Solved Partition options grayed out


E

ElizabethW

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version 24H2

I am trying to set up an external drive for backup purposes.

I select the partition that I want to modify but all the options are greyed out and I cannot therefore assign a drive letter. I am using an administrator account. How do I proceed?
 

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Are you using the built-in Disk Management tool or a 3rd party program?
 

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In Disk Management, select and hold (or right-click) the disk you want to initialize, and then select Initialize Disk. If the disk is listed.

You can if you want to use third-party partition manager.

Best Partition Magic Alternative for Windows PC and Server

As the best partition magic alternative, MiniTool Partition Wizard is the latest partition manager software for Windows 11/10/8/7 and Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.
www.minitool.com
 

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FreeBooter said:
In Disk Management, select and hold (or right-click) the disk you want to initialize, and then select Initialize Disk. If the disk is listed.

You can if you want to use third-party partition manager.

Best Partition Magic Alternative for Windows PC and Server

As the best partition magic alternative, MiniTool Partition Wizard is the latest partition manager software for Windows 11/10/8/7 and Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.
www.minitool.com
Click to expand...
The problem is that "Initialize Disk" and all other options are greyed out and cannot be accessed
 

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Windows 1116 GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
Memory
16 GB
Hard Drives
SSD
1) have you tried to Intialize the disk as @FreeBooter mentioned?

2) if you have and it is still greyed out, can you open Command Prompt as Admin, run

Code: 
diskpart
{Enter}
Code: 
list disk
{Enter}

and post a screenshot of the output here please?
 

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dacrone said:
1) have you tried to Intialize the disk as @FreeBooter mentioned?

2) if you have and it is still greyed out, can you open Command Prompt as Admin, run

Code: 
diskpart
{Enter}
Code: 
list disk
{Enter}

and post a screenshot of the output here please?
Click to expand...
 

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Windows 1116 GB
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Windows 11
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Memory
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SSD
This is the output. Disk 1 is the one that has the greyed-out options
1735850167419.webp
 

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And here is the screen with the greyed-out options

1735850465067.webp
 

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just to verify before providing anymore instructions... is there any data on that drive that you need/want to keep? in your initial post, you had stated "partition", but am wondering if you meant "disk" that you want to use for backups. if you don't have data that you want to keep, i can proceed to provide more instructions.
 

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dacrone said:
just to verify before providing anymore instructions... is there any data on that drive that you need/want to keep? in your initial post, you had stated "partition", but am wondering if you meant "disk" that you want to use for backups. if you don't have data that you want to keep, i can proceed to provide more instructions.
Click to expand...
No - nothing I want to keep
 

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Windows 1116 GB
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Windows 11
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16 GB
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SSD
ok. open command prompt as admin and run the follow commands:

Code: 
list disk
select disk #
format fs=ntfs label=Backup
assign letter=D

replace # with number of disk you want here (would be 1 based on your other screenshot)
 

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OS
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dacrone said:
ok. open command prompt as admin and run the follow commands:

Code: 
list disk
select disk #
format fs=ntfs label=Backup
assign letter=D

replace # with number of disk you want here (would be 1 based on your other screenshot)
Click to expand...
Here is what happens. Does not format - looking for a volume
1735851291026.webp
 

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Windows 1116 GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
Memory
16 GB
Hard Drives
SSD
try this:

Code: 
list disk
sel disk #
list vol
sel vol #
format fs=ntfs label=Backup
assign letter=D
 

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Here is what happens. These volumes are all on disk zero as far as i know. Therefor I did not try the format.

1735852334761.webp
 

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Windows 1116 GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
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HP
Memory
16 GB
Hard Drives
SSD
yes, those all appear to be on Disk 0. the disk you attempting to use may be going bad. but lets try this to see if it will recognize the ability to initialize / format it. download and extract Minitool Portable Partition Magic and run the 'partitionwizard.exe' file in the extracted folder.

download links to 32 & 64bit are under step #2

www.partitionwizard.com

MiniTool Portable Partition Magic Brings Easier Disk Management

Free download portable partition software - MiniTool portable partition magic to manage disks and partitions on Windows PC.
www.partitionwizard.com www.partitionwizard.com
 

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Windows 11 Pro
OS
Windows 11 Pro
dacrone said:
yes, those all appear to be on Disk 0. the disk you attempting to use may be going bad. but lets try this to see if it will recognize the ability to initialize / format it. download and extract Minitool Portable Partition Magic and run the 'partitionwizard.exe' file in the extracted folder.

download links to 32 & 64bit are under step #2

www.partitionwizard.com

MiniTool Portable Partition Magic Brings Easier Disk Management

Free download portable partition software - MiniTool portable partition magic to manage disks and partitions on Windows PC.
www.partitionwizard.com www.partitionwizard.com
Click to expand...
OK - did that and the create command finished successfully. But No change - partition options still grayed out
 

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Windows 1116 GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
Memory
16 GB
Hard Drives
SSD
parition magic created a partition on the disk and you clicked "apply" and it said successful, but the disk is still not showing properly? did you "rescan disks" in disk management after running partition magic?
 

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Windows 11 Pro
OS
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dacrone said:
parition magic created a partition on the disk and you clicked "apply" and it said successful, but the disk is still not showing properly? did you "rescan disks" in disk management after running partition magic?
Click to expand...
Yes - ran disk management again but still not showing properly - still grayed out
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1116 GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
Memory
16 GB
Hard Drives
SSD
Hi,

It is a GPT Protective Partition.
Search what it is and how to get rid off it.
The explanation is on the EaseUS web site.

Ciao, Han
 

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