[SOLVED] Mint reports wrong disksize on 4TB Toshiba disk

[frmb]

Hi,
I purchased a new 4TB-Toshiba harddrive (N300, HDWQ140). It runs in an external case, which is plugged into the host by USB2.
To my surprise Linux reports 1.64TB (gparted and OpenMediaVault).
GSmartControl says 4TB and "no rerrors".
Why does Linux report 1.64 TB? What to do?

Kind regards
Frank

Linux Mint 4.4.0-97

[WharfRat]

Can you mount the partition and paste back df -h /dev/sd?? where ?? is the suffix of the device assignment or df -h /mountpoint where mountpoint is where the partition is mounted.

[silfox2000]

Make sure your drive is GPT partitioned, not MBR (from gparted Device->Create Partition Table->gpt).

[frmb]

Can you mount the partition and paste back df -h /dev/sd?? where ?? is the suffix of the device assignment or df -h /mountpoint where mountpoint is where the partition is mounted.

We are pre-mount, pre-partition! I just bought that drive and plugged it into the PC via USB. Then, gparted reports size 1.64TB, partitiontable unknown. Will now create partiontable.

[MintBean]

The size you're seeing is probably the partition size rather than disc capacity.
Assuming you want a single 4TB partition for use with Linux only, partition with GPT partition table and a 4TB EXT4 partition.

[frmb]

Make sure your drive is GPT partitioned, not MBR (from gparted Device->Create Partition Table->gpt).

OK, partition table was "unknown". But creation of partition table didn't change anything. Now we are partitiontable:gpt and size still 1.64TB.
255 heads, 63 sectors/tracks, 219051 cyls, sectors total 3519069872, sector size 512
which means: 3519069872 x 512 = 1,802x10pw12 which sounds like 1.64TB.
Is it possible, that this is a limit of the ICY USB-case?

[frmb]

The size you're seeing is probably the partition size rather than disc capacity.
Assuming you want a single 4TB partition for use with Linux only, partition with GPT partition table and a 4TB EXT4 partition.

Believe me: there isn't any partition on the disk. It is brand new unboxed. I'm reporting the "device information", which can be shown in gparted on the left side. Above is one single block "unallocated 1.64TB" spanning from far left to far right.

[mr_raider]

The size you're seeing is probably the partition size rather than disc capacity.
Assuming you want a single 4TB partition for use with Linux only, partition with GPT partition table and a 4TB EXT4 partition.

Believe me: there isn't any partition on the disk. It is brand new unboxed. I'm reporting the "device information", which can be shown in gparted on the left side. Above is one single block "unallocated 1.64TB" spanning from far left to far right.

Don't trust gparted.

Run this command

sudo parted -l

And post the output.

[silfox2000]

OK, partition table was "unknown". But creation of partition table didn't change anything. Now we are partitiontable:gpt and size still 1.64TB.
255 heads, 63 sectors/tracks, 219051 cyls, sectors total 3519069872, sector size 512
which means: 3519069872 x 512 = 1,802x10pw12 which sounds like 1.64TB.
Is it possible, that this is a limit of the ICY USB-case?

I doubt so. The limit of the MBR is 2TB, but the rest from the 4TB disk is almost exactly 1.64TB. I don't think that it is a coincidence, but in any case for sure you have to use GPT partitioning, so from now on you can look for solution. I would use something like Paragon bootable USB to check where the missing part is.

[Mute Ant]

"Is it possible that this is a limit of the ICY USB-case?" Well, yes. Some are specified as 2TB...
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/icy-box ... 5-sata-hdd

Features • Premium aluminium case
• HDD capacity 3.5" up to 2 TB <-----------------------------------!!!
• Supports: PC & Mac (Windows XP/Vista/7)
• USB 3.0 ((Micro Typ Connector) up to 5.0Gbps)

[frmb]

Solved: In fact, the old ICY-Box limits the reported disksize. After switching to a new Enermax Box, file size is reported by parted as 4001 GB. Nothing else changed, so it must be the box.

By the way, if you buy an Enermax Brick EB308U3-B USB disk case, be aware of the following strange behaviour:
It has a power button, an indicator LED and two sockets for USB and power. I've attached the brand new disk into the case, plugged in the power chord and turned on the power switch, and...
...noting happened. Neither the disk spinned up nor did the indicator LED flash. Nothing, everything dead, which misled me to assume the case must be damaged, since disk spinned up immediately in the old ICY box.
But it wasn't. Disk spins up only if you connect the brick to a PC by USB. With the disk spins up, LED starts flashing. Unfortunately, this isn't stated in the printed manual.

[bbowerman1]

I have a Toshiba 4tb disk internal disk drive that when I click on the properties in the 'files' it shows 2.2tb. If I go to the 'Disks' drop down from Preferences, it shows up as 4tb with only 2.2tb free. The disk is brand new, has been partitioned FAT at 4tb and formatted. Any ideas?

[ClixTrix]

I have a Toshiba 4tb disk internal disk drive that when I click on the properties in the 'files' it shows 2.2tb. If I go to the 'Disks' drop down from Preferences, it shows up as 4tb with only 2.2tb free. The disk is brand new, has been partitioned FAT at 4tb and formatted. Any ideas?

Is the drive using an MBR or GPT partition table? I believe MBR is limited to 2TB partition sizes.

[bbowerman1]

SOLVED Sorry, I should have done my research/leg-work before crying to the forums. I installed GParted, re-partitioned the drive and it's working/reading just fine now. Thank you for your help though!