Hard Drive Size

[David Lee]

Hi,

I was about to order a new 250Gb USB Ext Hard Drive to use for backup's,
archive files, etc but heard somewhere that there is a limit on the size of
hard drive acceptable to XP.

Is that the case?

I was also intending to partition it anyway. Would that help if there was a
problem?

Cheers.

David

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

There is really no limit as to the size of an external hard drive
you can use with Windows XP.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hi,
|
| I was about to order a new 250Gb USB Ext Hard Drive to use for backup's,
| archive files, etc but heard somewhere that there is a limit on the size of
| hard drive acceptable to XP.
|
| Is that the case?
|
| I was also intending to partition it anyway. Would that help if there was a
| problem?
|
| Cheers.
|
| David

 

[LVTravel]

Pre SP1 the drives did have a 128 GB size limit. XP also won't format a FAT
partition larger than 32 GB. These are the only limits. If you have SP1
installed and 48bit LBA enabled, the drive size formatted as NTFS is much
larger than you are going to install.

 

[Tom]

What does this have to do with an external storage device? The device in question can be any size, since it isn't hooked directly into the system internally.

 

[LVTravel]

Thanks Unknown

 

[Tom]

Unknown also is well KNOWN for giving very bad advice if not patently worng advice.

I don't come here to coddle wrong advice, as you so replied to Unknown when he coddled you; I simply pointed out your error, in which I was very nice about it. What you stated had nothing to do with the limits that XP has with FAT32 or NTFS file formats on hard drives externally connected, since your reply only applies to internal devices patched into the MOBO. As I stated, an external device has no such limit, since no parameters are set through the MOBO.

The OP clearly was asking about his EXTERNAL hard drive, so you previous reply was not only wrong regarding the OP's query, it was non sequitur!

Thanks Unknown

The guy was just giving additional information as a means to help educate the
new user you putz. Take a pill and chill. Moron. {]:~(

 

[LVTravel]

OP wrote "but heard somewhere that there is a limit on the size of hard
drive acceptable to XP". I wrote "Pre SP1 the drives did have a 128 GB size
limit. XP also won't format a FAT
partition larger than 32 GB. These are the only limits. If you have SP1
installed and 48bit LBA enabled, the drive size formatted as NTFS is much
larger than you are going to install.

The information relating to formatting a drive larger than 32 GB as a FAT
drive is pertinent to the case since Disk Management will not give you the
option of a FAT 32 format if the partition is larger than 32 GB. I just
verified this with an 80 GB USB drive. Would format as 80 GB NTFS but had
to partition as 32 GB to get a FAT 32 format option.

While I can't verify the information on the SP1 & 48 bit information as all
my XP machines are properly equipped, the information I gave him was
factual, especially the information in reference the limits. The
information was meant to alleviate any fears he may have in reference to
this new drive.

So, obviously you were wrong in your statement, non prosequitur (and yes I
am using this slightly wrong.)

Unknown also is well KNOWN for giving very bad advice if not patently worng
advice.

I don't come here to coddle wrong advice, as you so replied to Unknown when
he coddled you; I simply pointed out your error, in which I was very nice
about it. What you stated had nothing to do with the limits that XP has with
FAT32 or NTFS file formats on hard drives externally connected, since your
reply only applies to internal devices patched into the MOBO. As I stated,
an external device has no such limit, since no parameters are set through
the MOBO.

The OP clearly was asking about his EXTERNAL hard drive, so you previous
reply was not only wrong regarding the OP's query, it was non sequitur!

Thanks Unknown

The guy was just giving additional information as a means to help educate the
new user you putz. Take a pill and chill. Moron. {]:~(

 

[Tom]

Listen, he asked if there was such a limit on an EXTERNAL drive, get it, so I am not wrong. !!!! I replied that there is none because he asked nothing about installing a drive internally, to which you info applies.. I am not wrong in my statement, since I gave an answer regarding an EXTERNAL drive. What part of EXTERNAL do you not understand?

OP wrote "but heard somewhere that there is a limit on the size of hard
drive acceptable to XP". I wrote "Pre SP1 the drives did have a 128 GB size
limit. XP also won't format a FAT
partition larger than 32 GB. These are the only limits. If you have SP1
installed and 48bit LBA enabled, the drive size formatted as NTFS is much
larger than you are going to install.

The information relating to formatting a drive larger than 32 GB as a FAT
drive is pertinent to the case since Disk Management will not give you the
option of a FAT 32 format if the partition is larger than 32 GB. I just
verified this with an 80 GB USB drive. Would format as 80 GB NTFS but had
to partition as 32 GB to get a FAT 32 format option.

