Partition Wizard.
That 128MB partition on a GPT disk is a required GUID standard. It contains a Extensible Firmware Interface System Partition (ESP) that is used for system management.

The only issue you might have is that if you have a UEFI or EFI motherboard there is a requirement that the Boot Partition must reside on a GPT disk, unless the setting in BIOS is changed to allow Legacy booting, usually using the CSM setting. So if you install a GPT formatted disk an immediately have start up problems, then remove the disk and ask about how to change those settings.

 

[Alloneword]

Hi TVeblen thanks for the reply, no mainboard only has 6 SATA ports but i have an Adaptec card that takes the other 4, i do have external drives but there only used for back ups.
I did some digging around on the WD webiste and got pointed to an free app which can be found here
Paragon Partition Manager Free Edition - Leading partitioning software! | PARAGON Software Group - free partition software, resize partition
just ran that install and it worked fine no GPT formatted to NTFS and 2.72TB free
So all is good from my POV.

All1

 

[TVeblen]

Glad to hear it works for you.
Enjoy!