Problem: -Zidoo cannot find a new hard drive. -The hard drive was formatted into NTFS using Windows 11 on-board tools -The PC can access the new disk without any problems, the Zidoo doesn't even display it. Not a single solution from various forums helped. E.g. Format directly on the SATA connection, remove drive letters, ExFAT instead of NTFS, cluster sizes change, etc. etc. Today I accidentally came across this solution in the depths of the Internet: When formatting using the on-board tool, Windows 11 probably also creates a secret, hidden system partition in 16MB size! (HDs formatted with Windows 10 apparently do not create this partition and do not cause any problems) This is NOT shown ANYWHERE. What it is supposed to do is not explained. The Zidoos are said to often have problems with this, but Zappitis doesn't. How are you supposed to come up with something like that? I then downloaded the EaseUS partition software (freeware) and it was there hidden partition actually shown! I used EaseUS to delete the hidden 16MB partition and the 6TB partition created normally by Win11 and then reformatted the entire hard drive to NTFS. Test MKV played on it, hard drive into the USB hub and... voila... now the drive is found by Zidoo! He has created an additional ANDROID folder in the FP directory, so he can also access it. I just connected the copied hard drive to the Zidoo UHD5000 and now it works! Hallelujah! Maybe this tip will help someone like me.
Nice sleuthing! I don't think it's "normal" for Windows 11 to create a hidden partition by default, but certainly Android doesn't like such things and I have to say that EaseUS is an awesome bit of kit and should be in everyone's arsenal. Making this a sticky.
Thanks for sharing this! That hidden 16MB system partition from Windows 11 really causes trouble with Zidoo devices. Using EaseUS to fully clean and reformat the drive seems to be the key—great find!
Thanks for this. Ironically, I ran into this today, where one 24TB drive was seen by the UHD8000, and the other was not. I check Windows disk utility, and the hidden partitions not seen. First time I ran EaseUS (lifetime owner, my company actually helped put them on the map decade ago) PM, didn't see them after first install. Crystaldiskinfo reporting all okay. Rebooted, now I can see the 16MB hidden partitions at front. So weird one drive same make/model/production run can be seen by the Zidoo, while the other cannot. Only difference between the two drives, is first one was originally EXFAT then reformatted to NTFS. In any case, thanks for the heads up on this.
okay; weirdest thing is that I have two new Seagate Barracuda 24TB drives; same production run; one is seen by the Zidoo UHD8000 internally after letting it spin a little; the other one can't be seen at all. Both have the hidden "necessary" 16MB hidden partition for Windows GUID non-boot/OS drives. Only difference is that one was originally formatted as EXFAT, then reformatted to NTFS. I am moving everything off the one drive now, and will replace with a WD Red Pro. In this instance I am not 100% sure the 16MB hidden partition is even seen by the Zidoo, and since one drive is seen by the zidoo with the hidden partition under NTFS, and the other is not, kind of perplexing. Very very weird. Both drives pass crystaldiskinfo as good; seagate seatools shows one drive as passing quick test, then the other one says it fails quick test; then vice versa. Also makes no sense. In any case, one drive works; the other does not. Replacing the one that does not. Am not removing the hidden partition on the drives as they already have data on them.
FYI -- Windows makes this partition automatically for GPT (GUID Partition Table) drives; it's called the "MSR:" What is the 16MB reserved partition for? Microsoft reserved partition (MSR) The size of the MSR is 16 MB. The MSR is a reserved partition that does not receive a partition ID. It cannot store user data.
So, defective drive for one of the Segate Barracuda 24TB (reading I'm not only one having issues with the drive make/model). Doh. New WD RED PRO 18TB (with the MSR partition) was read properly by my UHD8000 internally. MSR partition not indicator of inability of the box to read the drives installed internally.
