SSD Upgrade: New SSD Showing Same Memory?

Upgrading to a new, larger Solid State Drive (SSD) is an exciting way to boost your computer's speed and storage capacity. However, it can be incredibly frustrating when you complete the SSD upgrade new SSD showing same memory as your old, smaller drive. You check Disk Management, and sure enough, Windows is showing wrong memory for SSD, and the extra space you paid for seems to have vanished.

Don't worry, this is a common problem with straightforward solutions. Your new SSD's capacity isn't lost; it's just not accessible yet. This guide will walk you through why this happens and provide detailed, step-by-step methods to fix it and reclaim your full storage potential.

Why an SSD Upgrade New SSD Showing Same Memory?

Understanding the root cause is the first step to solving the problem. Below are the most common reasons why your new, larger SSD isn't showing its full capacity after an upgrade.

Disk Cloning Process

The most frequent culprit is the disk cloning process. When you clone your smaller drive to the new, larger SSD, the cloning software often copies the partition structure exactly. This means if your old drive had a 500GB partition, the new 2TB SSD will also have a 500GB partition, leaving the remaining 1.5TB as "unallocated space." This space is invisible in File Explorer and needs to be manually allocated.

MBR Partition Style Limitation

Another significant reason, especially for drives larger than 2TB, is the partition style. Many older systems use the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition table. MBR has a limitation and cannot recognize or address storage space beyond 2TB. If you've upgraded to a 3TB or 4TB SSD on an MBR-initialized disk, Windows will only see the first 2TB, leading to disk management showing wrong size of hard drive. The solution is to convert the disk from MBR to the newer GUID Partition Table (GPT) style, which supports much larger volumes.

Driver or Formatting Issues

Occasionally, the issue can stem from outdated storage controller drivers or improper formatting. If the drive wasn't initialized or formatted correctly when first installed, it can lead to the SSD drive showing the wrong size.

How to Fix SSD Upgrade New SSD Showing Same Memory

Now that you know the potential causes, let's dive into the solutions. We'll start with a simple fix and move on to more comprehensive methods for resolving partition and formatting issues.

Way 1. Reset the Virtual Memory Paging File

Virtual memory, or the paging file, is a section of your drive that Windows uses as pretend RAM. Sometimes, incorrect settings from the old drive can cause reporting discrepancies. Resetting it can sometimes resolve minor size-related glitches.

Step 1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog. Type sysdm.cpl and press Enter to open System Properties.

Step 2. In the System Properties window, navigate to the Advanced tab and click the Settings... button under the "Performance" section.

Step 3. In the Performance Options window, go to the Advanced tab and click the Change... button under the "Virtual memory" section.

Step 4. Uncheck the box for "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives." Select your C: drive, choose the "No paging file" option, and click Set. Click OK on the warning message.

Step 5. Click OK on all open windows and restart your computer. After rebooting, follow the same steps to re-enable the paging file by checking "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" again and restarting. This process forces Windows to re-evaluate the drive's size.

Way 2. Convert MBR SSD to GPT to Fix Disk Management Showing Wrong Size of Hard Drive

If your new SSD is larger than 2TB and showing the wrong size, the MBR partition style is almost certainly the cause. You must convert it to GPT. While Windows tools like Disk Management can do this, they require you to delete all data first. For a safer, data-loss-free solution, we recommend a professional third-party tool.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a powerful and reliable disk management software designed for Windows users. It allows you to convert an MBR disk to GPT without deleting any partitions or losing data. Its intuitive interface makes complex operations like this simple and secure for users of all skill levels.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Right-click on the new SSD you want to convert (e.g., Disk 2) and select "Convert to GPT" from the menu.

Step 2. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click "OK" to proceed with the conversion.

Step 3. You will return to the main interface where you can preview the change. The disk will now be marked as GPT. Click "Apply" in the top-left corner to execute the operation. The software will complete the process, and after a reboot, Windows will recognize the full capacity of your SSD.

Way 3. Reformat New SSD to Solve SSD Drive Showing Wrong Size

If your drive is still not showing the correct size or if you suspect a formatting error, reformatting the drive is a solid solution. This will erase all data on the drive, so ensure you have backed up anything important. This method effectively creates a new, clean file system, which often corrects size-reporting errors.

Once again, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional provides a more robust and user-friendly way to format drives compared to the standard Windows tools. It offers more control and ensures the process is handled correctly.

Step 1. Open AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click on the partition of your new SSD that you wish to reformat and select "Format Partition."

Step 2. In the pop-up window, you can set the Partition Label, choose the File System (NTFS is recommended for Windows), and select the Cluster Size. Click "OK" to confirm your settings.

Step 3. You will see the pending formatting operation. Click the "Apply" button at the top to execute the format. Once complete, your SSD will be freshly formatted and should report its correct size.

Conclusion

Encountering the "SSD upgrade new SSD showing same memory" problem can be alarming, but it's rarely a sign of a faulty drive. More often than not, the issue lies with how the drive's partitions are configured, especially after cloning or when dealing with drives over 2TB.

By following the methods outlined in this article—from resetting virtual memory to performing more advanced operations like converting to GPT or reformatting—you can effectively solve the problem. Tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional significantly simplify these tasks, offering a secure and user-friendly way to manage your disks without risking data loss.