Can I install 4Tb hard drives in Z400 with Windows 10?

[Don_]

Hello.

I'd like to add an internal 4TB HDD to a Z400 that's running Windows 10.  This would be just a data drive, in addition to the existing system drive.

I'm aware of the normal 2TB limit and that the drive has to be formatted with GBT in order to see the whole 4TB.  But I've read that sometimes that is not enough - some systems are still incompatible with 4TB drives.

I found this thread:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktops-Archive-Read-Only/Z400-can-t-see-full-4TB-HDD/m-p/3344707

But the references it links to do not include Win 10.  They're from Win 7 days.

Up to date advice would be great.

Thanks,

[Grzwacz · Accepted solution]

Greetings,

Welcome back to the forum.

I am not a HP employee.

Windows 10 using the GPT can support ridiculously large storage devices.

A 4 TB HDD will work fine.

Regards

[Don_]

Hey, thank you for the reassurance and the quick reply.

Your answer is so clear, so succinct, so uncomplicated that the techno-paranoid part of me doesn't want to accept that it could just be all good to go.   😀  I was expecting something about replacing BIOS with UEFI, and updating Intel RST, and maybe changing the chipset.......we're both talking about an old Z400, right?

But I will accept good news and go ahead,

Thanks again.

[Grzwacz]

Hi,

The operating system impacts disk partition limitations.

The PC should see greater than 2 TB partitions when running Win10 if you use the GPT format when installing the operating system.

A Legacy BIOS should support GPT.

I ran an old HP PC on Windows 7 using a GPT. This setup was limited to 2 TB per partition because of operating system (Win7) limitations.

This is a complex topic. I may have given you incorrect information. Sorry about this.

You can undo the solution.

Your non-UEFI BIOS PC may have problems with a 4 TB HDD, even when using GPT.

A non-UEFI BIOS may be able to see a 4 TB HDD but you may be limited to 2 TB partitions.

Regards

[Grzwacz]

Hi,

I, mostly, do new PC builds having a UEFI BIOS and Win10.

So I have not dealt with this issue in a long time.

I have developed some cobwebs in the brain.

Regards

[Grzwacz]

Hi,

I am eating crow on this one.

Undo the solution.

Don't want to give bad advice causing folks to make bad decisions.

Regards

[Don_]

If only I'd seen this last post last night before I ordered five refurb z400;s this morning!....just kidding.

No problem - I suspected it was too good to be true.  But your answer wasn't completely wrong.  Yes, you can install a 4TB drive and have it work, you just have to partition it into 2x2TB.   Researching that, yes, I see that's likely the case.  It's a workable solution.

Although with that question answered, I think I'll try to see if I can't find a more recent PC that already has UEFI and can take the 4TB drive in a single volume, but is still old enough to be affordable.

Thanks.