Windows doesnt detect hdd?

QuiPetMonDe · 14-09-2006, 07:23 PM

I just installed xp pro on my machine. The hard drive is 250gb seagate but in my comp it appears as 131gb.

I think the problem is somewhere in the BIOS. Here is the Bios setup for the drives.

IDE Primary Master ..... [NONE]
IDE Primary Slave ..... [DVDRW]
IDE Secondardy Master ..... [NONE]
IDE Secondary Slave ..... [NONE]
IDE Third Master ..... [HDD]
IDE Fourth Master ..... [NONE]
IDE Fifth Master ..... [NONE]
IDE Sixth Master ..... [NONE]

Should i change this?

What should i change it to?

Big B · 14-09-2006, 07:18 PM

Actually, it's nothing to do with BIOS, just a pre-SP1/2 XP install. When XP came out, 120GB were the big-ass drives (like what the 750GB beasts are).
XP (pre SP1 or 2) follows the 132GB hard drive limitation. Get updated to SP2, then get into disk management:

-Right-click 'My Computer'
-Manage
-Expand 'Storage' (if not already expanded)
-Click on 'Disk Management'

From here, you'll be able to see the remaining unpartitioned and unformatted hard drive sizes. Right-click on the partition or highlight it and use the 'Action' menu to format the rest.

You won't be able to add the remaining amount to your current partition within Windows. 3rd-party tools can do this, but having a separate partition comes in handy when you have to reinstall Windows.

donkey42 · 14-09-2006, 07:26 PM

generally the HDD is usually the primary master,

i think

IDE Third Master ..... [HDD]
IDE Fourth Master ..... [NONE]
IDE Fifth Master ..... [NONE]
IDE Sixth Master ..... [NONE]

are for SATA devices

most mobo's only have 2 IDE channels (primary & secondary, each able to take a maximum of 2 IDE devices

you may be able to use the aditional space by Start->Settings->Control Panel->Admin Tools then click storage and look for some unalocated space, then initialise and fofmat it, to realocate the space to C: you will need to use some third party software like this

QuiPetMonDe · 14-09-2006, 07:37 PM

dont like the idea of using 3rd party software. Cant i just download sp1 or sp2 and burn it on to a disk and some how upload it whilst im installing windows?

donkey42 · 14-09-2006, 07:45 PM

why don't you slipstream your XP CD

edit: this will create an XP SP2 install CD

14-09-2006, 07:23 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
QuiPetMonDe Big Geek Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 102 Status: Offline	Windows doesnt detect hdd? I just installed xp pro on my machine. The hard drive is 250gb seagate but in my comp it appears as 131gb. I think the problem is somewhere in the BIOS. Here is the Bios setup for the drives. IDE Primary Master ..... [NONE] IDE Primary Slave ..... [DVDRW] IDE Secondardy Master ..... [NONE] IDE Secondary Slave ..... [NONE] IDE Third Master ..... [HDD] IDE Fourth Master ..... [NONE] IDE Fifth Master ..... [NONE] IDE Sixth Master ..... [NONE] Should i change this? What should i change it to?

14-09-2006, 07:18 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,636 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	Actually, it's nothing to do with BIOS, just a pre-SP1/2 XP install. When XP came out, 120GB were the big-ass drives (like what the 750GB beasts are). XP (pre SP1 or 2) follows the 132GB hard drive limitation. Get updated to SP2, then get into disk management: -Right-click 'My Computer' -Manage -Expand 'Storage' (if not already expanded) -Click on 'Disk Management' From here, you'll be able to see the remaining unpartitioned and unformatted hard drive sizes. Right-click on the partition or highlight it and use the 'Action' menu to format the rest. You won't be able to add the remaining amount to your current partition within Windows. 3rd-party tools can do this, but having a separate partition comes in handy when you have to reinstall Windows. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

14-09-2006, 07:26 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,817 Times Helpful: 309 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	generally the HDD is usually the primary master, i think IDE Third Master ..... [HDD] IDE Fourth Master ..... [NONE] IDE Fifth Master ..... [NONE] IDE Sixth Master ..... [NONE] are for SATA devices most mobo's only have 2 IDE channels (primary & secondary, each able to take a maximum of 2 IDE devices you may be able to use the aditional space by Start->Settings->Control Panel->Admin Tools then click storage and look for some unalocated space, then initialise and fofmat it, to realocate the space to C: you will need to use some third party software like this __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City

14-09-2006, 07:45 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,817 Times Helpful: 309 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	why don't you slipstream your XP CD edit: this will create an XP SP2 install CD __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City Last edited by donkey42; 17-09-2006 at 07:42 PM. Reason: update

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14-09-2006, 07:37 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
QuiPetMonDe Big Geek Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 102 Status: Offline	dont like the idea of using 3rd party software. Cant i just download sp1 or sp2 and burn it on to a disk and some how upload it whilst im installing windows?

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