Windows XP Pro not detecting total drive capacity

K

Krusty

Geek Trainee
Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forums and I have to say that it looks like a great place for resources :-)

I have recently purchased a new Dell Dimension 4700 P4 3.0Ghz 800FSB, 512MB RAM and a 250GB Hard drive with Windows XP Home Edition and I have to say that it works like a dream, however, due to personal computing demands I have decided to install Windows XP Pro. I put in the original XP Pro CD and boot up from it but when I reach the disk partition part of the install, it is only showing 130GB! I then removed the CD and put in the XP Home Edition and tried to run an install of that to see if the problem reoccurrs and no, it picks up a 250GB hard disk. Confused! I checked out my BIOS and it has detected a 250GB SATA drive and it is the latest BIOS version for my model.

I called the Dell support line and they advised me that the reason that this might be happening is because I need to install the 64-bit version of XP Pro on my pc for it to detect the 250GB drive - but this pc has a 32-bit architecture? What gives? Any ideas please? I just want to find out before I go out and buy the 64-bit version of XP.

Many thanks in advance everyone :-)

Krusty
 
You'll have to upgrade to Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 in order to make use of the full drive size. You DO NOT need XP 64-bit, and that Dell tech support guy is wrong. You're running into a 137GB hard drive size barrier. You're hardware looks like it supports it, but XP didn't come out with support for these larger hard drives when it was released. Among other things, Service Pack 1 added support for large hard drives. You can also get Service Pack 2 for even more support. You do not need to upgrade to SP 1 then SP2, as service packs are cumulative.
Service Packs are free, as well.

Install XP Pro, then go the Microsoft's site and upgrade to SP2.
Now, right click on My Computer-->Manage. Go to Disk Management so you can see all the drives that are hooked up to the system. Now you can go ahead and create more partitions.

If you want to have XP support the full size of the hard drive off the bat, you'll have to slipstream SP 1 or 2 and burn the slipstreamed copy onto disc. Off-hand I don't have a link on how to do this, but run a Google search for it. I don't know how confident you are in doing something like this, but the process is more than a few small steps.
 
LOL 64Bit Version!?

Sorry let me laugh that suggestion off HAHAHAHHAHA :good:
Windows only has a Beta version of the 64Bit out, and it is not stable and it is not good, + ur pc is 32bit as you said.

Anyway onto your drive problem, each version of windows is released with support upto a certain drive storage capacity.

And on Windows XP Home and Professional by default they will only recognise 137GB, install windows XP pro onto your 250GB hard drive which is being recognised as a 137GB and then once in windows you will need to download a small program that will be provided by the manufacturer of your hard drive, this will enable "Large Hard Drive Support" ie: 137GB or more, hence why it is not being recognised :D

If you bear with me i will post back with your hard drive specifications and the link to the program you need to download, and how to go about running it (its usually just double clicking :D)

Have 2 go into meeting brb :good:

*Edit u :swear: BigB, i wanted to be the hero.. u internet solving / posting bot from the future argh!

As BigB suggested you will need SP1 or SP2, however.. you do not HAVE to have them, u can just do what i suggested, although having the latest Service Packs is a V.Good idea.
 
Excellent! Many thanks for that guys. That Dell support guy must have definitely got his lines crossed. I too asked him (out of sheer curiosity) if the 64-bit version was released and he said yes. Anyways, I shall install XP Pro tonight and then download SP 2. Come to think of it, it did say 'XP Home with SP 2' on the XP Home CD from Dell so they probably did slipstream it and burnt it onto a single disk!

Thanks a stack guys. :good:
 
There is a 48-bit addressing scheme that needed to be dealt with to overcome the 137GB limitation, and that's probably where he screwed up. That or Dell needs to train their Indian tech support better. :D
 
I just find it funny how when ever i am posting an answer i always have a feeling that BigB will post it first.. and suprisingly enough that post ^^ i thought exactly the same thing.. and BigB managed to post 1 minute before me, which obviously i don't mind as its not a competition, just be nice to show that i am gaining my IT knowledge back slowly but surely, even though it is quite a substantially basic subject.

:good:
 
Hi Guys,

Installed XP Pro and downloaded SP2 and voila - I can see the other half of my drive! Happy days!

Cheers guys,
K
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top