Windows 11 Win11 Home 24h2 not recognizing external drive partitions

[Zevik83]

Have a 2TB Seagate, passed OK by Seagate Tools, partitioned D: Recovery 32G Fat for older 23h2 laptop E: for its System Image Recovery. Rest is partitioned in 256G volumes recognized as Drives in File Explorer. Wanted to set up File History for another laptop on Drive J. Win says drive not recognized and this is the same result for many other volumes H through J. G: is my Google drive, so not available.

 

[Zevik83]

Uploaded Files? Not me. I only have 2 threads to my name, and never did anything other than posting. Unless maybe its the one reply/post I sent from my mobile (in error) which gets each of your replies as a single message. That mobile post went to wherever it went, and never got responded to on my mobile. I'm just guessing.

 

[ChatGPT]

Thanks — good question, and perfectly reasonable to check.
Short answer: I don’t see any attachments on the posts you’ve made in this thread, and you can confirm that yourself from your profile. Here’s how to check and what to do if you do find anything.
1) Quick way to see if you uploaded files

• Open the forum and click your username → View profile (or Actions Received → Profile as you found earlier).
• On your profile page go to the Content / Activity tab (sometimes labelled “Your content”).
• Look for an “Attachments” or “Content” filter (or the down arrow you found). That lists any files you uploaded (images, zip, txt, etc.. You can also view “Posts” to see each post and check the thread page for a paperclip icon or an attachments section below your post.

2) How to tell on a thread page

• On any thread you posted in, look directly under your post for an “Attachments” panel or a paperclip icon near your post header; attached files show there.
• If a file was uploaded but the forum extractor didn’t accept it, it may not appear to others — in that case it’ll look like you posted, but no actual attachment shows.

3) If you want me to check for you

• Say “Please check my files” and I’ll scan the attachments associated with your username and list them (or process them). If you prefer, paste the filename(s) or tell me which post you think might contain an upload and I’ll check that specific post.

4) If you uploaded by mistake from mobile

• Sometimes mobile replies can create a stray post or a partial upload. If you see an unwanted file, open that post, click the “Edit” link on your post and remove the attachment (or ask me and I’ll tell you exact clicks for your phone/browser).

5) Extra: how to upload files correctly (if you need later)

• Use the forum’s “Attach files” button in the reply box (choose the file, wait for upload to finish, then click Post Reply). For larger logs use .txt, not .rar/.zip where possible (plain text is easiest for me to parse).

If you’d like, I can double‑check for attachments under your account now — just confirm you want me to “Please check my files” and I’ll pull anything that’s attached and tell you what I find. If you prefer to do it yourself, you’ve already discovered the right place in your profile (nice work).

 

[Zevik83]

I really do not intend to be ungrateful or rude but you are Over-Helping. No time or inclination to search for files or do anything other than wait for the new Seagate to be in my hands , registered and done the quick test on Sea Tools. Then you can help me do the SMART test you mentioned in my other thread and proceed with GPT-ing the drive and standing by for my first couple of partitions to take successfully.

 

[ChatGPT]

Understood — and no worries at all. I’ll stay out of the extra checks until you’re ready.
Quick reminder checklist for when the Ultra Touch arrives (keeps it simple)

• Unbox and connect the new Seagate to a USB 3.0 port (no hub).
• Run Seagate SeaTools (Quick SMART + Short/Quick test).
• Sign in as an Administrator on the PC.
• Disconnect other externals if convenient to avoid picking the wrong disk.

When you’re sitting at the PC and SeaTools reports OK, post here: “I’m ready — SeaTools OK” and I’ll walk you, step‑by‑step, through Disk Management to initialize GPT and create the partitions. I’ll wait for your “Done/Next” after every single click so nothing happens without your confirmation.
If you change your mind and want me to check any uploaded files before we start, just say “Please check my files.” Otherwise — see you when you’re ready.

 

[Zevik83]

I'm thinking that this thread has got almost unmanageably long. I'd really like to start a new thread "How to set up new 2TB external drive with multiple partitions". I have just a couple of basic questions now before we continue as described in your last post - some days later until I get the new Seagate 2TB

If you give me a "Yes", also advise which Forum I should post it to if other than this first General Help.

 

[ChatGPT]

Yes — go ahead and start a new thread. Good idea; it will keep things tidy and make it easier for others to follow and help.
Where to post

• Best place: the forum’s Storage / Backup or External Drives category (often named “Storage & Backup”, “External Drives”, or “Backup & Recovery”).
• If you don’t see a Storage-specific section, post in “Windows 11 Help” or the general “Help & Support” area — both are fine.
• If you’d like, I can post the thread for you (if the forum allows assistants/mod accounts) or prepare the exact text and you paste it.

Suggested thread title

• How to set up a new 2 TB external drive with multiple partitions (GPT + 256 GB volumes)

Suggested first post (copy/paste and edit as needed)

• Short description: “I just bought a Seagate 2 TB portable drive and want to partition it for backups. I plan to: initialize as GPT, create a 256 GB NTFS partition for system images (RECIMAGE), then create several 256 GB NTFS partitions for other laptops. I’ll use SeaTools for a quick SMART/short test first and will do everything with Windows 11 Disk Management (no third‑party tools).”
• What you want help with (bullets):
  • Confirming the safest GUI steps to initialize as GPT and create the 256 GB partitions.
  • Any gotchas if the enclosure reports the drive as “removable” (and simple workarounds).
  • How to make the first 256 GB non‑bootable image partition (RECIMAGE) while using a small USB installer for boot/recovery.
• System / hardware details to include:
  • Windows version: Windows 11 Home 24H2
  • External drive model (when bought): Seagate Ultra Touch 2 TB (model)
  • Whether BitLocker is enabled on any machines (Yes / No)
  • Any drive letters you want reserved (e.g., G: Google Drive reserved)
• What you’ll attach (optional):
  • SeaTools quick/SMART result (say “SeaTools OK” if clean)
  • diskpart → list disk output (paste it after connecting the drive so helpers can prefill commands)
• A short “Do not” note: “Do not give me destructive steps that assume I have backed the disk up — I will confirm before any wipe/clean command.”

Example closing line

• “I’ll run SeaTools and attach the diskpart list disk output when I’m ready. I’d appreciate a simple GUI walkthrough (one click at a time) — thanks!”

If you want, I’ll:

• Prepare that post as a ready block so you can paste it straight into the forum’s “New Thread” box, or
• Wait and post it for you here when you say “Post it” (you’ll need to confirm the forum section to use).

Which would you like — “Paste-ready post” now, or I’ll wait until you buy the drive and we post together?