120 GB hard drive only shows 30 GB

[katherat]

When my son set up XP on a new WD 120 GB HD, he somwhow manager to
"convert" it to a 30 GB drive....our "C" drive has only ~30 GB
available. Problem is I can't find the other 90 GB to
format/partion/whatever. When I go into the XP admin tools for
partition management, the other 90 doesn't show up so I can't click on
it to remedy the situation. Likewise with partition manager. You
would think that it is actually a 30 GB drive, but that isn't the
case.

I know one solution is to wipe out the whole drive and start over.
Since we have put 20 plus GB on the C drive already, I'd kind of like
to explore other options before biting the bullet and re-formatting
the whole drive. Is there something I can try with FDISK (or GDISK)?

BTW, When I run "error checking" in Partition manager , it shows no
errors...

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Ron Sommer]

XP use whatever size the Bios says.
Check the size of the drive in the Bios.

 

[Dwayne Kelly]

The only program I've ever seen work flawlessly on partitions (but obviously not the only one out there) is Partition Magic. It used to be a Powerquest program but Norton owns it now. The only problem is it cost $70.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

see here http://tinyurl.com/5zy2u (This is a link to the WD page on setting
up hard drives)

Are you certain that your computer's BIOS can recognize that large of a
drive. Many older systems are unable to do so. Enter the BIOS and check to
see if the full size of the drive is listed there. If so you might be able
to use an application like BootIt NG http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ to
non destructively resize your drive. If the BIOS doesn't recognize the full
size of the drive then you will need to follow the advise at #14 of the WD
link above

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


| When my son set up XP on a new WD 120 GB HD, he somwhow manager to
| "convert" it to a 30 GB drive....our "C" drive has only ~30 GB
| available. Problem is I can't find the other 90 GB to
| format/partion/whatever. When I go into the XP admin tools for
| partition management, the other 90 doesn't show up so I can't click on
| it to remedy the situation. Likewise with partition manager. You
| would think that it is actually a 30 GB drive, but that isn't the
| case.
|
| I know one solution is to wipe out the whole drive and start over.
| Since we have put 20 plus GB on the C drive already, I'd kind of like
| to explore other options before biting the bullet and re-formatting
| the whole drive. Is there something I can try with FDISK (or GDISK)?
|
| BTW, When I run "error checking" in Partition manager , it shows no
| errors...
|
| Any help is appreciated.

 

[Barry Watzman]

This is just a guess, but, here goes:

Your son formatted the disk as FAT32 rather than NTFS. Microsoft won't
create a FAT32 partition larger than 32 megabytes (which might look like
less after formatting and installing an OS). That might be why you are
seeing only 32 megs.

[Nothing terribly wrong with that, by the way, although I like to keep
FAT32 partitions to 16 gigs or less. Windows actually will recognize a
FAT32 partition larger than 32 gigs, if you create it with a 3rd party
utility, but no Microsoft program will create one.]

What I'd do is run FDISK or Partition Magic from outside of Windows
(e.g. boot from a diskette or CD), they will probably let you see and
partition the other 90 gigs, after which Windows also will "see" it.

If you keep your OS and data on separate partitions (which I do
recommend -- I usually even move "My Documents" off of Drive C, 16
gigs is PLENTY large for the C: drive, even if you install a lot of
software.

 

[Barry Watzman]

If you are patient, you can ALWAYS catch this "on sale" (invariably
after one or more rebates) for $30 or less.

And I absolutely agree, it's by far the best partition manager.

 

[Ron Sommer]

If that were true, then Windows Disk Management should show the
unpartitioned space.
This sounds like the Bios is not detecting the whole drive.
--
Ron Sommer

This is just a guess, but, here goes:

Your son formatted the disk as FAT32 rather than NTFS. Microsoft won't
create a FAT32 partition larger than 32 megabytes (which might look like
less after formatting and installing an OS). That might be why you are
seeing only 32 megs.

[Nothing terribly wrong with that, by the way, although I like to keep
FAT32 partitions to 16 gigs or less. Windows actually will recognize a
FAT32 partition larger than 32 gigs, if you create it with a 3rd party
utility, but no Microsoft program will create one.]

