USB Formatting Capacity Limit

Question

Hello guys,&nbsp;Quick help pls?&nbsp;Running OS 6.1.1&nbsp;1 - I have a USB 3.0 to SATA Dual-Bay USB 3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station attached to my NAS which was previously with two 3TB disks and now that I remove one of the 4TB from the NAS and replace it by an 8TB I want to "upgrade" the docking and replace one of the 3TB by the 4TB disk I have removed from the NAS. I did that already and after formatted using the Frontview NFTS option, it only shows 2TB as a maximum capacity. It only shows the full capacity (3.6TB) If I chose to format it on my PC before and then plug it in the docking station.&nbsp;2 - Tried Ext3 and Ext4 and even less capacity is showing (512 MB)&nbsp;3 - Based on the above should I then format it in Windows before plug it or is there anything I'm missing?&nbsp;4 - Last but not least does anyone knows if Netgear is planning to allows us to change the USB drives names?Right now is always USB_HDD_2, USB_HDD_3 and so on.&nbsp;Thanks,&nbsp;Joao

FramerV · Answer

Hi&nbsp;JohnnyR2D2,

&nbsp;

So just to confirm, the 4TB drive is only showing 2TB?

&nbsp;

Please try formatting it on a Windows PC as well.

&nbsp;

As for the USB naming, I think it is still being checked if it can be added as a feature.

&nbsp;

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Idea-Exchange-for-ReadyNAS/idb-p/idea-exchange-for-storage/status-key/readynas_future_consideration

&nbsp;

Regards,

JohnnyR2D2 · Answer

So just to confirm, the 4TB drive is only showing 2TB?

That is correct. If I format the disk using Frontview and chose NFTS it will show only 2TB. If I format and chose Ext4 or Ext3 things get even worse and it shows only 512KB or MB (can't remember really)

Please try formatting it on a Windows PC as well.

That's what I did and when I do that it works perfectlly and shows the full capacity 3.64TB

StephenB · Answer

JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Please try formatting it on a Windows PC as well.
That's what I did and when I do that it works perfectlly and shows the full capacity 3.64TB

That suggests there's a bug in the NAS formatting.

Skywalker · Answer

It works fine here on both 4TB and 6TB drives. &nbsp;That suggests a problem with the partition table on the drive.

JohnnyR2D2 · Answer

What do you mean by partition table problem? This disk is brand new and was one of the disks installed in the NAS. I replace it by an 8TB disk and decided to use it in the USB dock station for backup purposes. As I said, when I plug it into Windows it formats very well and shows the full capacity. The only thing I can't remember right now is if I converted the disk into GPT on Windows. You think that could be the problem?&nbsp; I can be wrong but to have a single volume in a 4TB drive I need to use GPT right? or should I use Dynamic?&nbsp;Tks,&nbsp;&nbsp;

Forum Discussion

USB Formatting Capacity Limit

8 Replies

Related Content

formatting my netgear rn104

readyNAS capacity

Which disk format to use when adding

how to format HDD and wipe all data

RN104 - Maximum Capacity

NETGEAR Academy

ProSupport for Business