Format HDD to GPT?

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remo220

remo220

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I have a three TB Seagate HDD but windows is only recognizing it as a two TB HDD. I searched around and found out that the issue was that it has to be in GPT format. I know that in order to convert the HDD to GPT, I have to get rid of the partitions by deleting the volume, but the problem is that it won't let me click on the button because it's shaded out. Is this because this is the drive windows 7 is installed on, which is what I think the issue is. And if that is the issue how can I format my drive to GPT if windows 7 is still on there? Can I delete Windows and re install Windows and do it from the BIOS? by the way I have UEFI BIOS. Also I'm doing this formating through disk manager, is that how I'm supposed to do it, or should I be doing something else? Thanks for your help!
 
Solution
SchizTech
The partition scheme of the boot disk can't be changed, so yes you'll have to re-install Windows. Boot the install disk in UEFI mode and from the installer delete all of the existing partitions, then Windows should automatically create the new partitions as GPT.

Of course, make sure to back up any info you don't want to lose...
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SchizTech

SchizTech

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The partition scheme of the boot disk can't be changed, so yes you'll have to re-install Windows. Boot the install disk in UEFI mode and from the installer delete all of the existing partitions, then Windows should automatically create the new partitions as GPT.

Of course, make sure to back up any info you don't want to lose...
 
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remo220

remo220

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Do I install windows before or after I delete the partitions? And when I do delete the partitions and Windows is installed, it will automatically format it to GPT?
 
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SchizTech

SchizTech

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Loosely speaking, deleting the partition is part of the install process. TO be more precise, you'll boot from the install disk (in UEFI mode - in the boot menu it may show the install disk in two places, but one says EFI in front) and delete the old installation before re-formatting and installing a new copy. Before you proceed with the new install, check the partitions created by the installer, which should now use the whole disk if done right.
 
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SchizTech

SchizTech

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Depending on the model of your motherboard there are different keys to press to get to a boot menu at startup. ASUS likes to use F8, other manufacturers may use F11 or F10. Many BIOS splash screens will post the F-buttons to get into BIOS setup or the boot menu when you start up so watch that carefully if you're unsure which key to press.
 
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remo220

remo220

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So when I go into the BIOS I will delete windows 7 there and then check the partition?
 
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remo220

remo220

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Ok thanks
 
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remo220

remo220

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So i reinstalled windows 7. When I was in the installer I deleted the other partitions (two of them could not be deleted) and then refreshed but it froze, so i turned off my pc and then turned it back on and then installed it on the disk it let me. So Windows is installed all fine but when I went back into disk manager, it said that my disk c had 2.72 TB of free space and that it was NTFS format. Did I do this right because I thought it was supposed to say GPT. And that same disk had to have been GPT for me to install windows onto in the first place? Also why does it not say 3 TB of free space but instead 2.72 TB, is that because windows is on there? P.S. There is also a 100 MB boot partition? should that be there?
 
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SchizTech

SchizTech

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Yes, you were successful. GPT is the partition type but the file system is always NTFS regardless of GPT or MBR. As to the size discrepancy, HDDs never show up as advertized sizes in Windows (2.72TB is the size a "3TB" drive "should" appear.). Yes the 100MB boot partition is perfectly normal.
 
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remo220

remo220

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Awesome, thanks so much! I just have one last question. If I want to create a partition now to for example store my music and movies, would that new partition be GPT and if it wasn't would that matter? Also would it have any affect on the drive as a whole in terms of format?
 
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SchizTech

SchizTech

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You're free to partition the drive, nothing short of re-installing Windows as MBR would change the GPT status.

 
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remo220

remo220

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Thanks for all your help SchizTech!
 
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