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This article discusses the manner in which Windows supports hard disks that have a storage capacity of more than 2 TB and explains how to initialize and partition disks to maximize space usage.
Original product version: Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2
Original KB number: 2581408
Original KB number: 2581408
Summary
In order for an operating system to fully support storage devices that have capacities that exceed 2 terabytes (2 TB, or 2 trillion bytes), the device must be initialized by using the GUID Partition Table (GPT) partitioning scheme. This scheme supports addressing of the full range of storage capacity. If the user intends to start the computer from one of these large disks, the system's base firmware interface must use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and not BIOS.
This article outlines Microsoft support across all Windows versions since Windows XP. It also describes the requirements to address the full storage capability of these devices.
Note
- This article refers to disk capacity in powers of two instead of powers of 10, which is the more common designation on storage device capacity labels. Therefore, references to 2 TB actually refer to a product that is labeled as having 2.2 TB of capacity.
- The operating system-specific behavior that is noted in this article also applies to the server variants of that system. Therefore, a reference to Windows 7 includes Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista includes Windows Server 2008, and Windows XP includes Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2.
More information
The management of modern storage devices is addressed by using a scheme called Logical Block Addressing (LBA). It's the arrangement of the logical sectors that constitute the media. LBA0 represents the first logical sector of the device, and the last LBA designation represents the last logical sector of the device, one label per sector. To determine the capacity of the storage device, you multiply the number of logical sectors within the device by the size of each logical sector. The current size standard is 512 bytes. For example, to achieve a device that has a capacity of 2 TB, you must have 3,906,250,000 512-byte sectors. However, a computer system requires 32 bits (1 s and 0 s) of information to represent this large number. Therefore, any storage capacity that is greater than what can be represented by using 32 bits would require an additional bit. That is, 33 bits.
The problem in this computation is that the partitioning scheme that is used by most modern Windows-based computers is MBR (master boot record). This scheme sets a limit of 32 for the number of bits that are available to represent the number of logical sectors.
The 2-TB barrier is the result of this 32-bit limitation. Because the maximum number that can be represented by using 32 bits is 4,294,967,295, it translates to 2.199 TB of capacity by using 512-byte sectors (approximately 2.2 TB). Therefore, a capacity beyond 2.2 TB isn't addressable by using the MBR partitioning scheme.
To make more bits available for addressing, the storage device must be initialized by using GPT. This partitioning scheme lets up to 64 bits of information be used within logical sectors. It translates to a theoretical limitation of 9.4 ZB (9.4 zettabytes, or 9.4 billion terabytes). However, the issue that affects GPT is that most currently available systems are based on the aging BIOS platform. BIOS supports only MBR-initialized disks to start the computer. To restart from a device that is initialized by using GPT, your system must be UEFI-capable. By default, many current systems can support UEFI. Microsoft expects that most future systems will have this support. Customers should consult with their system vendor to determine the ability of their systems to support UEFI and disks that have storage capacities that are greater than 2 TB.
Overall requirements for a non-bootable data volume
For a system to be able to address the maximum capacity of a device that has a storage capacity of more than 2 TB, the following prerequisites apply:
- The disk must be initialized by using GPT.
- The Windows version must be one of the following (32-bit or 64-bit, unless otherwise noted, but including all SKU editions):
- Windows Server 2008 R2 (only 64-bit version available)
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- The latest storage drivers from your storage controller manufacturer must be installed. For example, if your system uses an Intel storage controller that is set to 'RAID' mode, make sure that you have the latest applicable drivers from the Intel support site.
- Overall, you should contact your system vendor to determine whether the system supports device sizes of more 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 Windows version must be one of the following (64-bit only, but including all SKU editions):
- Windows Server 2008 R2
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- The latest storage drivers from your storage controller manufacturer must be installed. For example, if your system uses an Intel storage controller set to RAID mode, make sure that you have the latest applicable drivers from the Intel support site.
Note
Windows does not support starting GPT-initialized volumes by using UEFI systems on 32-bit versions of Windows. Also, legacy BIOS systems do not support starting GPT-partitioned volumes. Consult your system vendor to determine whether the system supports both UEFI and the startup of devices that have storage capacities of greater than 2 TB.
Support matrix
The following tables list Microsoft support for the various concepts that are discussed in this article. This information provides an overall support statement about disks that have a storage capacity of greater than 2 TB.
Table 1: Windows support for partitioning schemes as data volumes
System | MBR | Hybrid-MBR | GPT |
---|---|---|---|
Windows 7 | Supported | Not Supported | Supported |
Windows Vista | Supported | Not Supported | Supported |
Windows XP | Supported | Not Supported | Not Supported |
Hybrid-MBR is an alternative style of partitioning that isn't supported by any version of Windows.
