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upgrade HDD from 2TB to 4TB

i have a client pc that I need to upgrade the hard drive from 2TB to 4TB.
i have found that the MBR format only reads up to 2TB therefore the 4TB will not format to 4TB if i copy over
using Acronis.

can I copy the drive then change the format to GPT and grt it to boot? or how should I go about it without having to reinstall the whole computer system?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Tom Cieslik

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Michael Belletty

ASKER

can i add the new 4TB drive as a slave to a computer then create the gpt partition that way then connect to computer and start aomei recovery?

Tom Cieslik

Yes, or you can try to use option Clone partition but first start installation on clean 4TB GPT disk to create system boot partition.

If you going to start new installation, remember to disconnect temporarily first disk to left Windows installer no choice

Michael Belletty

ASKER

can this be done on Acronis? just asking before I have to go purchase aomei. i have Acronis 2012

SOLUTION

nobus

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SOLUTION

Predrag Jovic

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Tom Cieslik

I've sent you a link to AOMEI website and software is free.
There is only one this you can't do in AOMEI free but you can simply unlock this option if you post their advertisement on your FB page.
It is unlocking right tha way but for what you need you can use free edition.

I've made over 100 copies and restoration using AOMEI and is always working for me

fred hakim

MiniTool Partition Wizard is excellent for converting between GBT and MBR without losing your data, as noted above. Its also great for copying you old drive to another drive (in this case the new 4gb drive). I would copy the the old drive to the new drive first, then convert it to GPT. That way your originals are safe. Not knowing the capabilities of the motherboard/bios, it is remotley possible to wind up with a situation where, windows will not boot from a new GPT disk. So keeping your original drive intact would be prudent.

SOLUTION

Gerald Connolly

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Michael Belletty

ASKER

OK so I set the disk with GPT, then ran AOMEI backed up old drive, ran recovery media, restored to 4tb gpt drive.
restarted my PC and the drive is showing as 2TB. Ran minitool wizard and was able to extend the partition to a 4TB. But now drive is not bootable.

How do I make partition bootable?

I can see in Mini Tool partition wizard is shows the partition status as None. Other partitions show as Boot

nobus

that depends on the pc - what model is it?
otherwise, stick with mbr and 2 TB partition + 2nd 2 TB partition for data

Pber

No comment has been added to this question in more than 21 days, so it is now classified as abandoned.

I have recommended this question be closed as follows:

Split:
-- Tom Cieslik (https:#a42420945)
-- nobus (https:#a42421018)
-- Predrag Jovic (https:#a42421021)
-- Gerald Connolly (https:#a42422015)

If you feel this question should be closed differently, post an objection and the moderators will review all objections and close it as they feel fit. If no one objects, this question will be closed automatically the way described above.

Pber
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