I am running Win XP Pro which has SP 1 plus all patches short of SP 2. I now have three HDs; a 120gb as C:, 200gb as D:, and 200gb as G:. The bios recognizes the two 200gb drives as 200gb (reporting them as 183 or 187gb). However, when initializing and formatting, Windows says the maximum size is about 131gb. How can I get it to use the full drive?
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Overcome limits on HD size.
- Thread starter kiddpete
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #3
Well, there's no trick to get 48-bit LBA enabled. WinXP SP1 has it turned on by default.
Therefore, the problem must be with formatting. Just to make sure:
1) You are using NTFS as the file format right?
2) Are you formatting the drive within Windows after you applied all critical updates including SP1?
3) Do both 200GB drives have the same issue?
~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
Therefore, the problem must be with formatting. Just to make sure:
1) You are using NTFS as the file format right?
2) Are you formatting the drive within Windows after you applied all critical updates including SP1?
3) Do both 200GB drives have the same issue?
~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
- Thread starter
- #5
It's occuring before I get to formatting. When I set up the partition, it's telling me the max size is 131gb. It hasn't asked about the file system at that point (it is a disk wizard).
Yes, it is both drives. How is 48-bit LBA turned on? The MS KB talked about a registry entry for EnableBigLba. My registry did not have this parameter under the atapi key. I tried to add it, but not sure I used the right data type. I used a string value (REG_SZ).
Yes, it is both drives. How is 48-bit LBA turned on? The MS KB talked about a registry entry for EnableBigLba. My registry did not have this parameter under the atapi key. I tried to add it, but not sure I used the right data type. I used a string value (REG_SZ).
If you have XP Service Pack 1, then the registry key does nothing. 48-bit LBA is already active. It even says that in the MS KB article that you were reading:
Can you confirm whether or not SP1 is properly installed?
~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
Can you confirm whether or not SP1 is properly installed?
~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
- Thread starter
- #7
It's a clean install of XP Pro where the CD includes SP 1. The system says it's SP 1, and there are no other problems so far. It's a fresh CD from Alienware and a full install because the old C: failed. The only anomaly I know of is that ATAPI.SYS is version 5.1.2600.1135 which was downloaded based on the MS KB article as part of hotfix Q331958. It replaced version 5.1.2600.1106.
- Thread starter
- #8
nipester,
Unfortunately not. In kiddpete's original post, he stated that the BIOS sees the full amount (over 180GB).
kiddpete,
I'm at a loss. Your BIOS and OS are both compliant for 48-bit LBA. Perhaps you can use a Win98 bootdisk and fdisk to wipe any partitions and try formatting again. If that doesn't do it, consider using the latest version of Partition Magic or DiskImage.
~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
Unfortunately not. In kiddpete's original post, he stated that the BIOS sees the full amount (over 180GB).
kiddpete,
I'm at a loss. Your BIOS and OS are both compliant for 48-bit LBA. Perhaps you can use a Win98 bootdisk and fdisk to wipe any partitions and try formatting again. If that doesn't do it, consider using the latest version of Partition Magic or DiskImage.
~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
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