Solved 3TB HD vs. Windows 7 -> Windows 8 Upgrade

[pparker987]

I seem to be unable to understand how to correctly build my new PC again.

So I built a new rig at the beginning of the year, and I'm running into the same problem now as I did then.

I bought two 3TB hard drives to go into my new Windows 8 machine, which should be fine, but in order to install my Windows 8 upgrade, I need to first install Windows 7, which doesn't support the use of a full 3TB HD.

The installation process wants to turn my first 3tb hd into a 2TB drive, with 746 GB of unallocated, and unusable space. Last time I went through this process, I was eventually able to use the full amount of my second drive, but I'm still screwed out of the remaining 746GB on drive 0.

Is my only option to disconnect both of my 3TB drives, use a new 2TB drive to install everything, and then reconnecting my 2 x 3TB hd's after Windows 8 is up and running, or is there one iota of information out there that would help put this all together in my brain?

Thanks for any help at all.

 

[Ztruker]

Perhaps this: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html

 

[pparker987]

So, wait. I bought the W8Pro update from Best Buy, same pack as everyone else. I accidentally went through the W8 installation, before I remembered about needing to upgrade from W7. I was great. All drives showed up perectly. However, once I connected to the internet and started updating, W8 reminded me that my product key wasn't applied during installation. Every time I put in the code, the screen told me it was an invalid code. Then I remembered about the W7 upgrade. So I reformatted again.

Look, I know I'm kind of doing everything wrong the first time, but now I can't get either the W7 or W8 discs to bring my drives back to a full 2.7TB. It is partitioning into the 2 and the .7 before I can even start the installation.

Will the process described in the link help with this fine mess Ive gotten myself into?

 

[Saltgrass]

Windows 7 x64 will install as UEFI just as Windows 8 will.....except for the Secure Boot options. Since the Drive has to be configured as GPT the entire drive will be available and you can run the update from that.

Or, have Windows 7 on a separate drive and then install the Windows 8 update using UEFI on the 3 TB drive.

 

[DavidY]

What are you using from the 3Tb drive during the installation?

If you have Windows8 Pro on a DVD or USB stick then you may be able to just install that using the techniques in the link Ztruker posted, without trying to install Windows 7. (I think you nearly did this anyway.)

Perhaps this: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

There's a HUGE amount of mis- understanding on this topic - especially with large cheap (3 and even 4TB ) spinners being available.

1) ALL SYSTEMS (W7 and W8) can access > 2TB DISKS - convert to GPT.

Here's a link to BRINK'S EXCELLENT TUTORIAL.

Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk - Windows 7 Help Forums

SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE TO SUPPORT UEFI TO READ GPT DISKS - BOOTING SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS THOUGH SEE COMMENTS BELOW.

2) BOOTING A GPT DRIVE CAN ONLY BE DONE IF BIOS SUPPORTS UEFI (THAT DOESN'T MEAN SECURE BOOT - JUST UEFI (OR EFI)).

3) ONLY W7 X 64 FOR W7 WILL BOOT GPT - 32 BIT W7 WON'T.

4) W8 and W8.1 ALL VERSIONS WILL BOOT GPT SUBJECT TO THE UEFI BEING SUPPORTED IN THE BIOS. AS PER 1).

5) EXTERNAL USB DRIVES CAN BE CONVERTED TO GPT AS WELL.

Actually you CAN use the 3TB in Windows 7 apart from the Boot partition -- convert the drives to GPT drives and then windows will see it.

Note W7 x-64 WILL also boot from GPT drive.

Windows 8 Can boot from a GPT partition so it's over to you what to do -- my advice would be to get Windows 8.1 rather than install Windows 8 -- better all round and available NEXT WEEK.

Meanwhile before you get Windows 8 try converting the disks to GPT on Windows 7 and playing around -- remember W7 won't BOOT from a GPT partition if it's 32 bit -- 64 bit CAN boot from GPT drive. Remember also system has to be UEFI (EFI) enabled to boot a GPT partition.

Here's an image of an older NON UEFI system of mine with an SSD for the OS (C) and a GPT drive > 2TB. This one is running Windows 8.1 (TechNet version) but was upgraded from W7 - no problem with GPT disk.


How to install and boot to over 2TB drive in Windows 7??? Steps?



Cheers
jimbo

 

[pparker987]

Ztruker, Jimbo. Mission accomplished. So simple, so elegant. Thanks for the assist.

 

[theog]

As the new MOBO's now have a uEFI/BIOS firmware.
How to install Windows 64 bit on a uEFI/BIOS firmware:

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Help Forums
or
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html

For more info on uEFI:
Windows and GPT FAQ
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
UEFI Firmware
Technical Note: UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS, Advantech(EN) - YouTube
Sample: Configure UEFI/GPT-Based Hard Drive Partitions by Using Windows PE and DiskPart