Table 2: Windows support for system firmware
System | BIOS | UEFI |
---|---|---|
Windows 7 | Supported | Supported |
Windows Vista | Supported | Supported |
Windows XP | Supported | Not Supported |
Table 3: Windows support for combinations of boot firmware and partitioning schemes for the boot volume
System | BIOS + MBR | UEFI + GPT | BIOS + GPT | UEFI + MBR |
---|---|---|---|---|
Windows 7 | Supported | Supported; requires a 64-bit version of Windows | Boot volume not supported | Boot volume not supported |
Windows Vista | Supported | Supported; requires a 64-bit version of Windows | Boot volume not supported | Boot volume not supported |
Windows XP | Supported | Not supported | Boot volume not supported | Boot volume not supported |
How Much Storage Is 2tb
Table 4: Windows support for large-capacity disks as non-booting data volumes
System | >2-TB single disk - MBR | >2-TB single disk - Hybrid-MBR | >2-TB single disk - GPT |
---|---|---|---|
Windows 7 | Supports up to 2 TB of addressable capacity** | Not Supported | Supports full capacity |
Windows Vista | Supports up to 2 TB of addressable capacity** | Not Supported | Supports full capacity |
Windows XP | Supports up to 2 TB of addressable capacity** | Not Supported | Not Supported |
Capacity beyond 2 TB cannot be addressed by Windows if the disk is initialized by using the MBR partitioning scheme. For example, for a 3-TB single disk that is initialized by using MBR, Windows can create partitions up to the first 2 TB. However, the remaining capacity cannot be addressed and, therefore, cannot be used.
Initialize a data disk by using GPT
The following steps show how to initialize a fresh disk by using the GPT partitioning scheme to help ensure that Windows can address the maximum available storage capacity. Make sure that you back up any important data before you try these steps.
- Click Start, type diskmgmt.msc in the Start search box, right-click diskmgmt.msc, and then click Run as Administrator. If it's necessary, enter the credentials for a user account that has Administrator privileges.NoteWhen a non-initialized disk is detected by Windows, the following window opens to prompt you to initialize the disk.
- In the Initialize Disk dialog box, click GPT (GUID Partition Table), and then press OK.NoteIf you select this option, this hard disk will not be recognized by Windows versions earlier than and including Windows XP.
- Check the Disk Management window to verify that the disk is initialized. If it is, the status row for that disk at the bottom of the window should indicate that the disk is Online.
- After the disk is initialized, you must create a partition, and then format that partition by using a file system. It's to be able to store data in that partition, and assign a name and a drive letter to that partition. To do it, right-click the unallocated space on the right side of the status row for that disk, and then click New Simple Volume. Follow the steps in the partition wizard to complete this process.
Convert an MBR disk to GPT
What is powerdirector. If you have previously initialized the disk by using the MBR partitioning scheme, follow these steps to initialize the disk by using the GPT scheme. Make sure that you back up any important data before you try these steps.
- Click Start, type diskmgmt.msc in the Start search box, right-click diskmgmt.msc, and then click Run as Administrator. If it's necessary, enter the credentials for a user account that has Administrator privileges.
- In the Disk Management window, examine the disk status rows at the bottom. In the following example, the user has a 3-TB disk that was previously initialized by using the MBR partitioning scheme. That device is labeled here as Disk 1.
- Disk 1 contains two separate unallocated sections. This separation indicates that the first 2 TB of the disk space can be used. However, the remaining space is non-addressable because of the 32-bit addressing space limitation of the MBR partitioning scheme. To enable the system to fully address the total capacity of the storage device, you must convert the disk to use the GPT partitioning scheme.
- Imovie current version. Right-click the label on the left for the disk that you want to convert, and then click Convert to GPT Disk.NoteThe display should now show that the full amount of available space in unallocated.
- Now that the disk is initialized to access the full storage capacity, you must create a partition, and then format that partition by using a file system. It's to be able to store data in that partition, and assign a name and a drive letter to that partition. To do it, right-click the unallocated space on the right side of the status row for that disk, and then click New Simple Volume. Follow the steps in the partition wizard to complete this process.
Known issues or limitations
Because the transition to a single-disk capacity of greater than 2 TB has occurred fairly recently, Microsoft has investigated how Windows supports these large disks. The results reveal several issues that apply to all versions of Windows earlier than and including Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1.
To this point, the following incorrect behavior is known to occur when Windows handles single-disk storage capacity of greater than 2 TB:
- The numeric capacity beyond 2 TB overflows. It results in the system being able to address only the capacity beyond 2 TB. For example, on a 3-TB disk, the available capacity may be only 1 TB.
- The numeric capacity beyond 2 TB is truncated. It results in no more than 2 TB of addressable space. For example, on a 3-TB disk, the available capacity may be only 2 TB.
- The storage device isn't detected correctly. In this case, it isn't displayed in either the Device Manager or Disk Management windows. Many storage controller manufacturers offer updated drivers that provide support for storage capacities of more than 2 TB. Contact your storage controller manufacturer or OEM to determine what downloadable support is available for single-disk capacities that are greater than 2 TB.
SCSI sense data
When a disk encounters errors that are related to unreadable or unwritable sectors, it reports those errors and the relevant SCSI sense data to the operating system. SCSI sense data may contain information about LBA for sectors that were found to be unreadable or unwritable.
