Hard drive capacity Help

[Bob Galvin]

I have just upgraded my pc with several new components including a 250 GB
HD. I formatted the HD and loaded Windows XP Pro. I now have the pc
running well and am in the process of re-loading software. Through reading
the helpful ideas on this newsgroup, I have learned about the 137 gb limit
for hard drives. I have downloaded and installed SP 2 which I have read is
necessary for the system to recognize hard drives larger than this 137 gb
limit. I am now stumped. I don't know what my next move should be to be
able to use this unrecognized space on my new hard drive. When I look under
computer management, it indicates that the hard drive (C:\) is 127.99 GB
NTFS Healthy and 104.89 GB unallocated. When I look at C:\ under My
Computer it tells me that it has 102 GB free space with a total size of 127
GB. I would like to get to the point where I have a C:\ drive that shows me
250 GB in one partition. I am hoping to avoid having to divide the hard
drive into 2 partitions to use it. Thanks for any help you might provide.

 

[Thomas Wendell]

You can't do it with Windows own tools.

3rd party software like BootItNG, Symantec/Norton PartitionMagic, Acronis
DiskDirector....


BACKUP FIRST!! Even though it's usually safe, mistakes/errors can happen.


BootItNG has a 30-day trial fully functional trial version (the standard
download, but no serial etc..)
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html

(I don't know if it'll work on SATA disks whose controller need drivers (not
seen as IDE)?? http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=017


And get the manual on that page too. After you've created the BootItNG boot
mdeia, boot from it, but don't install it to the HD. Just cancel and go for
partition work.



--
Tumppi
=================================
Most learned on these newsgroups
Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate
=================================

 

[Rich Barry]

Bob, in order to add the free space to your NTFS Partition you will need
a third party program like Partition Magic.
You can create a second partition using Disk Management. Rt click
MyComputer>select Manage>Disk Management.
rt click on the free space and follow the instructions. ie> say yes to
new partition. format once it's created.

 

[paulmd]

I have just upgraded my pc with several new components including a 250 GB
HD. I formatted the HD and loaded Windows XP Pro. I now have the pc
running well and am in the process of re-loading software. Through reading
the helpful ideas on this newsgroup, I have learned about the 137 gb limit
for hard drives. I have downloaded and installed SP 2 which I have read is
necessary for the system to recognize hard drives larger than this 137 gb
limit. I am now stumped. I don't know what my next move should be to be
able to use this unrecognized space on my new hard drive. When I look under
computer management, it indicates that the hard drive (C:\) is 127.99 GB
NTFS Healthy and 104.89 GB unallocated. When I look at C:\ under My
Computer it tells me that it has 102 GB free space with a total size of 127
GB. I would like to get to the point where I have a C:\ drive that shows me
250 GB in one partition. I am hoping to avoid having to divide the hard
drive into 2 partitions to use it. Thanks for any help you might provide.

If you don't mind a bit of work, you can slipstream SP2 into your
installation media. At least for the reatil XP, the generic OEMs and
for some of the other branded OEMS. That way you can see all 250GB
right at the beginning of a clean install.

Nlite is a handy tool to accomplish this.
www.nliteos.com

 

[John O]

There's another thread currently running that covers the significant
advantages of having a separate partition for Windows and your apps. Data
files (My Documents, etc.) go on a second partition.

I recently had the unfortunate experience of losing my Windows partition.
However, in hindsight this let me install a new, clean OS, and I didn't lose
a bit of data.

In your situation, I'd consider reducing the existing partition to 20 GB or
so, and making the rest of it one big partition. See the other thread for
the reasons...and Partition Magic is a wonderful app, just make SURE you go
slow and make deliberate and careful moves.

-John O