Well so much for that small upgrade

[AussieMan]

Recently I decided to increase the storage and memory in my computer.

I updated my RAM from 8GB to 16GB and added a 3TB hard drive.

When I turned my computer on it chucked a real hissy fit that has resulted in me having to reinstall Windows. I installed Windows 7 and set everything up that I needed like MS Office and Outlook for my email. Mailwasher for filtering my email and a couple of minor programmes. Then I shut down and connected the new HD and that is where I am having a slight problem. When I use the Control Panel/Administrative/Computer Management/Storage I get the drive showing as 2 separate partitions even though I have done nothing. One reads 2048GB and the other reads 746.52GB.

I have just went one step further and installed Windows 8. Next move is to reconnect all the HDs and see what happens.

[Dumonceau]

Pat,

If a drive shows up partitioned and you don't want it, you can merge the two partitions in the disk manager of the computer management console.

If it shows up partitioned in Win7, it will also show up partitioned in Win 8.x.

Dumonceau

[Roger]

Is it possible your bios needs an update to see 3 tb?

[Dumonceau]

Is it possible your bios needs an update to see 3 tb?

I doubt that very much Roger. For the simple fact that his BIOS already was recent enough to recognize 8 - 16Gb of RAM. Moreover, OS's don't partition harddrives without being asked to do so.

Pat,

Can you tell us what brand and type of new HDD you installed?

Dumonceau

[Blackbird686]

If you're running Win7 or Win8, you BIOS is new enough that it should recognize the new HD.

In some cases, this MAY have something to do with your issue, it may not tho.
Some internal HD's have a micro toggle switch on the back of the drive, others have an additional 4 prong port near the bus for a cable to plug into. On some HD's I have replaced on earlier systems, if the switch toggle is not all the way to the bottom, or the right, (depending on the brand and HD type) then your system will only see part of the entire drive capacity, in this case 746.52GB out of the total 3TB. I have had similar experiences with replacing HD's that created a similar issue, and if I had read the manual, would have been able to avoid having to do the entire procedure twice. Bear in mind, these were earlier systems that ran WinXP. Just a thought.

As Dumonceau suggested, list the HD specs, maybe that would help clear things up just a bit.

BB686:US-flag:

[AussieMan]

I doubt that very much Roger. For the simple fact that his BIOS already was recent enough to recognize 8 - 16Gb of RAM. Moreover, OS's don't partition harddrives without being asked to do so.

Pat,

Can you tell us what brand and type of new HDD you installed?

Dumonceau

Copied from the invoice:

Seagate ST3000DM001 Desktop HDD 3TB, 7200RPM, SATA 6GB/S, 3.5", 64MB.

There are a couple of things I need to check but that is on hold as I am busy packing for a house move on the 29th.

[modelr]

Copied from the invoice:

Seagate ST3000DM001 Desktop HDD 3TB, 7200RPM, SATA 6GB/S, 3.5", 64MB.

There are a couple of things I need to check but that is on hold as I am busy packing for a house move on the 29th.

That's the same one I installed in my new setup. It does the same thing. None of my other 3TB disks, different brands, did this. Something done by Seagate? I just went ahead and used the partitions for programs, the smaller partition, and the bigger one for storage. Since my C drive is a 180GB SSD (167GB total available) I keep the actual add-on programs on the HDD. Works well.

[AussieMan]

That's the same one I installed in my new setup. It does the same thing. None of my other 3TB disks, different brands, did this. Something done by Seagate? I just went ahead and used the partitions for programs, the smaller partition, and the bigger one for storage. Since my C drive is a 180GB SSD (167GB total available) I keep the actual add-on programs on the HDD. Works well.

The only problem is that I am unable to use the smaller partition. I cannot even format it.

[Tom Clayton]

I think this article may help...
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/review/seagate/barracuda_3tb_st3000dm001_internal_hard_drive/427323/

[AussieMan]

Thanks for that Tom. Just the kind of information I was looking for.

[GT182]

Pat, do the free upgrade to 8.1. I bought 8.1 and so far I've had no problems with it at all. Get Start Menu X too.... it free.

One piece of software I recommend is Hitman Pro. This is the best antivirus/malware software I've ever had. It gets rid of anything nasty. Get it for 3 years and you'll save money. I had a pop-up Trojan and lost my internet connection. Hitman got rid of the Trojan and restored my internet connection. My local MS tech at the MS store in our mall recommended it, and I'm glad I listened and got it.