GPT Protective Partition help.

GARoss · Feb 24, 2023

On Windows 11 Pro 64-bit, Version 22H2 (OS Build 22621.1265)

I have a seldom used 2Gb external backup drive that is has been noisy at times. After a clean install on my PC it is no longer recognized as a NTFS drive. In Computer Management the drive is online but says; "2048.00 Gb healthy (GPT Protective Partition)". Using Diskpart it reads a little over 1400.00 Gb & a GPT Protective Partition.

Because there's a discrepancy between size readings (2048.oo Gb & 1400.00 Gb) I'm not sure what to do. Not sure what happened to the other 600Gb. I would like to access the data for backup but it's not the end of the world to delete & format to NTFS.

DigitalGoat · Feb 24, 2023

See if the following applies to your situation or not, it explains the likely cause and some remedies, come back here with further details if you don't find the answer you need:
How to Remove GPT Protective Partition Without Losing Data?
Be aware this is only one of many results, most of the 3rd party partition manager type tools can do the steps described, and you may not even need a 3rd party app to do what you need.

GARoss · Feb 24, 2023

DigitalGoat said:
See if the following applies to your situation or not, it explains the likely cause and some remedies, come back here with further details if you don't find the answer you need:
How to Remove GPT Protective Partition Without Losing Data?
Be aware this is only one of many results, most of the 3rd party partition manager type tools can do the steps described, and you may not even need a 3rd party app to do what you need.

Thanks.
What's confusing to me is when diskpart is open it lists the drive size as 1493Gb. In Windows Computer Management the same drive is listed as 2048Gb.

GARoss · Feb 24, 2023

I opened the external drive case & found it's a Seagate 6Tb! That means only about 25% of the drive is seen. Sounds like it's time for a new drive.

SIW2 · Feb 24, 2023

did you try attaching it directly to a sata port ?

glasskuter · Feb 24, 2023

Please post a screenshot of your entire disk management screen.

Sir_George · Feb 24, 2023

GARoss said:
I opened the external drive case & found it's a Seagate 6Tb! That means only about 25% of the drive is seen. Sounds like it's time for a new drive.

Before buying a new drive, use the CrystalDiskInfo app to check the drive. You can download from the link below. After reaching the site wait a few seconds and the download screen will be provided.

Downloading File /78192/CrystalDiskInfo8_17_14.exe - CrystalDiskInfo - OSDN

Free download page for Project CrystalDiskInfo's CrystalDiskInfo8_17_14.exe.CrystalDisklnfo is disk utility that supports some types of USB connections, Intel RAID, and NVMe. If anything abnor...

osdn.net

DigitalGoat · Feb 24, 2023

You can also download the CrystalDiskInfo app from the MS Store if you want, still free.

I am wondering if your issue might be using the drive between two or more systems with different architectures (32bit and 64bit for example)?
The missing 600GB may well be a hidden partition, for whatever reason, the link I provided in my first response I think explains why that might happen.

I second Sir_George's suggestion of using a utility to try and see exactly what you are dealing with here, it is possible the drive was deemed faulty in some way concerning capacity and the firmware/ logic was altered at the factory to only use a portion of the drive that worked correctly.

I haven't actually heard of this being practiced by manufacturers but suppose it is entirely possible, especially if the drive will be sealed into an enclosure.

garlin · Feb 24, 2023

DigitalGoat said:
I second Sir_George's suggestion of using a utility to try and see exactly what you are dealing with here, it is possible the drive was deemed faulty in some way concerning capacity and the firmware/ logic was altered at the factory to only use a portion of the drive that worked correctly.

I haven't actually heard of this being practiced by manufacturers but suppose it is entirely possible, especially if the drive will be sealed into an enclosure.

While this does happen (drive capacity lowered by firmware), it's only done for enterprise customers whenever there's a dire shortage of smaller capacity drives. I have seen it several times in my professional life.

But never for consumer drives, since someone would notice the discrepancy and file a lawsuit claiming they were defrauded.

