250gb sata drive only recognised as 131gb???

nwood · 06-07-2005, 09:14 AM

Can anyone help me with my problem please?

I recently re-installed windows xp sp1 onto my system by deleting the old system partition which was aprox 245gb and only contained windows as the system is new. However, ever since that my hard drive is only being recognsied as around 130gb!!! In order to install windows xp sp1 I downloaded the sata drivers from the motherboard manufacturers website, which are up to date. All other drivers that I am aware of have now been installed such as the chipset driveers and graphics drivers.
Can anyone please help??

Thanks

zRoCkIsAdDiCtInG · 06-07-2005, 03:38 PM

131 was the limit to the OS you have, the rest should be noticed as unallocated , don't worry, you still probably have the space, and you can still use it, but it's not recognized fully,

if you defragment or somethin it will still clean or compress that region of the hard drive, its just that its not noticed as part of the hard drive, just... extra space

check under drive management if you also have a certain number of unallocated space in addition to the 131, and if added should produce around 250 give or take a few gigs

Sniper · 06-07-2005, 04:13 PM

This is because windows doesn't have the upto date ATAPI.sys driver, so you are required to install the updates SP1 or SP2 before you can see the rest of the space.

I'd suggest reading this link is well http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;303013

nwood · 06-07-2005, 09:32 PM

Thanks alot for all the help. Ive had a look on the link and I think that might fix the problem. Thanks to everyone.

nwood · 07-07-2005, 08:07 AM

unfortunetly the problem still persists and I now have absolutly no idea what to do about it.

Waffle · 07-07-2005, 08:33 AM

You now have to format the rst of the disk to make it useable.

Go to:

Start>>Control Panel>Performance + Mainetenance>Admin Tools>Computer Management.

Then select the Disk Management sub category.

You will then see the current disk structure, with used space, and unformatted space.

Simply right click this unformatted space, give it a drive letter and format it.

Then it will appear in My Computer, ready to be used.

You can size this partition to 50gigs, 25, 100, or whatever you like.

nwood · 08-07-2005, 10:30 AM

Thankyou 'waffles' thats sorted it! I am now reading a total of 234gb from the 250gb drive. Thanks alot to everyone who tried to help.

06-07-2005, 09:14 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
nwood Geek Trainee Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 10 Status: Offline My Computer	250gb sata drive only recognised as 131gb??? Can anyone help me with my problem please? I recently re-installed windows xp sp1 onto my system by deleting the old system partition which was aprox 245gb and only contained windows as the system is new. However, ever since that my hard drive is only being recognsied as around 130gb!!! In order to install windows xp sp1 I downloaded the sata drivers from the motherboard manufacturers website, which are up to date. All other drivers that I am aware of have now been installed such as the chipset driveers and graphics drivers. Can anyone please help?? Thanks

06-07-2005, 03:38 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
zRoCkIsAdDiCtInG HWF Guitar Freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,487 Times Helpful: 101 My Mood: Amused Status: Offline My Computer	131 was the limit to the OS you have, the rest should be noticed as unallocated , don't worry, you still probably have the space, and you can still use it, but it's not recognized fully, if you defragment or somethin it will still clean or compress that region of the hard drive, its just that its not noticed as part of the hard drive, just... extra space check under drive management if you also have a certain number of unallocated space in addition to the 131, and if added should produce around 250 give or take a few gigs __________________

06-07-2005, 04:13 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
Sniper Administrator Join Date: Oct 2001 Age: 25 Male Posts: 4,501 Times Helpful: 121 My Mood: Bored Status: Offline My Computer	This is because windows doesn't have the upto date ATAPI.sys driver, so you are required to install the updates SP1 or SP2 before you can see the rest of the space. I'd suggest reading this link is well http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;303013 __________________ Zone 365 \| F@H Team \| Team Stats \| Use The Thank You System \| My Groups: Manchester United \| Apple

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06-07-2005, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
nwood Geek Trainee Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 10 Status: Offline My Computer	Thanks alot for all the help. Ive had a look on the link and I think that might fix the problem. Thanks to everyone.

07-07-2005, 08:07 AM	#5 (permalink) Top
nwood Geek Trainee Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 10 Status: Offline My Computer	unfortunetly the problem still persists and I now have absolutly no idea what to do about it.

07-07-2005, 08:33 AM	#6 (permalink) Top
Waffle Alpha Geek Join Date: Apr 2004 Age: 20 Male Posts: 2,270 Times Helpful: 51 My Mood: Angelic Status: Offline My Computer	You now have to format the rst of the disk to make it useable. Go to: Start>>Control Panel>Performance + Mainetenance>Admin Tools>Computer Management. Then select the Disk Management sub category. You will then see the current disk structure, with used space, and unformatted space. Simply right click this unformatted space, give it a drive letter and format it. Then it will appear in My Computer, ready to be used. You can size this partition to 50gigs, 25, 100, or whatever you like.

08-07-2005, 10:30 AM	#7 (permalink) Top
nwood Geek Trainee Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 10 Status: Offline My Computer	Thankyou 'waffles' thats sorted it! I am now reading a total of 234gb from the 250gb drive. Thanks alot to everyone who tried to help.

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