Problem when Windows XP tries to install a 200GB hard drive [western digital] [partition]
Q: I tried to run Windows XP (SP1 without intergrted) in a Western Digital 200GB JB, but when the OS asks for the partition to “see” only 130GB. Is there a solution so that Windows XP is the full size of the disk? Thanks!
Best Answer: If your computer cannot change the SATA controller to "IDE mode", you need to use a floppy disk with the disk controller driver and to load it during the WinXP install. The windows installer will ask you if you want to load SCSI drivers, so you press F6 (I think) when asked about it and load the driver from the floppy.
But if you don't have a floppy drive, you will need to build a new windows XP install CD with the drivers for the disk controller… it isn't easy, I tryed to do it once, but I wasn't able to do…
Re:The problem is related with Windows XP. The one with SP1 does'n have this issue. You can see the the article 303013 in Microsoft knowledge base for more details. I used an Ata 100 promise controller with XP without sp1 but it is important to use the drivers provided by the promise disk because the ones that come with Windows XP "see" the disk as 130gb only
Re:You might want to try to partition the drive first, install XP on a <136GB partition, and then use partition magic to merge all the partitions together.
-guy
Re:try to get/make a copy of XP with SP1 integrated. There have been several posts about how to do it.
-=guy=-
Re:Do you have a drive with XP already on it? maybe try formatting the 200GB drive in XP from the other drive
Re:I have GigaByte 8pe667 so i don't think the problem is related with the bios because it is shown as 200gb. Maybe the problem is related with the version of winxp that i have (greek). You think i should try to format it with Partition Magic 8 or with the western digital utility?
Re:WinXP supports such large hardisks just fine.
Your motherboard is at fault here.
To address more than 137GB your motherboard's IDE controller needs to support 48-bit LBA. Otherwise you will only be able to use the first 130ish GB of your hardisk. Only recent motherboards support 48-bit LBA. (Any motherboard that advertises ATA133 capability supports 48-bit LBA.)
What motherboard do you have? Its possible there could be a BIOS update to add 48-bit LBA support. If not your only option at this point is to buy a PCI IDE card that supports 48-bit. A PCI IDE card will bypass your motherboard's limitations.
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Tags: partition, western digital