3TB Shows 746GB on Windows Server, What Should I Do to Solve It?

I have a problem; we have a 3TB SATA disk on the carry disk, connected to the physical server via USB. The problem is that only 746GB is read. The server is Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 10 also has this problem. Will it be firmware? Any ideas?

Best Answered by

Sherly· Answered on Apr 22, 2024

Generally, this kind of problem is because your disk is initialized as MBR. Partitions on the MBR have a size limit. You can convert MBR to GPT in CMD using the Diskpart tool. But you need to know that Diskpart deletes all files and folders from your hard drive when changing the disk to GPT. So if you have important data, remember to back it up in advance. Next, I will show you how to use CMD to convert MBR to GPT to solve your problem.

1. Type CMD in the search box. Right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as Administrator."

2. Open Command Prompt, type DiskPart, and press Enter.

Then, use the commands below one by one:

  • list disk
  • select disk * (Replace * with the target disk number)
  • clean
  • convert mbr
  • exit

As you can see, the "clean" command will delete all the data on your disk, so I used to turn to EaseUS Partition Master Server.

Free Download

100% Secure

  24/7 Tech Chat

Free Inquiry

The third-party software helps convert MBR to GPT without losing data; hence, if you are new to computing, EaseUS Partition Master Server is a better choice for avoiding data loss.

If your issue still exists, it may be because your USB-SATA interface is old and doesn't support it. I've seen this before.
Get a new USB3 - SATA enclosure and move the drive into it. 

Sincerely hope my answer can help you out.

See Also:

People Also Ask

Can I Format to GPT Partition With Partition Magic?

If you are looking for a full guide on formatting to GPT partition with Partition Magic, you may be disappointed since this software is not available anymore. Don't worry. I will introduce two alternative tools to help you convert the MBR partition to GPT.

Roxanne

Apr 18, 2024

How to Solve Format 4.0 Buffalo External Hard Drive Trouble, Help Me!

You may be confused about the MBR/GPT format in Windows. Don't worry. This passage will help you figure out the reasons and find solutions to the trouble of formatting a 4.0 TB hard drive. 

Cici

Apr 18, 2024

Help Me, I'm Unable to Partition More Than 2TB on Windows Server

Many users are unable to partition more than 2TB because of the limit of an MBR disk. This short passage focuses on this issue. Dive in and learn it.

Sherly

Apr 22, 2024

How Can I Use 4TB on Dell Poweredge 840, Help

If you cannot use a 4TB disk on Windows Server, you need to convert your MBR disk to a GPT disk. This short article will provide a quick solution to help you use 4TB on Poweredge 840.

Cici

Apr 22, 2024

MBR to GPT Conversion to Extend Drive, How to Do It on Windows Server?

Do you want to extend a drive by converting MBR to GPT? Don't worry; we will provide a full guide on MBR to GPT conversion to extend drive on Windows Server.

Sherly

Apr 22, 2024

Can't Add Partition to MBR disk Using Unallocated Space on Windows Server, I Need Help

Why can't add partition to MBR disk using unallocated space? This short article will focus on this issue and help you solve this problem.

Sherly

Apr 22, 2024