Missing GB on 2TB HDD

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HumansAreGross

HumansAreGross

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Aug 14, 2016
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Hello all, does anyone know how to utilize the whole "advertised" space on a new HDD.
In my case it is a 2TB WD Elements drive. I could live with a couple GB missing for their secret files etc, but a whooping 19+ GB is taking the mick.
Supposedly there is software that can give you the whole lot to use, but any help would be much appreciated.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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You are not 'missing' anything.
Gigabyte vs Gibibyte.
Base 10 vs Base 2.

2TB vs 1.81TB
This is absolutely normal. It just depends on what application is telling you the size.

Blame the hard drive marketing people.
Read more here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibibyte
http://wintelguy.com/gb2gib.html
 
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HumansAreGross

HumansAreGross

Commendable
Aug 14, 2016
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Its AMAZING these companies are not forced to put the actual size you'll be getting ie 1.81GB on the box. Its straight up false advertising.
Anywho, thanks for the reply.

 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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It kind of does say that.

On a 3TB WD Green box I have laying around:
"As used for storage capacity, one gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes and one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes.
Total accessible storage capacity varies depending on operating environment"

The box (advertising) reads in base 10, because that's what humans use.
The OS and the drive read in base 2, because that's what computers use.

It is the exact same space.

There was a lawsuit on this a decade ago. Hence the wording on the box.
http://www.cnet.com/news/gigabytes-vs-gibibytes-class-action-suit-nears-end/
 
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alexoiu

alexoiu

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Nov 1, 2012
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You're welcome.
 
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