Windows 8.1 Can't Read GPT Protective Partition

[marymagdalene]

Hi all,

I'm trying to use a USB SATA/IDE adapter to read a hard drive with a Windows 8.1 64bit install on it, using a Windows 8.1 64bit machine. Unfortunately, despite the drive showing up in Device Manager and in Computer Management -> Storage, it refuses to allow me to do anything with the drive - I can't assign a drive letter, open the drive, browse any files or otherwise do anything with it. Every single option in Storage is greyed out. The drive doesn't show up in My Computer. It's completely unuseable despite being listed as Healthy and Working Properly in the device and storage manager.

I've scoured Google for hours trying to find a solution to this and so far the only thing shining any light on this problem is something being screwy with the GPT Protective Partition. Some sites say certain OSes (name XP and 7) have trouble reading a 64bit partition, but I must emphasize this partition was created by Windows 8 (later upgraded to 8.1) 64bit and is attempting to be read by the same 64bit Windows 8.1 OS.

Does anyone have a solution to this problem? The adapter is properly hooked up and powered. Windows can detect the drive but accessing it is a no-go. I don't understand how a Win 8 64bit partition can't be read under the same 64bit OS on a different computer. For the record I've tried this on two seperate healthy Win 8 and 8.1 machines with the exact same problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[theog]

Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html



Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[fafhrd]

I get the feeling that it's hidden for a reason. Protected so that it cannot be mucked about with by inquisitive but unqualified agents. Can it be read using a Linux OS?

 

[caperjack]

I don't have a solution, did you try connecting to a different usb port ,
but I have no problem reading win8.1 on 2 drives [one sata and one ssd ] connected to my win8.1 computer via a Thermaltake BlackX usb device

 

[hrmilo]

Hi all,

I'm trying to use a USB SATA/IDE adapter to read a hard drive with a Windows 8.1 64bit install on it, using a Windows 8.1 64bit machine. Unfortunately, despite the drive showing up in Device Manager and in Computer Management -> Storage, it refuses to allow me to do anything with the drive - I can't assign a drive letter, open the drive, browse any files or otherwise do anything with it. Every single option in Storage is greyed out. The drive doesn't show up in My Computer. It's completely unuseable despite being listed as Healthy and Working Properly in the device and storage manager.

I've scoured Google for hours trying to find a solution to this and so far the only thing shining any light on this problem is something being screwy with the GPT Protective Partition. Some sites say certain OSes (name XP and 7) have trouble reading a 64bit partition, but I must emphasize this partition was created by Windows 8 (later upgraded to 8.1) 64bit and is attempting to be read by the same 64bit Windows 8.1 OS.

Does anyone have a solution to this problem? The adapter is properly hooked up and powered. Windows can detect the drive but accessing it is a no-go. I don't understand how a Win 8 64bit partition can't be read under the same 64bit OS on a different computer. For the record I've tried this on two seperate healthy Win 8 and 8.1 machines with the exact same problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I bet it is your USB adapter that does not support reading GPT disks. If you were able to connect your disk directly to a SATA port on your system, it will work. I tested this on Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2 using the Sabrent USB-DSC5 adapter. My GPT works fine directly connected to the SATA ports.

 

[Mister X]

I bet it is your USB adapter that does not support reading GPT disks. If you were able to connect your disk directly to a SATA port on your system, it will work. I tested this on Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2 using the Sabrent USB-DSC5 adapter. My GPT works fine directly connected to the SATA ports.

I've just purchased that same Sabrent USB-DSC5 and have issues with GPT and MBR disks. Strangely one of my GPT disks (Hitachi) already partitioned to 4 partitions with data on each one has no problems to be read by the Sabrent adapter, this disk was formatted in Windows 8.1. Also, two WD (old 80GB) MBR disks are read by the adapter without any issues.
Now, I did a test by formatting another Toshiba SATA HDD in Windows 8.1 (no adapter in between) both GPT and MBR schemes and no issues at all within Windows itself. But as soon as I plug the disk in to the adapter, Windows can't read it saying it needs to be formatted. Next thing I did is to format the drive as suggested by Windows (with adapter in between) and now Windows can read it. Then I unplugged the adapter and plugged the drive directly to SATA ports and no formatted disk again.
This thing is really crazy and very bad. Obviously something's wrong with the adapter, most likely.