What I'd do is run FDISK or Partition Magic from outside of Windows (e.g.
boot from a diskette or CD), they will probably let you see and partition
the other 90 gigs, after which Windows also will "see" it.

If you keep your OS and data on separate partitions (which I do
recommend -- I usually even move "My Documents" off of Drive C, 16 gigs
is PLENTY large for the C: drive, even if you install a lot of software.

When my son set up XP on a new WD 120 GB HD, he somwhow manager to
"convert" it to a 30 GB drive....our "C" drive has only ~30 GB
available. Problem is I can't find the other 90 GB to
format/partion/whatever. When I go into the XP admin tools for
partition management, the other 90 doesn't show up so I can't click on
it to remedy the situation. Likewise with partition manager. You
would think that it is actually a 30 GB drive, but that isn't the
case.

I know one solution is to wipe out the whole drive and start over. Since
we have put 20 plus GB on the C drive already, I'd kind of like
to explore other options before biting the bullet and re-formatting
the whole drive. Is there something I can try with FDISK (or GDISK)?

BTW, When I run "error checking" in Partition manager , it shows no
errors...

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Mick Doherty]

www.worthydeal.co.uk has it for £21.27 as opposed to £50 from Symantec.

 

[katherat]

I checked in the BIOS setup and it seems to think it's a 30 gig drive.
Windows Explorer Properties says it's NTFS.

My son setup the hard drive many months ago. I almost remember that
it was originally FAT32 and I may have used the CONVERT.EXE to make it
NTFS, but I'm not sure. I've used CONVERT.EXE more than a few times
on other drives.

I'm wondering, _if_ that is what happened, should I try to convert it
back to FAT32 and try using FDISK to utilize the other ~90 gigs?

 

[Ron Sommer]

Fdisk can only work with the size the Bios reports.
You are going to have to get the Bios to report the correct size.
Is the drive set on auto detect or is it user specified?
--
Ron Sommer

I checked in the BIOS setup and it seems to think it's a 30 gig drive.
Windows Explorer Properties says it's NTFS.

My son setup the hard drive many months ago. I almost remember that
it was originally FAT32 and I may have used the CONVERT.EXE to make it
NTFS, but I'm not sure. I've used CONVERT.EXE more than a few times
on other drives.

I'm wondering, _if_ that is what happened, should I try to convert it
back to FAT32 and try using FDISK to utilize the other ~90 gigs?

see here http://tinyurl.com/5zy2u (This is a link to the WD page on
setting
up hard drives)

Are you certain that your computer's BIOS can recognize that large of a
drive. Many older systems are unable to do so. Enter the BIOS and check
to
see if the full size of the drive is listed there. If so you might be
able
to use an application like BootIt NG http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ to
non destructively resize your drive. If the BIOS doesn't recognize the
full
size of the drive then you will need to follow the advise at #14 of the
WD
link above

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


| When my son set up XP on a new WD 120 GB HD, he somwhow manager to
| "convert" it to a 30 GB drive....our "C" drive has only ~30 GB
| available. Problem is I can't find the other 90 GB to
| format/partion/whatever. When I go into the XP admin tools for
| partition management, the other 90 doesn't show up so I can't click on
| it to remedy the situation. Likewise with partition manager. You
| would think that it is actually a 30 GB drive, but that isn't the
| case.
|
| I know one solution is to wipe out the whole drive and start over.
| Since we have put 20 plus GB on the C drive already, I'd kind of like
| to explore other options before biting the bullet and re-formatting
| the whole drive. Is there something I can try with FDISK (or GDISK)?
|
| BTW, When I run "error checking" in Partition manager , it shows no
| errors...
|
| Any help is appreciated.

 

[Guest]

The problem may be in the BIOS version. Did you try UPGRADING your BIOS? if
the BIOS shows just 30gb then WinXP just handle 30Gb. Try upgranding to a
newer vesion of your BIOS. Download it of the manufacturer´s web site. It can
works.

 

[katherat]

Yes, it's set on auto-detect
the mode is also auto (LBA)

Fdisk can only work with the size the Bios reports.
You are going to have to get the Bios to report the correct size.
Is the drive set on auto detect or is it user specified?
--
Ron Sommer

I checked in the BIOS setup and it seems to think it's a 30 gig drive.
Windows Explorer Properties says it's NTFS.

