200 GB HDD and Service Pack 2

[Guest]

I just built a new computer. I installed a 200GB HDD. When I boot up, the
BIOs reads the HDD as 200 GB. Windows, however, only recognizes it as a 130
GB.

I understand this to be because I run XP Pro and I have yet to install the
service packs. The theory being that when I install the service packs I can
then create an additional partition out of the approx 70 GB remaining.

I do not want 2 partitions though, I just want 1 big one. I was told Windows
can not expand a partition, that I have to buy Parition Magic or a like
product to do this. Is this my only option?

Thanks

 

[LVTravel]

The only other option is to apply the service pack to the OS and then go to
disk manager and delete the 130 GB partition and create and format a new
partition as the full 200 GB.

Hopefully you haven't put a lot of data on the drive yet.

Another thing you want to do after getting the system stable enough is to
slipstream the SP2 data into your XP install disk. If you ever have to do a
repair install you won't be able to do it with your current setup as the OS
will state the OS currently installed is newer than the one you are trying
to install and the install will fail.

See this site for a good free program to create the ISO CD file from your
SP2 (272 MB file) that you have either downloaded or obtained on a CD.

http://www.autopatcher.com/autostreamer.html

 

[Jon_Hildrum]

You need to have SP1 or SPs slipstreamed onto the installation disk if you
want to see the whole disk following a clean install.

Your option :
1. Generate a disk with SP2 slipstreamed - here is a couple of items. I
prefer the first using nlite

http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49


http://www.autopatcher.com/autostreamer.html

Redo the install.

2. Install SP2 on the existing installation. Use a third part tool like
partitionmagig or bootitng to expand the partition.

Partitionmagic http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/

Bootitng http://www.bootitng.com


Bootitng is available on a 30 day trial basis. It may not be as easy to use
as partitionmagic but is a lot less costly (free for a trial )

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Why you stick on one big Hdd?
If the OS crashed, you'll lose everything.
Also, a big HDD of 200GB take many times for drive maintenance and
defragment.
It is better just to keep the OS on C drive (30GB is good enough unless you
have many large applications e.g. games) and store all the data files to
other partitions.

Peter