Formatting Large HD

  • Thread starter Thread starter clcickerx
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clcickerx

I've been told by several computer techs that I should be able to format
a 250GB HD with Windows XP SP2. I've made sure I have all the updates
downloaded. I was instructed to
1. Left click on My Computer
2. Choose Manage
3. Choose Disk Management
4. Choose my HD and Format

I get a maximum format of 33.4 GB on the 250GB drive. - No matter
how I try to format the drive I get no more than 33.4GB.

I bought a HD Enclosure and installed the HD and have it USB cabled to
the computer. The computer recognizes the drive as my G: drive, but I get no
more than 33.4GB formatted on it.
What could I be doing wrong?

I'd appreciate some advice. Thank you.
 
You are most likely trying to format the drive as FAT32, which has an XP
limitation of 32GB. If you only want one single partition for this drive
then format as NTFS.

JS
 
Thanks for the reply JS.

I chose NTFS for the format. I get 33.4. Very frustrating, especially when
everyone I've asked says I should be able to do it with no problem.

I've used MaxBlast 3 from Maxtor. I get the same results. Thanks.
 
clcickerx said:
I've been told by several computer techs that I should be able to
format a 250GB HD with Windows XP SP2. I've made sure I have all the
updates downloaded. I was instructed to
1. Left click on My Computer
2. Choose Manage
3. Choose Disk Management
4. Choose my HD and Format

I get a maximum format of 33.4 GB on the 250GB drive. - No matter
how I try to format the drive I get no more than 33.4GB.

I bought a HD Enclosure and installed the HD and have it USB cabled to
the computer. The computer recognizes the drive as my G: drive, but I get
no more than 33.4GB formatted on it.
What could I be doing wrong?

I'd appreciate some advice. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Its true that with SP2 you should be able to but it could be that your
motherboard doesn't support it. Try installing Maxtor's big drive enabler.
It is supposed to overcome any limitations with a registry fix. Get it here.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/Maxtor-Big-Drive-Enabler.shtml
 
Just went thru the formatting routine again and get only a 31.4GB format in
the NTFS format. Can't understand why!
 
Is it a PATA or SATA interface type drive?

JS

clcickerx said:
Thanks for the reply JS.

I chose NTFS for the format. I get 33.4. Very frustrating, especially
when everyone I've asked says I should be able to do it with no problem.

I've used MaxBlast 3 from Maxtor. I get the same results. Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
Check the jumpers on the HDD. some have(had) a jumper to limit size. Took
me several hours once until I figured that out.
 
Mike said:
Check the jumpers on the HDD. some have(had) a jumper to limit size. Took
me several hours once until I figured that out.
Click to expand...

The "clipping jumper" may not be shown on the label on the drive.
Sometimes, you have to check the web site, to get a picture of
all the jumper options.

Paul
 
I've been told by several computer techs that I should be able to format
a 250GB HD with Windows XP SP2. I've made sure I have all the updates
downloaded. I was instructed to
1. Left click on My Computer
2. Choose Manage
3. Choose Disk Management
Click to expand...

On the left side of the bottom panel, it should say Disk 1, Basic,
232.00 GB, Online. If the size is not correct, then the drive is not
jumpered correctly.
 
Thanks Bud - My system tells me I have Big Disk Enabler capability and
therefore upon installation of the Maxtor Big Drive Enabler it tells me it's
unnecessary.
 
Andy - I've checked the jumpers and it's set for "slave". I downloaded the
jumper setting scheme from Maxtor.com and followed that. No improvement.
Reading through Maxtor it mentions I may need a ATA133 card. - This I bought
and tried installing and connecting the cable and it crashed my system and I
lost everything. So, I'm afraid of attempting that again. - I'm stuck
with what I have. No way of improving the situation I would suppose.
 
clcickerx said:
It's an Ultra ATA/133, JS. I think I've tried everything.
It don't work. Thanks to all.
Click to expand...


(Apparently "clickerx" has installed a 250 GB Maxtor PATA HDD and the system
is recognizing only 33.4 GB)

clickerx:
The problem may be, as responder Paul was earlier trying to point out to
you, that the HDD has been inadvertently jumpered "clippered" . Technically
it's called a "cylinder limitation jumper" setting and was used for
compatibility purposes with those older (ancient!) motherboards whose BIOS
did not support hard drives > 32 GB. Maxtor PATA HDDs typically include that
jumper setting where that 32 GB disk capacity limitation can be set. So
check your jumper setting.
Anna
 
If the drive is still under warranty call Maxtor's Tech. Support, if they
can't solve it then ask for a replacement drive.
Take note that all recent Maxtor Hard Drives are made by Seagate and carry a
three year warranty, the older drives made by Maxtor prior to the take over
only had a one year warranty.

Also the latest version of Max Blast is 4.x

JS
 
clcickerx said:
Andy - I've checked the jumpers and it's set for "slave". I downloaded the
jumper setting scheme from Maxtor.com and followed that. No improvement.
Reading through Maxtor it mentions I may need a ATA133 card. - This I
bought and tried installing and connecting the cable and it crashed my
system and I lost everything. So, I'm afraid of attempting that
in. - I'm stuck with what I have. No way of improving the situation
I would suppose.
Click to expand...

If it is still in the USB enclosure the jumpers should be set to master.
Andy is talking about a second set of jumpers though. Not all hard drives
have them. Could you post the model number of your hard drive?
 
clcickerx said:
I've been told by several computer techs that I should be able to
format a 250GB HD with Windows XP SP2. I've made sure I have all the
updates downloaded. I was instructed to
1. Left click on My Computer
2. Choose Manage
3. Choose Disk Management
4. Choose my HD and Format

I get a maximum format of 33.4 GB on the 250GB drive. - No matter
how I try to format the drive I get no more than 33.4GB.

I bought a HD Enclosure and installed the HD and have it USB cabled to
the computer. The computer recognizes the drive as my G: drive, but I get
no more than 33.4GB formatted on it.
What could I be doing wrong?

I'd appreciate some advice. Thank you.
Click to expand...

What is the drive capacity noted by the bios summary of this hard drive?
Dave
 
don't you have to partition it first before formatting it.



(e-mail address removed)



clcickerx said:
I've been told by several computer techs that I should be able to
format a 250GB HD with Windows XP SP2. I've made sure I have all the
updates downloaded. I was instructed to
1. Left click on My Computer
2. Choose Manage
3. Choose Disk Management
4. Choose my HD and Format

I get a maximum format of 33.4 GB on the 250GB drive. - No matter
how I try to format the drive I get no more than 33.4GB.

I bought a HD Enclosure and installed the HD and have it USB cabled to
the computer. The computer recognizes the drive as my G: drive, but I get
no more than 33.4GB formatted on it.
What could I be doing wrong?

I'd appreciate some advice. Thank you.
Click to expand...

What is the drive capacity noted by the bios summary of this hard drive?
Dave
 
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