My son setup the hard drive many months ago. I almost remember that
it was originally FAT32 and I may have used the CONVERT.EXE to make it
NTFS, but I'm not sure. I've used CONVERT.EXE more than a few times
on other drives.

I'm wondering, _if_ that is what happened, should I try to convert it
back to FAT32 and try using FDISK to utilize the other ~90 gigs?

see here http://tinyurl.com/5zy2u (This is a link to the WD page on
setting
up hard drives)

Are you certain that your computer's BIOS can recognize that large of a
drive. Many older systems are unable to do so. Enter the BIOS and check
to
see if the full size of the drive is listed there. If so you might be
able
to use an application like BootIt NG http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ to
non destructively resize your drive. If the BIOS doesn't recognize the
full
size of the drive then you will need to follow the advise at #14 of the
WD
link above

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


| When my son set up XP on a new WD 120 GB HD, he somwhow manager to
| "convert" it to a 30 GB drive....our "C" drive has only ~30 GB
| available. Problem is I can't find the other 90 GB to
| format/partion/whatever. When I go into the XP admin tools for
| partition management, the other 90 doesn't show up so I can't click on
| it to remedy the situation. Likewise with partition manager. You
| would think that it is actually a 30 GB drive, but that isn't the
| case.
|
| I know one solution is to wipe out the whole drive and start over.
| Since we have put 20 plus GB on the C drive already, I'd kind of like
| to explore other options before biting the bullet and re-formatting
| the whole drive. Is there something I can try with FDISK (or GDISK)?
|
| BTW, When I run "error checking" in Partition manager , it shows no
| errors...
|
| Any help is appreciated.

 

[Keith]

Yes, it's set on auto-detect
the mode is also auto (LBA)

Yes , Hard disk Size should show up in the Bios screen
Wht does it say?

 

[Mark Weinreb]

Some WD drives have a jumper to limit their size to 30GB. Does your drive
have such a jumper? I have a couple of WD 120GB DiamondMax drives that have
the jumper, and since your drive is also a WD 120GB drive, it probably also
has the jumper.

Yes, it's set on auto-detect
the mode is also auto (LBA)

Fdisk can only work with the size the Bios reports.
You are going to have to get the Bios to report the correct size.
Is the drive set on auto detect or is it user specified?
--
Ron Sommer

I checked in the BIOS setup and it seems to think it's a 30 gig drive.
Windows Explorer Properties says it's NTFS.

My son setup the hard drive many months ago. I almost remember that
it was originally FAT32 and I may have used the CONVERT.EXE to make it
NTFS, but I'm not sure. I've used CONVERT.EXE more than a few times
on other drives.

I'm wondering, _if_ that is what happened, should I try to convert it
back to FAT32 and try using FDISK to utilize the other ~90 gigs?

see here http://tinyurl.com/5zy2u (This is a link to the WD page on
setting
up hard drives)

Are you certain that your computer's BIOS can recognize that large of
a
drive. Many older systems are unable to do so. Enter the BIOS and
check
to
see if the full size of the drive is listed there. If so you might be
able
to use an application like BootIt NG http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/
to
non destructively resize your drive. If the BIOS doesn't recognize the
full
size of the drive then you will need to follow the advise at #14 of
the
WD
link above

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


| When my son set up XP on a new WD 120 GB HD, he somwhow manager to
| "convert" it to a 30 GB drive....our "C" drive has only ~30 GB
| available. Problem is I can't find the other 90 GB to
| format/partion/whatever. When I go into the XP admin tools for
| partition management, the other 90 doesn't show up so I can't click
on
| it to remedy the situation. Likewise with partition manager. You
| would think that it is actually a 30 GB drive, but that isn't the
| case.
|
| I know one solution is to wipe out the whole drive and start over.
| Since we have put 20 plus GB on the C drive already, I'd kind of
like
| to explore other options before biting the bullet and re-formatting
| the whole drive. Is there something I can try with FDISK (or
GDISK)?
|
| BTW, When I run "error checking" in Partition manager , it shows no
| errors...
|
| Any help is appreciated.