Transferring data off a GPT protected HD
January 24th, 2020
I had Win 7 x64 installed with constant compatibility issues with much needed and daily used software.
Maybe the particular software’s are outdated? Checked for newer versions? How bout trying
alternative ones? Also, Some software’s have a 64bit version (Which would be more suitable if you’re running a 64bit OS) and have you kept your windows updated? Apart form security updates, There are also updates that improve performance and compatibility, So keeping it updated is important! Also, 3rd party versions tend to have all kinds of problems (Not sure if you’ve used such or an untouched copy, But just saying) Anyways, Win7 x64 has excellent software compatibility overall. There’s definitely something you missed out on!
Do I have to have a Win7 x64 OS installed to even transfer the data?
It could be x86 (32-bit) too, But no, It’s not a must.
Odds are that you could access the data with the following app just fine:
http://2baksa.net/news/88081/
If not, Then you could use a Linux Live CD (I.E Partedmagic/Puppy Precise/Fuduntu)
So here's my question: why does the WD work on either/or?
It probably uses the MBR partition table (Which is universally compatible)
GPT is supported only on XP 64BIT/Vista/Win7/Win8 (And Linux too of course)
For the record, GPT is only essential if the partition is larger than 2TB, Otherwise, MBR would be fine.
Of all the internal HDs, the largest is only 2TB. So why it changed everything is beyond me. The drive is recognized but no letter is assigned and nothing shows up in disc manager other than there is a drive there with a GPT partition. No way to access it. My software is not that old. MUCH would install then not even open in 7, or would install then have a dll error upon opening. I have commercial audio editing software I use and it would install but not open any previous file. I have an actual hard copy of 7 (nothing downloaded) and it had been glitchy since Day 1 with the mouse intermittently freezing (you could fix it by unplugging the mouse then replugging it back in), then even that stopped working. Then the keyboard started. ALL Win7 and driver updates were done. Finally a week ago, it all froze and I couldn’t even get it to reboot. When it did, I got the blue screen with a “boot error”. It wouldn’t even go to safe mode. I installed the original disc and did a “repair”. It ran for awhile, ending and saying it had repaired it. Rebooted and blue screen again. After a second try, it did boot but every icon on the desktop was gone except for my computer and the recycle bin. Any icon you clicked on in the quick start menu would error “file not found – would you like to delete the shortcut”. When I went into the accessory directory to do a restore, it was completely empty. Nothing there – at all. I’ve since reisntalled XP Pro and everything works great and smooth like before. I’ll go Linux soon enough but want nothing more to do with Win 7. It will make a great coaster or ebay item. Thanks very much for the link. Will get on that ASAP.
Go to disk management, right click on the drive in question, select change drive letter and path, and assign it a new letter, you should then be able to access the data on it, if its a storage drive being GPT or MBR should make no difference. A GPT partitiion is only required if it is larger than 2TB as Roberto said, or you have selected to set up for UEFI boot (UEFI BIOS required) where it is required whatever size the drive is.
It doesn’t work. In disc manager, all descriptions of the drive is “highlighted” out. There is no letter and all buttons in disc manager do not work to change it. I’ll get a screen capture of it and post it in a bit. I also found that when I pulled the HD, I was unable to connect it to another PC and extract data off of it like I have done in the past with XP and even Vista crashes. A MS “tech’ said that I couldn’t do that because Win 7 Ultimate (what I was running) is 128bit encrypted. UFB.
I have read that “Mediafour’s GPT Mounter” software will work but some have tried it and still no luck so I was hesitant to throw $ at that (none are to be found here).
This from MS:
Q.Can the 32-bit version of Windows XP read, write, and boot from GPT disks?
A.No. The 32-bit version will see only the Protective MBR. The EE partition will not be mounted or otherwise exposed to application software.
Have you tried UFS Explorer yet?
MS "tech' said that I couldn't do that because Win 7 Ultimate (what I was running) is 128bit encrypted.
Unless you’ve actually used Bitlocker/Truecrypt or similar to encrypt it, This would be BS!
My software is not that old.
Mind being more specific?
Which software is it exactly? Also, What version?
If it’s compatible with Win7 x64, It should’ve worked perfectly fine (Unless there’s another
problem, As noted below)
I have an actual hard copy of 7 (nothing downloaded) and it had been glitchy since Day 1
I know plenty of others who had the opposite experience!
Win7 is actually one of M$ stablest OS’s to date. Blaming the OS is easy, But to be honest, There
could be a number of other reasons for the issues your describing, Such as:
1. A bad copy (I know you haven’t downloaded it, But still)
You could try an untouched one with SP1.
2. A virus.
3. Some kind of registry corruption (Avoid using”registry cleaners”, They can easily delete
the wrong entries and wreak havoc on your OS!)
4. A BIOS incompatibility of a sort. See if an update is available.
5. For the BSODs, I’d say it was some kind driver incompatibility or an HDD problem (Better get it checked with hard disk sentinel just to be on the safe side)
Most of the software I prefer is 2006-2010. DVD copy programs and coders, audio editors, etc. Also some circuit architecture software. None of them are available in x64 (I’ve checked). The HD I was using was an SSD. I reinstalled Win7, using a different original (this one a student’s version) from a friend, but after attempting to install software that got dll errors at first start up, I pulled it and installed a WD Raptor I had for XP Pro. To access the files I swapped out the SSD again and within 20 minutes my mouse began to hang again (a google of this shows scores of people having this same issue – not with Win 7 x32 but as soon as they go to x64). With XP – its fine. I expected to get defenses of Win 7, but I’m not crazy about its appearance either – am used to XP so will stay with that until I’m comfortable with Linux. My first (and last) impression of 7 isn’t good. This changing of the HD format was the last straw. If I HAD to, I have another original hard copy available to me of Win 7 x32 and x64. My only other theory with these glitch problems is a MB (Gigabyte) issue – dunno. I’m not fond of it (preferred an Asus or Intel) as it doesn’t have enough sata ports anyways.
Is it a 3TB drive? I have a 3TB WD MyBook Studio that I still have not been able to use in XP and I have tried quite a few tricks. Luckily I don’t use XP on any of my machines to it’s not a big deal for me, but remember that, it can be tricky.
Nope. I have 6 internal HDs. Most are 750GB and 1 is a 2TB. Funny – all the software I’ve had issues with I’ve gone to their sites and ALL say they are compatible with Win 7 x64. Yet when they install, they either will not open or I get a dll error and it closes within seconds. I’m going to see if there is a way to test the MB for compatibility issues. I have an SSD that is dual booted – if I am in 7, my mouse begins to glitch within 20 min. In XP….its perfect. That and the fact Gigabyte doesn’t offer any USB 3.0 support for XP.
Of my 6 internals, I have been going through one at a time and copying all the files off on a WD 2TB portable, then dumping them into my old PC (an i5) – which is kind of my tri-nary backup . I’ll reformat the drives as MBR’s and then recopy the files back onto them. I think what made this whole issue was when I got this PC, all the HDs were new and I formatted them in Win7 x64 …thus, the GPT effect. From what I understand, x64 will use MBR and GPT, but XP only MBR. Regardless what happens from here on, I’ll probably always have at least one PC with XP x32, so I prefer to have them all in a format accessible by both. This MB didn’t have enough SATA drives so 2 were added with a PCI card. Those 2 HDs were not even recognized in Win7 – was nowhere in disc manager, but did show in the device manager. Properties showed it to be a “foreign drive” which was easy to change and access. I’ll stay with XP until more x64 software surfaces and its proven 7 isn’t the buggy mess its been for me.