Hi all,

recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
problem to create to 100 GB partitions.

Does anyone have a solution?

Thanks in advance,
KO.

While XP has a limit of 32 Gig for creating FAT32 partitions, it has no
limit on NTFS partitions. I have made NTFS partitions up to 120 Gig on a
USB hard drive with XP.

If you are having trouble with NTFS of any size, that is NOT normal for XP.
In fact, XP normally defaults to doing NTFS.

Potential problems could be:

1. PC's motherboard BIOS does not support large disks, meaning disks bigger
than about 127 Gig. Or, if a really old PC upgraded to XP, then the BIOS
limit could be as low as 32 Gig. Check the PC or motherboard maker for
details. While this is more a problem for internal disks, a suficiently old
PC might also have trouble with large external disks.

2. XP does not automatically support disks larger than 127 Gig, even if the
BIOS can handle them. You need at least SP-1 and you need to enable 48-bit
LBA.

3. Maybe some part of the XP installation is corrupt. Think about running
SFC /SCANNOW. Have your XP CDROM handy. Or, try a repair install of XP
using the XP CDROM. Be careful, the difference betwen a repair instal and a
clean install is only a few mouse clicks, and a clean install will erase
everything first. If you do a repair, remeber o immedfiately run windows
update, snce a repair removes all updates newer than the date on the CDROM.

4. Try using the XP recovery console to make partitions. This is run from
the XP CDROM.

5. Use third-party software to make partitions. For example, Partition
Magic can work on an external drive and is not limited to 32Gig for FAT32.
It can also do NTFS.

Finally, cionsider using a different PC, also running XP, to format the hard
drive.



"ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi all,
>
> recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
> But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
> 32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
> but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
> NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
> not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
> problem to create to 100 GB partitions.
>
> Does anyone have a solution?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> KO.

"ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi all,
>
> recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
> But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
> 32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
> but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
> NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
> not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
> problem to create to 100 GB partitions.
>
> Does anyone have a solution?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> KO.


KO:
Can you provide a clearer picture of what you want to do?
1. The 250 GB HD is a USB 2.0 external hard drive, right?
2. Do you want a single partition encompassing the full capacity of your 250
GB drive?
3. Are you interested in creating *only* FAT32 partition(s)? You do
understand that XP will not allow you to format FAT32 partitions > 32 GB,
don't you? (Although there's a workaround for this).
4. Or, you'd be satisfied with NTFS partition(s)?
5. You're running XP with SP1 and/or SP2, right?
6. Provide a detailed description of how you've attempted to
partition/format that 250 GB drive.
Anna

Fat32 file system = 32 gig or less

NTFS file system = limited by the size of the hard drive

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!


"ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi all,
>
> recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
> But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
> 32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
> but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
> NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
> not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
> problem to create to 100 GB partitions.
>
> Does anyone have a solution?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> KO.

"ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi all,
>
> recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
> But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
> 32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
> but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
> NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
> not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
> problem to create to 100 GB partitions.
>
> Does anyone have a solution?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> KO.

I'm not sure why NTFS won't create the partitions. I would suspect the m/b
BIOS. If you want to create a larger FAT32 partition attach the USB drive to
a Windows 98 computer. Once the larger FAT32 partitions are created and
formatted XP will work with them it just won't create them. You will be
limited to a maximum file size of 4 GB when using FAT32 though. This makes
it kind of useless for backups unless you are just doing file copies.

Kerry

"Kerry Brown" <(E-Mail Removed)*o*m> wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed)>...
> "ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
> > But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
> > 32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
> > but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
> > NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
> > not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
> > problem to create to 100 GB partitions.
> >
> > Does anyone have a solution?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > KO.
>
> I'm not sure why NTFS won't create the partitions. I would suspect the m/b
> BIOS. If you want to create a larger FAT32 partition attach the USB drive to
> a Windows 98 computer. Once the larger FAT32 partitions are created and
> formatted XP will work with them it just won't create them. You will be
> limited to a maximum file size of 4 GB when using FAT32 though. This makes
> it kind of useless for backups unless you are just doing file copies.
>
> Kerry

Hi Kerry,

Even more bizar is the fact that it does create partitions of size
32GB and format them in fat32 but not 32GB NTFS :~
On my notebook I created the desired number of partition with sizes
100,100 and 50GB and format them correctly in NTFS; but on my PC (XP
pro sp1) the explorer says that the partitions are not yet formatted
and I have to format them again. Hopefully the win98 trick works. I'll
let you know.

Thanks Kerry,

KO

"Bob Harris" <rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<#(E-Mail Removed)>...
> While XP has a limit of 32 Gig for creating FAT32 partitions, it has no
> limit on NTFS partitions. I have made NTFS partitions up to 120 Gig on a
> USB hard drive with XP.
>
> If you are having trouble with NTFS of any size, that is NOT normal for XP.
> In fact, XP normally defaults to doing NTFS.

That is true at least 32GB NTFS did not work whereas 32GB fat32 did
work (seven of 32GB and one containing the rest (<32GB) )

> Potential problems could be:
>
> 1. PC's motherboard BIOS does not support large disks, meaning disks bigger
> than about 127 Gig. Or, if a really old PC upgraded to XP, then the BIOS
> limit could be as low as 32 Gig. Check the PC or motherboard maker for
> details. While this is more a problem for internal disks, a suficiently old
> PC might also have trouble with large external disks.

