Installing Windows XP >137GB HDD - No Maxblast 3

[Hunter97321]

I was wondering how to install Windows XP on a 160gb Maxtor drive without using the maxblast software. I had everything up and working using the maxblast software, then I installed SP1, then formatted the unpartitioned space. When I tried to reboot it would make it to the splash screen and reboot itself. I tried to use the recovery features of the Windows XP disk but apparently the maxblast software makes it so Windows doesn't recognize the partitions. I don't mind if there is 2 or 3 partitions but, I would like to be able to utilize all of the HDD.

Here's what I'm working with.
Maxtor Ultra Series 160GB 7200RPM Ultra ATA/133 HDD
MSI k7n2 Delta L
AMD Athlon 2600+
512MB Dual Channel PC3500
Plextor PX708A DVD-RW
ASUS 52X CDROM
Saphire - ATI 128MB DDR Video Card
Windows XP Pro w/o SP1

 

[Blujacket]

Does the BIOS recognize the hard drive properly? If so, MaxBlast shouldn't be needed.

What I've done when the BIOS gets the correct drive size is boot to a Win98SE floppy with the updated fdisk file from Microsoft, create a Primary DOS partition at 50% and then the Extended partition at the remaining 50% and create a Logical partition in the Extended of 100%. Then install Windows in the C: partition.

 

[wolluf]

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/servi...ail.php?L_kind=1&UID=436&NA=K7N2 Delta Series

says this board can support 160GB drive - so you should be able to do a clean install without maxblast - BUT I think you'll need a SP1 version of XP install CD for XP to recognise the full size of the disk (otherwise see

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013).

You can create one - eg

http://www.etplanet.com/download/guides/nero.html.

what you haven't said is if you need to retrieve data from the current messed up installation.

 

[linney]

These (first two) refer to drives over 137GB in XP.

331958 - Hard Disk May Become Corrupted When Entering Standby or Hibernation or When Writing a Memory Dump

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;331958&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

303013 - How to Enable 48-bit Logical Block Addressing Support for ATAPI Disk Drives in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm

 

[Hunter97321]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately, I had to get the system completed and reinstalled using the Maxblast software. The MSI board and/or Windows XP Pro didn't recognize the HDD as 160gb without Maxblast. So I did all I could and sent the computer out the door.

It was a clean install and I didn't need any information from the hard drive.

I couldn't find a way to remove the Maxblast once it was installed and in the future I will try without Maxblast first.

 

[bcastner]

Hunter97321,

I am concerned that this install will come to haunt you.

#1. Linney's notes above in particular (my edit):

331958 - Hard Disk May Become Corrupted When Entering Standby or Hibernation or When Writing a Memory Dump

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;331958

303013 - How to Enable 48-bit Logical Block Addressing Support for ATAPI Disk Drives in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013

The first link is a silent killer, waiting to happen. It does not matter if you never use hibernation or standby.

#2. Bluejacket & Wolluf both commented that rather than MAXBLAST, format the disk under Win98SE with full 48-Bit LBA extensions, and then install XP and let it partition the drive and install. If you do not have the right boot for Win98SE with LBA:

http://www.mirrors.org/archived_software/www.bootdisk.com/winfiles1/boot98se.exe

This is a technical note on my part, not a personal criticism.

I will add as an original contribution to this discussion for future reference, that for > 137 Gigabyte drives I make a registry change to prevent filter problems:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q823774

Bill Castner