DigitalGoat · Feb 24, 2023

I don't think you could file a law suit to claim you were defrauded if the drive was advertised, described and sold as a 2TB usable capacity drive, regardless of it's actual raw capacity, if it was sold as 6TB but you could only access 2TB that would be a different matter though.
Similar to a 4080 graphics card, it may well use the same chip as a 4090 but with a certain number of core/ shader units etc disabled to reduce it's performance, but since it is advertised as a 4080 and not a 4090 you are not being defrauded.
I'm not saying that is what has happened here for certain, just I thought it might be a strategy manufacturers might be using to sell units that can be partially salvaged rather than scrap them.

garlin · Feb 24, 2023

Down binning does happen, but usually the manufacturer is very careful to hide it when printing labels or allowing tools to query your exact model number. In my experience, you would never have an external clue it's a rebranded part.

GARoss · Feb 25, 2023

The 6TB drive is external & housed in a miniStack v2.5. I believe it's more than 5 years old.
I've attached a screen shot of Disk Management & CrystalDiskInfo. I use the drive for data backup.

Disk 4 is the drive with problems.

Sir_George · Feb 25, 2023

GARoss said:
The 6TB drive is external & housed in a miniStack v2.5. I believe it's more than 5 years old.
I've attached a screen shot of Disk Management & CrystalDiskInfo. I use the drive for data backup.

Disk 4 is the drive with problems.

View attachment 53655 View attachment 53656

Because disk 4 is a "Protective Partition" I suggest you visit the following site for some useful information, since there doesn't appear to be any problem with the disk.

Can You Access GPT Protective Partition Or Recover Data Off It - MiniTool Partition Wizard

Solutions to getting access to GPT Protective Partition and recovering data from it are provided here for all users.

www.partitionwizard.com

You can also check "DiskGenius." I have never used their app, but reading the info may be beneficial.

How To Fix GPT Protective Partition Issue Without Data Loss?

Are you troubled by GPT protective partition issue? Keep calm. Here are solutions to help you get access to GPT protective partition and fix the issue without data loss.

www.diskgenius.com

DigitalGoat · Feb 25, 2023

Where did you get the drive, apparently it is a 6TB SkyHawk series surveillance drive, normally sold as a bare unit for video use in security systems.

NavyLCDR · Feb 25, 2023

The first thing to do is copy any data you want to save off the drive. Then worry about capacity discrepancies later.

Sir_George · Feb 25, 2023

DigitalGoat said:
Where did you get the drive, apparently it is a 6TB SkyHawk series surveillance drive, normally sold as a bare unit for video use in security systems.

The OP stated he used/uses the drive for backup and since a hard disk used in surveillance systems is used to write data 90% of the time and 10% for playback I believe that would be beneficial.

DigitalGoat · Feb 25, 2023

Sir_George said:
The OP stated he used/uses the drive for backup and since a hard disk used in surveillance systems is used to write data 90% of the time and 10% for playback I believe that would be beneficial.

That was not my point in asking, I am more curious as to why it only allows 2TB of the 6TB to be visible/ usable, maybe the method used to aquire the drive might shed light on it.
Although this is just curiosity on my part and may not be related to the original issue the OP requested help with, the GPT Protective partition.

grumpus · Feb 25, 2023

DigitalGoat said:
That was not my point in asking, I am more curious as to why it only allows 2TB of the 6TB to be visible/ usable, maybe the method used to aquire the drive might shed light on it.
Although this is just curiosity on my part and may not be related to the original issue the OP requested help with, the GPT Protective partition.

It's formatted fat32 which has a 2TB filesystem size limit.

NavyLCDR · Feb 25, 2023

grumpus said:
It's formatted fat32 which has a 2TB filesystem size limit.

How can you tell that?

grumpus · Feb 25, 2023

NavyLCDR said:
How can you tell that?

I can't, I misread the disk layout above. But the protective MBR could also explain it, since 2TB is also the filesystem size limit for MBR.

GPT Protective Partition help.

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