24 replies to this topic

[karamazov]

I've recently purchesed a DiamondMax 21 200gb Maxtor drive and I tried installing it and the bios detected the drive, but only 32gb of the 200. I cant seem to figure out what the deal is. I've got a secondary Western Digtal 120gb already in. I've tried it without that drive as well. Any suggestions?

[paws]

Hi, Sorry to hear of the problem with your new hard drive, The figure of 32Gb is indicative that you may have tried to format the new drive using FAT 32. Windows XP cannot format anything larger than this figure using FAT 32, although, of course other systems can. If you need a partition greater than 32 Gb then you will need to consider formatting it using NTFS Regards paws

[karamazov]

Yeah, I tried doing that, too. The thing is though is that Bios only detects the 32gb

[paws]

Hi Right, with what file system is it formatted? Regards paws

[karamazov]

My 120 is NTFS, but the 200 isnt formatted at all. I didnt really see any use in formatting and partioning it when it doesnt detect the entire amount

[paws]

Hi, Try formatting it as NTFS Regards paws

[karamazov]

I did. It formatted the 32gb and thats it

[paws]

Hi, Is it formatted as FAT 32 or NTFS? Regards Paws

[karamazov]

applogies for that last post, sounded more rude than I had meant it to. I formatted it NTFS

[paws]

Hi, No problems Is it IDE or Sata and have you tried a new cable? Regards paws

[karamazov]

ATA 100 and yeah, I used the cable that I was using for my existing hard disk first and then tried the brand spankin new one that came with the drive with the same results

[paws]

Hi, I have reread your post carefully! and see that your original drive is referred to as "secondary drive" If that is so presumably you have set the jumper on the secondary drive to slave and the jumper on the new drive to master and then followed the usual method of formatting? If this is so and you still have no joy, then I would use fdisk, but before doing so download the drive tools from Maxtor (if they did not come with your new drive, they usually do) delete the partitions, then recreate them and format from fresh with NTFS. Regards paws

[karamazov]

At the time the WD was my seconday but its back to master. I might be wrong in assuming this, but if the bios only detects it as a 32 gigger, then fdisk probably will do the same, right? The Maxtor software tells me its a 32gb even formatted ntfs

[paws]

Hi, I think you should fdisk it and start again... you mention ATA 100 that's looking a bit old now, (trying to be kind!) you are not using disc overlay to enable your bios to cope with oversize disc are you? Regards paws

[karamazov]

Hi,
you are not using disc overlay to enable your bios to cope with oversize disc are you?

I'm not sure I understand what that means