Run from Ubuntu Live USB to check >2TB disk

check_2tb_support.sh

#!/bin/bash
#
# check_2tb_support.sh
# ASCII-formatted CLI diagnostic for >2TB disk support
# Run from Ubuntu Live USB — NO emoji, no color codes, remote-shell and log-safe

set -e

echo
echo "=================================================="
echo "     2TB+ DISK COMPATIBILITY CHECK (ASCII SAFE)   "
echo "=================================================="

# Step 1: Detect Boot Mode
echo
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
echo "  Step 1: Boot Mode Detection"
echo "--------------------------------------------------"

if [ -d /sys/firmware/efi ]; then
  printf "  %-18s : %s\n" "Boot Mode" "UEFI (Recommended)"
else
  printf "  %-18s : %s\n" "Boot Mode" "Legacy BIOS"
  echo "  [WARNING] Legacy BIOS may not support booting from disks >2TB"
  echo "            Consider switching to UEFI or adding a BIOS boot partition"
fi

# Step 2: List Disks
echo
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
echo "  Step 2: Detected Disks (Device, Size, Model)"
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
lsblk -d -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,TYPE | grep -E 'disk' || echo "  [INFO] No disks detected"

# Step 3: Check Partition Tables
echo
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
echo "  Step 3: Partition Table Types"
echo "--------------------------------------------------"

for dev in /dev/sd?; do
  echo
  echo "  Device: $dev"
  parted_out=$(sudo parted -s "$dev" print 2>/dev/null | grep -E 'Model|Disk|Partition Table')
  if [[ -n "$parted_out" ]]; then
    echo "$parted_out" | sed 's/^/    /'
  else
    echo "    [INFO] No partition table or disk unreadable"
  fi
done

# Step 4: Test GPT Creation
echo
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
echo "  Step 4: Optional GPT Partition Table Test"
echo "--------------------------------------------------"

read -rp "  Enter UNUSED disk (e.g. /dev/sdb) or press [Enter] to skip: " target

if [[ -n "$target" ]]; then
  echo
  echo "  [WARNING] This operation will overwrite the partition table on $target"
  read -rp "  Type 'YES' to proceed: " confirm
  if [[ "$confirm" == "YES" ]]; then
    echo
    echo "  Creating GPT label on $target..."
    sudo parted -s "$target" mklabel gpt
    echo
    echo "  Free space after GPT label applied:"
    sudo parted -s "$target" unit TB print free
  else
    echo "  [INFO] GPT label creation skipped by user"
  fi
else
  echo "  [INFO] Skipped GPT creation test"
fi

# Step 5: SATA / RAID Controllers
echo
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
echo "  Step 5: SATA / RAID Controller Info"
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
lspci | grep -i -E 'sata|raid|storage' || echo "  [INFO] No controller info found"

# Step 6: Kernel Messages
echo
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
echo "  Step 6: Kernel Log for Disk Warnings"
echo "--------------------------------------------------"
dmesg | grep -i 'logical block' || echo "  [INFO] No block size warnings in dmesg"

# Done
echo
echo "=================================================="
echo "               CHECK COMPLETE                     "
echo "=================================================="
echo