Windows 7 and 4TB external drive back-up error message.

[DZD01]

I have a Dell running windows & ultimate. I just purchased a new Seagate 4TB external hard drive for Back-up. in the past I have utilized a smaller Seagate drive that the Windows Back-up program recognized and used. It became too small therefore I went to a 4TB external for backup. I am receiving an error message of : Back-up failure due to an I/O device error. I have reloaded the software from Seagate with no new results. Seagate stated that Windows 7 does not recognize a drive this size, but the Seagate software does not allow for a system image. Is there a way to allow Window 7 to recognize this drive and then utilize the Window Back-up program to perform scheduled data backups and obtain a system image as well?

 

[SandeepP]

I have a Dell running windows & ultimate. I just purchased a new Seagate 4TB external hard drive for Back-up. in the past I have utilized a smaller Seagate drive that the Windows Back-up program recognized and used. It became too small therefore I went to a 4TB external for backup. I am receiving an error message of : Back-up failure due to an I/O device error. I have reloaded the software from Seagate with no new results. Seagate stated that Windows 7 does not recognize a drive this size, but the Seagate software does not allow for a system image. Is there a way to allow Window 7 to recognize this drive and then utilize the Window Back-up program to perform scheduled data backups and obtain a system image as well?

Hi DZD01,

Welcome to Seven forums.

Any harddrive above 2 TB is not supported by MBR. You need to make the harddrive as GPT partitioning. Please post a screenshot of your disk management so we can check if it is detected there or nor:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Also, check this article if it is detected then you can partition on GPT and it should be able to work and be detected on the system:

Windows support for hard disks that are larger than 2 TB

Kindly update your system specs here by following this.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.