Fixed: Unallocated Space on 4TB Hard Drive that Only Shows 2TB
4TB hard drive shows only 2TB in Windows?
After upgrading from a 1.5TB hard drive to a 4TB hard drive, you may notice that the new drive appears as 2TB or 1.6TB in Disk Management, with the remaining space showing as unallocated space after cloning.
Right-To extend a volume on a primary partition, you'll encounter an error message stating that only the first 2TB are usable on large MBR disks, and you cannot create partitions beyond the 2TB mark or convert the disk to dynamic.
When you first purchase a 4TB hard drive, it may appear as 4TB unallocated, but only 2TB is actually usable for creating new partitions. This is because the remaining 2TB is typically reserved for system and boot partitions, which are not directly accessible for partitioning. To utilize the full 4TB capacity, you can create a new partition on the unallocated space, effectively making use of the entire disk. This process involves formatting the unallocated space and assigning a drive letter to it, allowing you to access and utilize the previously unused 2TB. By doing so, you can make the most of your large hard drive's capacity.
Why does a 4TB hard drive only shows 2TB?
The 4TB hard drive's partition table is using MBR, which only supports up to 2TB data density, causing issues.
MBR and GPT are two different partition schemes for hard disks. When installing a new disk, the PC will ask to choose a partitioning type, with MBR being the most widely used scheme for personal computers, suitable for disks smaller than 2TB.
However, the MBR scheme was designed for early computers and was not flexible enough to accommodate newer disk configurations, making it less suitable for modern computers and systems.
The GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition scheme was introduced as part of the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) initiative, providing a more flexible mechanism for partitioning disks than the traditional MBR partitioning scheme.
The 4TB hard disk drive with unallocated space needs to be converted from the MBR partitioning scheme to GPT to support a hard disk larger than 2TB.
Fix unallocated space on 4TB hard drive by converting to GPT
To convert a 4TB hard disk from MBR to GPT, you can use Windows' built-in Disk Management or DiskPart.exe, but you'll need to delete all existing partitions first, as this will allow a successful conversion, avoiding issues like the "Convert to GPT Disk greyed out" error or receiving "virtual disk service errors".
You can use reliable partitioning software to convert a 4TB MBR data disk to GPT without losing data or deleting partitions, such as Qiling Disk Master Professional, which is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7 and has a user-friendly interface.
Step 1. Install and launch Partition Assistant Professional. Right-click the hard drive you want to convert and select Convert to GPT.
Step 2. Click OK in the pop-up window to confirm the operation.
Step 3. The partitioning scheme will be converted to GPT, which may take some time. This process will allow for larger partition sizes and more efficient use of disk space.
Tips:
✎If you want to convert the system disk to GPT without losing data, Qiling Disk Master Professional can also help.
✎To convert a system boot disk from MBR to GPT style, you must enter the BIOS settings after the conversion is complete to ensure the system remains bootable. This step is crucial to guarantee a successful conversion.
✎To convert between MBR and GPT disks on a laptop, ensure that the power supply is sufficient.
✎To ensure the data is consistent, please avoid abruptly terminating the program while it's converting data. This helps prevent inconsistencies in the data.
Converting from MBR to GPT can be done in just 3 steps. After the conversion, you can allocate unallocated space on a 4TB hard drive to other primary partitions or create a new volume. To create a new partition, Disk Management is sufficient. However, if you plan to add unallocated space to another partition, it's recommended to use Qiling Disk Master Professional, which can merge the unallocated space into a partition using a 3-step process.
Summary
Qiling Disk Master can also help with other practical issues, such as converting a FAT32 file system to NTFS in Windows 7, migrating a Windows OS from one SSD to another, and creating a bootable USB drive.
Qiling Disk Master Professional and Qiling Disk Master Server, the advanced editions, offer additional features such as directly allocating free space from a data partition to a system drive and migrating an OS from a GPT disk to another GPT disk, with the latter being specifically designed for Windows Server users.
FAQs about unallocated space on 4TB hard drive
1. What is unallocated space on a 4TB hard drive?
A portion of a hard drive, typically 4TB, that remains unused and unutilized until it is allocated for storage purposes.
2. Why does unallocated space occur on a 4TB hard drive?
Unallocated space on a computer's hard drive can arise from various scenarios, including incomplete partitioning during formatting, deleting partitions, or resizing partitions, as well as from manufacturing processes where the entire disk capacity isn't allocated for specific partitions.
3. Can unallocated space be utilized for storage purposes?
Unallocated space on a 4TB hard drive can be utilized by creating new partitions or extending existing partitions to incorporate the unallocated space, maximizing the drive's storage capacity.
4. What precautions should I take before allocating unallocated space on my 4TB hard drive?
Before allocating unallocated space, make sure to back up any important data to avoid potential loss. Partitioning or resizing can be risky if not done correctly, so it's best to consult a professional or reliable resources for guidance.
5. What are the benefits of effectively managing unallocated space on a 4TB hard drive?
Effectively managing unallocated space allows you to optimize storage capacity, improve disk performance, and organize data more efficiently, ultimately preventing potential issues like data fragmentation and ensuring smooth system operation.
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