Can't access full capability of new drive

Can't access full capability of new drive

I bought a Maxtor ATA 160 Gig hard drive to use in a USB enclosure as a receptacle for video files to make DVD's. I was able to format the drive thru accessories/system tools but am unable to gain the full 160 gigs. I know there is a 137 gig limit unless one has XP service pack one which I do have installed. The most I can get out of the new drive is about 39 gigs. Any suggestions to find the other 121 gigs?

Joe

Posted by: jccole Posted on: 07/06/2004 8:11 AM

Re: Can't access full capability of new drive

There are two limit which you may encounter. One is the firmware limit (bios), the other is software limit (the OS). Because you are using USB (something else may come into play here); can't place my fingeres on it but it may be there.

As software goes, XP has a fix for it; maxtor also has fix for the other OS...check their website.

If it's the firmware problem, possible solution would be to check for bios update or get a bios interface card (mine came with the maxtor drive). In your case, I don't know if it's worthwhile or not (for that extra 35GB). But anyway, good luck.

Posted by: Art Posted on: 07/06/2004 9:40 AM

Can't tell!

Some USB enclosures have a 127GB limit. You didn't supply make/model number as well as the web site/manual for the enclosure so I can only share that some had this limit.

Others try to use FAT32 on the volumes and a nuisance seems to crop up with the 137Gb limit.

Try this. Once you are sure your SP1 XP is all proper, use the Drive Management tool to remove all partitions from the drive. Reboot and use the Drive Management tool to create the new partition and try again.

My bet is you have the older USB enclosures.

Bob

Posted by: R. Proffitt Posted on: 07/06/2004 8:48 AM

Re-read it again. FAT32 limits.

XP limits partitions of FAT32 to 32GB each. That's more than 32 billion bytes which may be your 39 billion byte number (I haven't done the math.)

You need to use the Drive Management tool to remove that and create the NTFS partition you want.

bob

Posted by: R. Proffitt Posted on: 07/06/2004 10:51 AM