Disk Management 2TB issue in 2008

[jas0n]

I have a HP DL320s, currently with 6 * 750GB SATA disks in a single
logical drive, raid 6 of 2861491MB

Windows 2008 x64 has been installed using a 50GB system partition and
the plan was to create a couple of 1TB Volumes with the third volume
using the remaining space and to add disk as needed.

The server is just a low use basic file server.

The Disk in DIsk Management shows as Disc0 Basic with the 50GB parition,
layout simple, type basic, ntfs.

The problem is the remaining unallocated disk shows as 2 separate
sections, one of 1998GB and the other as 746.42GB.

I can create new simple volumes in the 1998GB section but all the
options are greyed out on the 746GB section, cannot create anything with
this one.

Diskpart also shows:-

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ---------- ------- ------- --- ---
* Disk 0 Online 2794 GB 1998 GB

What would be causing this?

 

[Dusko Savatovic]

Re: Disk Management 2TB issue in 2008

> I can create new simple volumes in the 1998GB section but all the
> options are greyed out on the 746GB section, cannot create anything with
> this one.

Perhaps this is "service partition" built by HP install utility.

Can you show us results of the command
DISKPART> list par

Dush

 

[jas0n]

Re: Disk Management 2TB issue in 2008

In article <OW#Tl2UBJHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,
nospam.savatovic@gmail.com says...
> > I can create new simple volumes in the 1998GB section but all the
> > options are greyed out on the 746GB section, cannot create anything with
> > this one.
>
> Perhaps this is "service partition" built by HP install utility.
>
> Can you show us results of the command
> DISKPART> list par
>
> Dush

Smart start would not recognise the size correctly either, donloaded
latest version so couldnt install with smart smart, installed via
standard 2008 windows install and adding the support pack once
installed.

The array config shows the correct sizes and I deleted all and recreated
before going ahead with 2008 install. It just shows 1998gb free instead
of the whole unused space.

diskpart result:-

DISKPART> list disk

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ---------- ------- ------- --- ---
Disk 0 Online 2794 GB 1998 GB

DISKPART> select disk 0

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> list par

Partition ### Type Size Offset
------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Partition 1 Primary 50 GB 1024 KB

DISKPART> list vol

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status
Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- ---------
--------
Volume 0 Z DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 C NTFS Partition 50 GB Healthy
System

DISKPART>

 

[Dusko Savatovic]

Re: Disk Management 2TB issue in 2008

Hm, I am confused :-(

In your first message you state
<quote>
The problem is the remaining unallocated disk shows as 2 separate
sections, one of 1998GB and the other as 746.42GB.
</quote>

Now the diskpart shows:

<quote>
DISKPART> list disk

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ---------- ------- ------- --- ---
Disk 0 Online 2794 GB 1998 GB
</quote>

Well, this 746.42GB hidden partition must have been created somehow.

I don't know how to erase it with diskpart if diskpart doesn't show it.
I've been also using GDISK32.EXE that comes with Symantec Ghost Enterprise
Solution Suite.
I've prepared a Windows PE DVD and put this tool on it.
I would use this tool to see how the disk is partitioned.
Example:
Boot into windows PE and navigate to folder where you copied your tools (my
folder is \TOOLS).
GDISK32.EXE 0 /STATUS ' This would list partitions on Disk 0
GDISK32.EXE 0 /DEL /P:2 ' This would delete for example Partn 2 on Disk 0
(hopefuly hidden partition).

Failing that, I'm afraid I would boot into Windows PE and using diskpart
wipe the whole disk.
Example
diskpart
select disk 0
clean

I would then proceed to create partitions:
create part primary size 50000 ' this would create system/boot partition.
format quick
active 'this would mark partition active.
assign 'this would assign drive letter

I would then (still in Win PE) proceed to see if I get expected free size.
list par

If I get expected free size, I'd proceed creating second partition.
Example
create partition primary ' If we don't specify size, the whole free space of
the disk will be taken.
assign ' we assign drive letter
format quick

I would then proceed installing OS (Win 2008)

If that fails, I'm afraid I would need to call HP support.

Best of luck jas0n, and keep us informed.

Dush



"jas0n" <no@thank.you> wrote in message
news:MPG.231aa24bf6b6af97989687@news.gradwell.com...
> In article <OW#Tl2UBJHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,
> nospam.savatovic@gmail.com says...
>> > I can create new simple volumes in the 1998GB section but all the
>> > options are greyed out on the 746GB section, cannot create anything
>> > with
>> > this one.
>>
>> Perhaps this is "service partition" built by HP install utility.
>>
>> Can you show us results of the command
>> DISKPART> list par
>>
>> Dush
>
> Smart start would not recognise the size correctly either, donloaded
> latest version so couldnt install with smart smart, installed via
> standard 2008 windows install and adding the support pack once
> installed.
>
> The array config shows the correct sizes and I deleted all and recreated
> before going ahead with 2008 install. It just shows 1998gb free instead
> of the whole unused space.
>
> diskpart result:-
>
> DISKPART> list disk
>
> Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
> -------- ---------- ------- ------- --- ---
> Disk 0 Online 2794 GB 1998 GB
>
> DISKPART> select disk 0
>
> Disk 0 is now the selected disk.
>
> DISKPART> list par
>
> Partition ### Type Size Offset
> ------------- ---------------- ------- -------
> Partition 1 Primary 50 GB 1024 KB
>
> DISKPART> list vol
>
> Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status
> Info
> ---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- ---------
> --------
> Volume 0 Z DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
> Volume 1 C NTFS Partition 50 GB Healthy
> System
>
> DISKPART>

 

[jas0n]

Re: Disk Management 2TB issue in 2008

> If that fails, I'm afraid I would need to call HP support.
>
> Best of luck jas0n, and keep us informed.
>
> Dush
>

Ok, turns out to be:-

boot/system partition cannot be on 2TB+ volume as to see 2tb+ disk needs
to be gpt and cant convert to gpt as cant then boot to a gpt disk.

ended up using 2 small disks for raid1 boot/system volume, separate
raid6 gpt datapartition of > 2TB.