[X230] 4TB via USB shows 1.6TB

[StuB]

Oh woe is me! I didn't have a headache so thought I needed one and got myself a Netgear ReadyNas NV+, the old V1. It came with two WD 4TB Red Pro drives but in the unit only showing as 1.6TB. The NV+ V1 seems to only support 2TB. Fine and dandy, lets whip them out and sort it out on my X230 (Bluetooth still working and only carefully picking it up with full chassis support ). I'm running Windows 8.1 64Bit with UEFI GPT boot. The 4TB drive is attached via USB... I guess there you have it. The USB/SATA interface is like the NV+. Only able to support 2TB. I don't see any additional unallocated space. The whole drive is allocated at 1.6TB.

I'm slow and late to the party. This weekend I'll fire up an old desktop and connect directly to the Mainboard SATA port and hopefully sort it that way. May need that Intel RST thingy. The ReadyNas seems a bit wasted with the 4TB drives so will source some smaller drives for that and may get a new USB SATA caddy/dock for the WDs.

I know it's not really a ThinkPad issue in it's self but it's just one of those internet questions that needs an answer You may only have a X230 and you want to sort a 4TB drive that came out of a NV+. Very common issue

I'll let you know how I get on with the desktop and the WD 4TB and if the X230 will see the results or if I still need to upgrade the USB/SATA interface too.

[StuB]

The update:

Almost thought I had it sorted yesterday but got my understanding slightly wrong. Got GParted boot USB and the old desktop from under the stairs to recognise the whole 4TB (3.something TB). So basically attached directly to SATA on the mainboard did the trick. Long story short. I'm now installing Debian GNU/Linux to the 4TB disk. Wipe out the 1TB disks from my desktops and use them in the NV+. I'll probably need to upgrade the SATA/USB adapter for the X230 to see the new partitions or whole 4TB. Or may go for a Synology DS as I would benefit from external centralised storage. The take away from this is Linux and Debian.

Do you know what, I may even go down the Linux root (no pun intended) and install Debian GNU/Linux on this old X230. Hopefully keeping everything working. What could go wrong

Bottom line. Can't see your 4TB drive, you're doing it wrong

[Update] Basically hardware. The SATA USB adapter couldn't handle the drive size. Now have several new SATA to USB 3.0 adapters to support large drives 2TB plus. The X230 is quite happy reading and writing to these 3TB and 4TB drives in full.