Windows can only see disks larger than 2TB IF it is a GPT disk, HOWEVER ... Windows cannot BOOT to a GPT disk, UNLESS ... you install a 64-bit version onto a GPT disk on a UEFI-enabled system.
You cannot convert and keep your data - you would need to reinstall.
You would have to be using the 64-bit version of Server 2008.
The catch? The PowerEdge 2950 does NOT support UEFI.
The workaround? You can do one of two things:
1. Create two 2TB RAID 1's. Both RAID 1's will be small enough for Windows to work with without any problems.
2. Create two Virtual Disks (arrays) across your four disks - VD0 will be 100GB, and VD1 will use the remaining space. You will do this in the CTRL-R utility during POST. First, delete the existing VD. Second, configure a new VD; specify the size as 100GB, checking the Advanced and Initialize boxes. After creating your 100GB RAID 5 (VD0), then install Windows to that. After Windows is installed, then create a second RAID 5 VD (can be done from OMSA in Windows). Once you have configured and initialized this VD, then convert that disk (Windows will see each VD as a separate "disk") to GPT.
theflash1932
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16.3K Posts
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July 28th, 2012 08:00
Windows can only see disks larger than 2TB IF it is a GPT disk, HOWEVER ... Windows cannot BOOT to a GPT disk, UNLESS ... you install a 64-bit version onto a GPT disk on a UEFI-enabled system.
The catch? The PowerEdge 2950 does NOT support UEFI.
The workaround? You can do one of two things:
1. Create two 2TB RAID 1's. Both RAID 1's will be small enough for Windows to work with without any problems.
2. Create two Virtual Disks (arrays) across your four disks - VD0 will be 100GB, and VD1 will use the remaining space. You will do this in the CTRL-R utility during POST. First, delete the existing VD. Second, configure a new VD; specify the size as 100GB, checking the Advanced and Initialize boxes. After creating your 100GB RAID 5 (VD0), then install Windows to that. After Windows is installed, then create a second RAID 5 VD (can be done from OMSA in Windows). Once you have configured and initialized this VD, then convert that disk (Windows will see each VD as a separate "disk") to GPT.