3TB Drive MicroServer Gen8

[JimiT]

Hi,

I've recently replaced faulty 1TB system drive with 3TB drive. I used the SSA tool to delete the logical drive and re-create it.  Then used the provisioning tool to install and customize the system partition size (1TB).

After the OS successfully installed, Applied Windows Patches and April 2017 SUM.

Reboot

So I still can't access all the partitions on the disk, I can't seem to select anything which is over 2TB. I can only format the second partition (1TB) and the thrid partition all the options are greyed out???

Why?

I simply want System boot partition of 1TB and a second partition 2TB.

I've attached a coupe of screenshots of SSA and Disk Manager,.. Doesnlt make sense.

[TTr]

This might help

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn640535(v=vs.85).aspx

[JimiT]

---

@TTr wrote:

This might help

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn640535(v=vs.85).aspx

---

no it doesn't help,... i can't convert the boot disk to a gpt or dynamic disk, all options are greyed out.

how do i re-install and ensure the disk is gpt before the install starts?

does it mean in the provisioning tool i need to check the "manual" option as i don't recall having the option in the "customize" options to specify the gpt anywhere, all there was is a slider bar to adjust the size of the system partition and here i slid to 1TB

[Jimmy Vance]

Your hitting the MBR 2TB limit.  This article may help https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2581408/windows-support-for-hard-disks-that-are-larger-than-2-tb

Overall requirements for a bootable system volume

Assume that you want to meet the following conditions:

• Have a storage device on which you can install Windows.
• Make the storage device bootable.
• Enable the operating system to address a maximum storage capacity for that device of greater than 2 TB.

To meet these conditions, the following prerequisites apply:

• The disk must be initialized by using GPT.
• The system firmware must use UEFI.

The MicroServer Gen8 is a BIOS based system.  You can have a drive larger than 2TB, but it cannot be the boot drive

[JimiT · Accepted solution]

Ok Since I use 3 other disks (all 2TB) in a drivebender pool, I've now removed one of the 2TB drives from the pool, I'll swap the 2TB with the 3TB drive, remove and re-create logical drive 1 and 2 using HP SSA. I'll then install Windows OS to the 2TB drive in logical drive 1..

bobs your uncle ;)

Thanks you very much!

Jim