Solved Partition options grayed out


E

ElizabethW

Active member
Local time
9:24 AM
Posts
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OS
Windows 11
version 24H2

I am trying to set up an external drive for backup purposes.

I select the partition that I want to modify but all the options are greyed out and I cannot therefore assign a drive letter. I am using an administrator account. How do I proceed?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
Are you using the built-in Disk Management tool or a 3rd party program?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
In Disk Management, select and hold (or right-click) the disk you want to initialize, and then select Initialize Disk. If the disk is listed.

You can if you want to use third-party partition manager.

Best Partition Magic Alternative for Windows PC and Server

As the best partition magic alternative, MiniTool Partition Wizard is the latest partition manager software for Windows 11/10/8/7 and Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.
www.minitool.com
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
FreeBooter said:
In Disk Management, select and hold (or right-click) the disk you want to initialize, and then select Initialize Disk. If the disk is listed.

You can if you want to use third-party partition manager.

Best Partition Magic Alternative for Windows PC and Server

As the best partition magic alternative, MiniTool Partition Wizard is the latest partition manager software for Windows 11/10/8/7 and Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.
www.minitool.com
Click to expand...
The problem is that "Initialize Disk" and all other options are greyed out and cannot be accessed
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
1) have you tried to Intialize the disk as @FreeBooter mentioned?

2) if you have and it is still greyed out, can you open Command Prompt as Admin, run

Code: 
diskpart
{Enter}
Code: 
list disk
{Enter}

and post a screenshot of the output here please?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
dacrone said:
1) have you tried to Intialize the disk as @FreeBooter mentioned?

2) if you have and it is still greyed out, can you open Command Prompt as Admin, run

Code: 
diskpart
{Enter}
Code: 
list disk
{Enter}

and post a screenshot of the output here please?
Click to expand...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
This is the output. Disk 1 is the one that has the greyed-out options
1735850167419.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
And here is the screen with the greyed-out options

1735850465067.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
just to verify before providing anymore instructions... is there any data on that drive that you need/want to keep? in your initial post, you had stated "partition", but am wondering if you meant "disk" that you want to use for backups. if you don't have data that you want to keep, i can proceed to provide more instructions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
dacrone said:
just to verify before providing anymore instructions... is there any data on that drive that you need/want to keep? in your initial post, you had stated "partition", but am wondering if you meant "disk" that you want to use for backups. if you don't have data that you want to keep, i can proceed to provide more instructions.
Click to expand...
No - nothing I want to keep
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
ok. open command prompt as admin and run the follow commands:

Code: 
list disk
select disk #
format fs=ntfs label=Backup
assign letter=D

replace # with number of disk you want here (would be 1 based on your other screenshot)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
dacrone said:
ok. open command prompt as admin and run the follow commands:

Code: 
list disk
select disk #
format fs=ntfs label=Backup
assign letter=D

replace # with number of disk you want here (would be 1 based on your other screenshot)
Click to expand...
Here is what happens. Does not format - looking for a volume
1735851291026.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
try this:

Code: 
list disk
sel disk #
list vol
sel vol #
format fs=ntfs label=Backup
assign letter=D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
Here is what happens. These volumes are all on disk zero as far as i know. Therefor I did not try the format.

1735852334761.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
yes, those all appear to be on Disk 0. the disk you attempting to use may be going bad. but lets try this to see if it will recognize the ability to initialize / format it. download and extract Minitool Portable Partition Magic and run the 'partitionwizard.exe' file in the extracted folder.

download links to 32 & 64bit are under step #2

www.partitionwizard.com

MiniTool Portable Partition Magic Brings Easier Disk Management

Free download portable partition software - MiniTool portable partition magic to manage disks and partitions on Windows PC.
www.partitionwizard.com www.partitionwizard.com
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
dacrone said:
yes, those all appear to be on Disk 0. the disk you attempting to use may be going bad. but lets try this to see if it will recognize the ability to initialize / format it. download and extract Minitool Portable Partition Magic and run the 'partitionwizard.exe' file in the extracted folder.

download links to 32 & 64bit are under step #2

www.partitionwizard.com

MiniTool Portable Partition Magic Brings Easier Disk Management

Free download portable partition software - MiniTool portable partition magic to manage disks and partitions on Windows PC.
www.partitionwizard.com www.partitionwizard.com
Click to expand...
OK - did that and the create command finished successfully. But No change - partition options still grayed out
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
parition magic created a partition on the disk and you clicked "apply" and it said successful, but the disk is still not showing properly? did you "rescan disks" in disk management after running partition magic?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
dacrone said:
parition magic created a partition on the disk and you clicked "apply" and it said successful, but the disk is still not showing properly? did you "rescan disks" in disk management after running partition magic?
Click to expand...
Yes - ran disk management again but still not showing properly - still grayed out
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    16 GB
    Hard Drives
    SSD
Hi,

It is a GPT Protective Partition.
Search what it is and how to get rid off it.
The explanation is on the EaseUS web site.

Ciao, Han
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    WIN 11 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinpad X1 Yoga 3gen
    CPU
    i7-8550U
    Memory
    16 GB lpddr3
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    NVME SSD 2TB Samsung PM981
    Mouse
    Logitech M720
    Internet Speed
    350 Mbps down and up from 500 advertised on WiFi
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Security, Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Acronis TrueImage 2019
  • Operating System
    Win 11 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Tiny M920x
    CPU
    i7-8700T
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Sound Card
    MOTU M4
    Monitor(s) Displays
    DELL P2418D
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    NVME SSD 2TB Samsung PM981a
    NVME SSD 1TB Samsung PM981a
    SSD Sandisk 1T Sata
    Mouse
    Logitech M590
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Security, Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Acronis TrueImage 2019
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