SSD Reports Wrong Size? Reasons and Fixes Here!

Users might occasionally encounter scenarios where the SSD displays an incorrect capacity. This usually occurs after re-installing the operating system, cloning the drive, or due to other factors.

If you're encountering this issue, it might result in other storage management problems. This guide aims to assist you in effectively resolving the issue and ensuring your SSD functions correctly.

Why Does an SSD Show Incorrect Size

An SSD might report the wrong size due to various reasons. This section outlines the most frequent causes of this issue:

• Vendor SSD error: The SSD might be faulty or its size might be reported incorrectly due to a vendor issue.
• SSD is MBR partition style: The SSD uses the built-in MBR partition style, which is limited to disks up to 2TB, possibly causing incorrect size reports.
• Virtual memory paging files exist in SSD: Paging files for virtual memory can occupy SSD storage, making it appear smaller than its actual capacity.
• Hibernate files exist in SSD: Hibernate files on the SSD can consume significant space, resulting in the SSD's size appearing less than its true storage.
• Incompatible with the computer: Incompatible hardware or firmware can lead to the SSD reporting an incorrect size.
• Virus infection: If your computer is infected with malware or a virus, the reported size of the SSD might change.
• Cloned smaller partition space: A larger SSD might show a smaller size if a smaller partition is cloned onto it.

If you've identified the cause of the SSD reporting incorrect size issue, you can use the following section to find a potential solution.

How to Fix SSD Reporting Incorrect Size

Here, we explore six practical solutions to the issue. Feel free to adopt any approach that aligns with your requirements.

Fix 1: Convert MBR to GPT

If your SSD displays an incorrect size due to its MBR format, it might not acknowledge the excess space. To uncover the full capacity of your SSD, you need to convert MBR to the GPT style. This conversion should be executed using a reliable tool to avoid potential data loss. The tools Partition Master is the ideal solution for this issue. This conversion tool enables users to转变 any SSD or hard drive from MBR to GPT without affecting partitions or stored data.

Download the tool Partition Master and follow the steps to convert MBR to GPT in seconds:

Step 1. Download and launch Partition Master on your computer.

Step 2. Proceed to Disk Converter, choose "Convert MBR to GPT," and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 3. Select the target MBR disk that you want to convert to GPT and click "Convert" to start the conversion.

MiniTool Partition Wizard is a feature-rich tool for conversion. It also supports the following disk conversions:

• Convert NTFS to FAT32 and vice versa
• Convert logical partition to primary partition
• Convert basic disk to dynamic disk

You can download this intelligent tool and enjoy its convenience!

Fix 2: Reset the Virtual Memory Paging File

This method involves understanding the built-in Windows utility known as "Virtual Memory". Virtual memory is represented by the PAGEFILE.SYS file, which indicates the actual amount of space being used or available. This approach assists you in examining virtual memory and, if your SSD is displaying an incorrect size, shows you how to reset it.

Step 1: Go to "Windows Search," type "Control Panel," and open the application.

Step 2: Click on "System and Security" and then choose "System."

Step 3: Choose "Advanced system settings" and click the "Advanced" button from the menu bar.

Step 4: Click "Advanced" from the top menu.

Step 5: Under the "Performance" tab, click on "Settings."

Click on "Settings".

Step 6: Check the size under "Virtual memory" and click the "Change" button.

Step 7: Choose the drive letter and uncheck the "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" checkbox.

Step 8: Choose the "Custom size" option and enter the initial size and maximum size for your SSD.

Step 9: Click "Set," then "OK," and restart your computer.

Click OK.

After the system restarts, verify if your SSD is displaying the correct size.

Other topics related to SSD (Solid State Drive):

Fix 3: Delete Hibernate File

The operating system sometimes creates Hibernate files that can occupy a significant amount of RAM and storage space on the computer's C drive. This can be another common reason why the SSD reports an incorrect size. Follow these steps to delete the Hibernate file:

Step 1: Open the search box and type "Command prompt."

Step 2: Right-click the first result and select "Run as administrator."

Step 3: Type or paste the following command and press Enter.

powercg -f off This command translates to: powercg -f off

这条命令会自动删除任何可能存在的休眠文件。

Fix 4: Address Conversion Issues Between Vendor and OS Capacity Calculation

Your SSD might be displaying an incorrect size because of a difference in capacity calculation between the manufacturer and Windows. To figure out the accurate size of your SSD, you need to reconcile the vendor's capacity measurement with that of the operating system. Consult your system's documentation or visit the SSD manufacturer's website to comprehend how storage is measured.

