unsupported HDD

[Guest]

I have a Western Digital HDD (160 GB) which for some reason only reads as 81
GB's. Kinda funny really because the drive I'm using now for my OS is also a
WD HDD but at 200 GB.

The only way I've been able to format all 160 GB (in slave position) is with
WD tools from DOS and would lay down a DDO (Dynamic Drive Overlay - many of
you probably don't even know what that is I bet). Trouble is I want this
drive on an external USB, but is no good if the drive can't load the DDO at
boot. I spent $150 last year and don't want to scap it, anyone have any
ideas?

-A colleague said (as a self proclaimed Hardware Specialist, lol) he'd
format it for me on his computer but doubt it would work.

-How is Windows or my BIOS more friendly with a 200 GB (no DDO) than a
smaller 160 GB drive?
confused.

 

[Ghostrider]

I have a Western Digital HDD (160 GB) which for some reason only reads as 81
GB's. Kinda funny really because the drive I'm using now for my OS is also a
WD HDD but at 200 GB.

The only way I've been able to format all 160 GB (in slave position) is with
WD tools from DOS and would lay down a DDO (Dynamic Drive Overlay - many of
you probably don't even know what that is I bet). Trouble is I want this
drive on an external USB, but is no good if the drive can't load the DDO at
boot. I spent $150 last year and don't want to scap it, anyone have any
ideas?

-A colleague said (as a self proclaimed Hardware Specialist, lol) he'd
format it for me on his computer but doubt it would work.

-How is Windows or my BIOS more friendly with a 200 GB (no DDO) than a
smaller 160 GB drive?
confused.

One reason why Windows XP sees just 81 GB is that this
hard drive has a 81 GB partition that Windows can see.
The remaining 79 GB might not be partitioned and/or even
formatted or formatted in a file system that Windows XP
cannot see.

If possible, use a diagnostic (or even fdisk) to identify
what is in the hard drive. Remove all existing partitions
so that it is just one plain 160 GB hard drive per fdisk
or the diagnostic tool. Next, partition and format to 160
GB using Windows XP and NTFS. This should make all 160 GB
available.

 

[Guest]

The remaining 79 GB might not be partitioned and/or even

formatted or formatted in a file system that Windows XP
cannot see.

I may have formatted a second partition without a drive letter, its possible
I made a mistake during the format process. Do you know how to find/restore
drive letter to a hidden partition Windows can't see?

I think the HDD is just not as compatible with older motherboards (my
Gigabyte GA-81TXE is from 2002) as my 200 GB drive is since the 160 GB is a
year older (and $50 deeper).

I'm about give it a go and Fdisk it anyway. I'll update later.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Tue, 16 May 2006 17:14:01 -0700, brandon dub

I think the HDD is just not as compatible with older motherboards (my
Gigabyte GA-81TXE is from 2002) as my 200 GB drive is since the 160 GB is a
year older (and $50 deeper).

I'm about give it a go and Fdisk it anyway. I'll update later.

There are several crucial compatibility horizons; mix them up, and you
can trash the drive's contents!

BIOS: YMMV, can be limited to...
- 510M or so; can use bigger HDs, but only as 510M or so
- 2G; a rare limitation that afflicts some bland lame junk
- 8G; similar mileage as the 510M limit
- 32M; hard lock when HD detected if incompatible!
- between 32G and 137G; several mobos, as per 32G
- 137G; may be similar mileage as 32G limit, i.e. lockup

OSs (starting a little more recently!):
- Win9x and DOS mode; cannot "see" over 137G
- XP original; cannot "see" over 137G
- XP SP1; supposed to be OK > 137G but can corrupt data
- XP SP2; fine with > 137G

FDisk:
- standard Win95/98 can't "see" over 50G or so
- WinME FDisk inputs up to 99G, works up to 137G
- fixed FDisk for Win98 similar to WinME FDisk
- NO FDisk is OK > 137G
- NO FDisk can take > 99G as input values

Instead of FDisk, I'd use BING (www.bootitng.com) to set up HD volumes
over 32G as FAT32 (given that XP's formatter is useless for that).

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