Maxtor overinflated HDD capacity claim

I was trying to clone a HDD (Quantum Fireball).

Quantum Fireball Plus LM 3.5 series labeled 10 GB had 9798 MB, while a Maxtor 51024U2 labeled 10.2 GB had 9771 MB.

Since the cloning software must clone to the same size or to a larger size, I was unable to follow through. I can understand if they want to round up, but why would Maxtor add a .2 GB to the label when they don't even have 10 GB.

 

Are any of your HDDs partioned (SP)? If so, that could explain the difference in size. I have a 100 gb SATA HDD partioned into 2 equal parts and each part is only 46.6 gigs. A partion does take up space.

 

Don't think so. I tried HD Clone drive to drive and that's what is says - I have 9771 MB on the Maxtor.

Checked with HDD Scan and Recover and says I have 9770 MB.

 

Most of this type of software is pretty stupidly programmed. They should check how much actual data is wriitten to the "old" hard drive (not the formatted capacity) and if it will fit on the "new" drive (formatted capacity), with room to spare, then the cloning should go ahead, IMO.

I know this doesn't address your problem. Can you return / sell your "new" drive and get the same make and model as your "old" drive. Or can you get a "new" drive that is definitely bigger in formatted capacity than your "old" drive?

Bazza

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HDD manufactures use a decimal system to measure storage space (1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes) where as windows uses a binary system (1GB=1,073,741,824 bytes) there is nothing wrong with your HD nor is Maxtor trying to "trick" you.

Here are two sites that explain it nicely.

http://forum.pcmech.com
/showthread.php?t=118330

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/geom/formatBinary-c.html

As to your problem Acronis True Image can clone a HD to another HD of a different size.

 

I realize that this isn't my post, but thanks for that info concerning how the capacity is measured. I didn't know that. THANKS!!!