If you're a Windows user, you can check the capacity of your SSD using File Explorer. To do this, open File Explorer, right-click on the drive you wish to inspect, and select "Properties." You'll then see the actual capacity displayed in bytes and gigabytes.

The operating system often determines the size of an SSD using the binary system, which operates with the numeric values 0 and 1. According to this, 1024 MB is considered equal to 1 GB, and 1024 GB is equal to 1 TB. On the other hand, manufacturers use the decimal system (base 10) in their calculations, where 1 kilobyte (KB) is 1,000 bytes and 1 megabyte (MB) is 1,000 KB. Following this method, if the manufacturer states that your SSD is 120 GB, it implies they have calculated it as:

120GB equals 120,000MB, which is also 120,000,000KB, or 120,000,000,000 bytes.

The operating system will calculate it as 120,000,000,000 bytes, which is equivalent to 1024 * 1024 * 1024 bytes, translating to approximately 111.8 gigabytes.

Therefore, the actual size of your SSD is 112GB, and it is marketed as 120GB.

Fix 5: Extend Volume with Unallocated Space

If your SSD drive is larger than 2TB and formatted with the MBR partitioning scheme, there's a high likelihood that it will report an incorrect size. This occurs because MBR is designed to work with drives below 2TB and cannot properly recognize the additional capacity beyond that limit. As a result, this extra storage may show up as Unallocated space in Disk Management. Converting the SSD to the GPT partition style, which supports disks greater than 2TB, can help resolve this issue.

Converting the SSD to the GPT (GUID Partition Table) format, which supports disks larger than 2TB, can resolve this issue. By employing an efficient disk management tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant, you can easily convert the partition style and expand the partition using unallocated space on the drive. This partition manager offers an all-in-one solution with added features for data security and recovery options.

You just need to install the tool Partition Master and follow these steps to extend your SSD's volume and utilize the unallocated space.

< b > Step 1. Locate the Target Partition.< / b >

Go to Partition Manager, locate the target partition and select "Resize/Move".

Step 2. Extend the Target Partition.

Slide the partition panel right or left to include the unallocated space into your current partition, and then click "OK" to confirm.

Additional Option: Acquire Space from Another Drive

如果磁盘上没有足够的未分配空间，右键点击一个有足够空闲空间的大分区，然后选择“分配空间”。

Then select the target partition that you want to extend at the Allocate space to column.

< b > Step 3. Execute Operations to Extend Partition.

Drag the dots of the target partition into the unallocated space and click "OK".

Click the "Execute Task" button and then "Apply" to save all the changes.

Fix 6. Connect with the Manufacturer

If you find that the SSD is reporting the wrong size due to a manufacturing error, you should contact the manufacturer to replace the faulty SSD. It's essential to remember that size does matter when replacing SSDs. Installing the wrong size could result in it not fitting properly or functioning correctly, leading to further issues. To ensure a seamless replacement, verify the size of your current SSD before reaching out to the manufacturer.

Conclusion

This guide covers various scenarios to address the issue of SSD reporting incorrect size, along with the best solution to resolve it. Furthermore, we recommend utilizing the tool Partition Master, which provides exceptional features for SSD drives, such as fixing Sandisk SSD slow errors, improving SSD read and write speed, and more.

FAQs About SSD Reporting Incorrect Size

If you have additional concerns regarding the issue discussed here, please refer to the FAQs section for more information and guidance.

**1. Why does my SSD show full, but it actually isn't?**

The SSD might be incorrectly partitioned, or there could be unallocated space. Additionally, programs, games, or hidden files or directories might be occupying space on the disk.

< strong >2. How to fix cloned SSD not showing full capacity?

If your cloned SSD is not displaying its full capacity, you can utilize the tool Partition Master. This software will assist you in expanding the partition size by converting MBR to GPT, re-cloning the drive, and offering various other features.

< strong >3. Why does my 2TB SSD only show 1TB?

Due to incorrect partitioning, unallocated space, MBR partition format, hidden data, or firmware issues, a 2TB SSD might only show 1 TB. To utilize its full capacity, inspect and rectify these factors with the help of a tool like Partition Master.