For LBA address space that is greater than 2 TB, the disk requires SCSI sense data in Descriptor format. This format isn't supported by Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, which retrieves SCSI sense data in Fixed format. Therefore, the retrieved SCSI sense data either does not contain information about bad sectors or it contains incorrect information about bad sectors. Administrators should note this limitation when they look for bad sector LBA information that's recorded in the Windows event log.
We have already written about 4 terabytes of hard drive capacity and analyzed using images, video, and audio how much data they can carry. Writing about 2TB hard drive today would seem to some as an unnecessary duplication of content, the goal been that of increasing clicks to the site. Nothing can be further from the reality on ground, or online, at least on this site. A majority of our readers come from Google and other search engines.
A googler asking about 4TB hard drive capacity would be taken to our post on 4TB while those asking about 2TB would be taken to this one. If you come here using a 2 terabytes keyword, you would never have known, without been told, that we have a post on twice this capacity. Vice versa. In the event that you read the two posts, you would see that we wrote them using two refreshingly different approaches. By the way, our welcome address for this site is about 500GB of data. First, let’s define data.
The measurements of data
A bit (b) is a tiny unit of digital information. 8 bites make one byte (B).
1,024 binary bytes makes one kilobyte (KB).
1,024 binary kilobytes make one megabyte (MB).
1,024 binary megabytes make one gigabyte (GB).
1,024 binary gigabytes make one terabyte (TB).
1,024 binary terabytes make one petabyte (PB).
1,024 binary petabytes make one exabyte (EB).
1,024 binary exabytes make one zettabyte (ZB).
1,024 binary zettabytes make one yottabyte (YB).
So far, the yottabyte is the last data measuring standard. At 1,152,921,500,000,000,000 megabytes or 1.1 quintillion MB or 1.1 million trillion MB, the yottabyte is nearly an impossible capacity of data to define. But the world is going crazy and even the yottabyte is proving insufficient to measure data. According to computerhope.com, hellabyte and brontobyte are suggested as the term to measure data higher than YB.
How much data in a 2TB hard drive?
We would look at this using image, audio, and video copies to show this
Image files
Digital image sizes depend on the format, resolution, model, MP, editing, etc. involved. An image can be as small as 20KB. An image can be 200KB. If this is the case, 2TB will contain approximately 10 million images. A 3MB photo will require 700,000 images to fill up 2TB.
Picture quality are measured with pixels. One million pixels make one megapixel. Today, the lowest professional shooting standard is 4MPs. 4 MPs images average 12 MB each, that will be about 1.5 million images in 2TB.
One of the highest MPs is 22 and it produces images of up to 66MB for each. This will amount to a quarter million of images in 2 terabytes.
Audio files
Audio can be measured in kilobits per second which is abbreviated as kbps. So, you will see lines such as 128 kbps or 198 kbps. This is not to be confused with kBps which stands for kilobytes per second. 1 kBps is equal to 8 kilobits just as above, I mentioned above that 8 bits make one byte. There are times you will see Mbps but sounds are mostly measured in bits, so you will see kbps most of the time.
A four-minute song at 128 kbps will come to you in about 5MB. In a 2TB hard drive, there will be room for approximately 419,000 songs.
An album is defined to contain at least 25 (in some cases 30 minutes) and has at least five tracks. So a five-track album, sometimes referred to as EP (extended play). An EP of four songs at 20MB would see your two terabyte drive contain about 200,000 of such.
What to do when Spotify can’t play this
An eight-song album of about 40MB worth of data will see about 50,000 albums in a 2 terabyte storing capacity. A ten-song album which amounts to approximately 50MB will see your 2TB carry as much as 40K albums.
An album containing twelve songs recorded at a data of 60MB would see about 33,000 albums contained in a two-terabyte hard drive.
According to incision.com, the average length of a podcast is 43 minutes. Assuming this to be the fact, at 128 kbps, every minute would carry about 1.25MB. The average podcast would carry 54MB meaning that if you are into podcasts, you can store up to 37,000 podcasts in a 2TB HDD.
What Is 2 Tb Storage
A CD contains about 650MB which means you can have about 3,226 of them in your 2TB.
Note that, one GB can only carry one CD since you can’t put half a CD in the remaining 374MB left in the GB, so the remaining space is useless for another CD. There are over 2000 GB in a 2TB space and they can hold over 3,200 CDs but if you were to have 2046 GB in one GB units, they would only carry 2046 CDs.
Video files
Pirated movies usually come in around 300MB. With this in mind, with a 2TB SDD, you can collect about 6,700 of such videos.
A superquality pirated video can be as high as 700MB which means you can have up to 2,872 of such video files in your 2TB storage.
1080p Full HD movies come at 3.5GB per movie. About 585 of them would fit into your 2 terabyte storage system.
A DVD contains 4.7 GB which means you can gather videos in 436 DVDs to fill 2TB.
One Blu-ray disc contains 25 GB. You will have to gather 80 Blu-ray discs to fill your hard drive measured at 2 terabytes.
4K Ultra HD/ 2160p movies come in about 100GB for one. If you own a 2TB hard drive, it can hold just about 20 movies.
8K movies are approximately 200GB in size and your 2TB hard drive will carry just 8 of them.
What Is A 2tb Hdd
Image source: goHardDrive.com