I have a athlon 1600+ with a 60GB internal.

> 2. XP does not automatically support disks larger than 127 Gig, even if the
> BIOS can handle them. You need at least SP-1 and you need to enable 48-bit
> LBA.

I used a registry file to update the registry for enabling the 48-bit
LBA.

> 3. Maybe some part of the XP installation is corrupt. Think about running
> SFC /SCANNOW. Have your XP CDROM handy. Or, try a repair install of XP
> using the XP CDROM. Be careful, the difference betwen a repair instal and a
> clean install is only a few mouse clicks, and a clean install will erase
> everything first. If you do a repair, remeber o immedfiately run windows
> update, snce a repair removes all updates newer than the date on the CDROM.

I'll try this.

> 4. Try using the XP recovery console to make partitions. This is run from
> the XP CDROM.

I'll try this.

> 5. Use third-party software to make partitions. For example, Partition
> Magic can work on an external drive and is not limited to 32Gig for FAT32.
> It can also do NTFS.

I used ontrack diskmanager(www.ontrack.com/diskmanager/) and could
create only one big partition (233GB NTFS) but accessing the new
partition with the windows explorer resulted in the messagebox that I
should format the disk first.

> Finally, cionsider using a different PC, also running XP, to format the hard
> drive.

I succesfully created the desired structure with my notebook (xp home)
and yet again the same messagebox "that I should format the disk
first"

>
>
>
> "ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
> > But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
> > 32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
> > but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
> > NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
> > not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
> > problem to create to 100 GB partitions.
> >
> > Does anyone have a solution?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > KO.

"Anna" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed)>...
> "ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
> > But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
> > 32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
> > but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
> > NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
> > not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
> > problem to create to 100 GB partitions.
> >
> > Does anyone have a solution?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > KO.
>
>
> KO:
> Can you provide a clearer picture of what you want to do?
> 1. The 250 GB HD is a USB 2.0 external hard drive, right?

Yes.

> 2. Do you want a single partition encompassing the full capacity of your 250
> GB drive?

Nope three partitions 2x100GB NTFS and 1x50GB NTFS

> 3. Are you interested in creating *only* FAT32 partition(s)? You do
> understand that XP will not allow you to format FAT32 partitions > 32 GB,
> don't you? (Although there's a workaround for this).

Yes I do.

> 4. Or, you'd be satisfied with NTFS partition(s)?

Fine with me.

> 5. You're running XP with SP1 and/or SP2, right?
> 6. Provide a detailed description of how you've attempted to
> partition/format that 250 GB drive.

My Computer->Manage->Disk Management->Initialize disk->New primary
partition 100GB and format NTFS style. When the progressbar is At 100%
windows says that it could not complete the format.

My Computer->Manage->Disk Management->Initialize disk->New primary
partition 100GB without format (trying to format after all partitions
are created) -> new extended partition 150 GB-> new logical drive
100GB NTFS->New logical drive 50GB (actually 33,2GB) works fine: but
formatting when the progressbar is At 100% windows says that it could
not complete the format.

Hope you can help me Anna,

Greetings,
KO.
> Anna

"ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Kerry Brown" <(E-Mail Removed)*o*m> wrote in message
> news:<(E-Mail Removed)>...
>> "ko" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Hi all,
>> >
>> > recently I bought a 250 GB hard drive to connect on my usb2.0 port.
>> > But disk management in XP pro cannot build partitions bigger than
>> > 32GB. So far I have created 3 partions of 32GB fat32, which works fine
>> > but a partition of 32 GB NTFS is not possible or a partition of 64 GB
>> > NTFS: in both cases the format step stops at 100% saying that it could
>> > not be completed. Maybe important: on my notebook it has been no
>> > problem to create to 100 GB partitions.
>> >
>> > Does anyone have a solution?
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance,
>> > KO.
>>
>> I'm not sure why NTFS won't create the partitions. I would suspect the
>> m/b
>> BIOS. If you want to create a larger FAT32 partition attach the USB drive
>> to
>> a Windows 98 computer. Once the larger FAT32 partitions are created and
>> formatted XP will work with them it just won't create them. You will be
>> limited to a maximum file size of 4 GB when using FAT32 though. This
>> makes
>> it kind of useless for backups unless you are just doing file copies.
>>
>> Kerry
>
> Hi Kerry,
>
> Even more bizar is the fact that it does create partitions of size
> 32GB and format them in fat32 but not 32GB NTFS :~
> On my notebook I created the desired number of partition with sizes
> 100,100 and 50GB and format them correctly in NTFS; but on my PC (XP
> pro sp1) the explorer says that the partitions are not yet formatted
> and I have to format them again. Hopefully the win98 trick works. I'll
> let you know.
>
> Thanks Kerry,
>
> KO

Is there some reason you can't upgrade to SP2? In an earlier post you say
you used a registry file to enable 48 bit LBA. What were the contents of the
file? With SP1 it shouldn't be needed.

To all,

I finally succeeded:

Solution:

I have used diskmanagement in XP pro to initialize the disk and to
create the partitions. After that I used partition magic 8.0 to format
the partitions (2x100GB and 1x33GB) in FAT32. I am finally ready to
store data. Partiton magic alone did not solve the trick for me even
NTFS did not work. Strangely enough.

Anyhow, thanks you all.

Greetz,
KO