While I can't verify the information on the SP1 & 48 bit information as all
my XP machines are properly equipped, the information I gave him was
factual, especially the information in reference the limits. The
information was meant to alleviate any fears he may have in reference to
this new drive.

So, obviously you were wrong in your statement, non prosequitur (and yes I
am using this slightly wrong.)

Unknown also is well KNOWN for giving very bad advice if not patently worng
advice.

I don't come here to coddle wrong advice, as you so replied to Unknown when
he coddled you; I simply pointed out your error, in which I was very nice
about it. What you stated had nothing to do with the limits that XP has with
FAT32 or NTFS file formats on hard drives externally connected, since your
reply only applies to internal devices patched into the MOBO. As I stated,
an external device has no such limit, since no parameters are set through
the MOBO.

The OP clearly was asking about his EXTERNAL hard drive, so you previous
reply was not only wrong regarding the OP's query, it was non sequitur!

Thanks Unknown

The guy was just giving additional information as a means to help educate the
new user you putz. Take a pill and chill. Moron. {]:~(

 

[LVTravel]

Is not a USB drive an external drive (haven't seen many that are internal.)
As I stated in my previous post the drive is still limited to 32 GB if
formatting as a FAT 32 partition as I proved to myself when testing with
said USB EXTERNAL 80 GB drive. You are at least partially wrong as the size
limit DOES apply to USB External drives for FAT 32 partitions if formatted
in XP. Of course, if the drive was partitioned and formatted using a 98 DOS
Boot disk the limit does not apply to the FAT 32 partitions and XP will use
them happily. As I stated I can not verify (without dumping a computer back
to pre SP1) if the 128 GB limit is in effect for EXTERNAL drives.


Listen, he asked if there was such a limit on an EXTERNAL drive, get it, so
I am not wrong. !!!! I replied that there is none because he asked nothing
about installing a drive internally, to which you info applies.. I am not
wrong in my statement, since I gave an answer regarding an EXTERNAL drive.
What part of EXTERNAL do you not understand?

OP wrote "but heard somewhere that there is a limit on the size of hard
drive acceptable to XP". I wrote "Pre SP1 the drives did have a 128 GB size
limit. XP also won't format a FAT
partition larger than 32 GB. These are the only limits. If you have SP1
installed and 48bit LBA enabled, the drive size formatted as NTFS is much
larger than you are going to install.

The information relating to formatting a drive larger than 32 GB as a FAT
drive is pertinent to the case since Disk Management will not give you the
option of a FAT 32 format if the partition is larger than 32 GB. I just
verified this with an 80 GB USB drive. Would format as 80 GB NTFS but had
to partition as 32 GB to get a FAT 32 format option.

While I can't verify the information on the SP1 & 48 bit information as all
my XP machines are properly equipped, the information I gave him was
factual, especially the information in reference the limits. The
information was meant to alleviate any fears he may have in reference to
this new drive.

So, obviously you were wrong in your statement, non prosequitur (and yes I
am using this slightly wrong.)

Unknown also is well KNOWN for giving very bad advice if not patently worng
advice.

I don't come here to coddle wrong advice, as you so replied to Unknown when
he coddled you; I simply pointed out your error, in which I was very nice
about it. What you stated had nothing to do with the limits that XP has with
FAT32 or NTFS file formats on hard drives externally connected, since your
reply only applies to internal devices patched into the MOBO. As I stated,
an external device has no such limit, since no parameters are set through
the MOBO.

The OP clearly was asking about his EXTERNAL hard drive, so you previous
reply was not only wrong regarding the OP's query, it was non sequitur!

Thanks Unknown

The guy was just giving additional information as a means to help

educate
the

new user you putz. Take a pill and chill. Moron. {]:~(

 

[Thomas Wendell]

That 32GB limit for FAT32 is only when you format it from XP. Older
Windows's (W98SE/ME/W2k) has no such limit.. (2TB??)


--
Tumppi
Reply to group
=================================================
Most learned on nntp://news.mircosoft.com
Helsinki, Finland (remove _NOSPAM)
(translations from FI/SE not always accurate)
=================================================

Is not a USB drive an external drive (haven't seen many that are internal.)
As I stated in my previous post the drive is still limited to 32 GB if
formatting as a FAT 32 partition as I proved to myself when testing with
said USB EXTERNAL 80 GB drive. You are at least partially wrong as the size
limit DOES apply to USB External drives for FAT 32 partitions if formatted
in XP. Of course, if the drive was partitioned and formatted using a 98 DOS
Boot disk the limit does not apply to the FAT 32 partitions and XP will use
them happily. As I stated I can not verify (without dumping a computer back
to pre SP1) if the 128 GB limit is in effect for EXTERNAL drives.


Listen, he asked if there was such a limit on an EXTERNAL drive, get it, so
I am not wrong. !!!! I replied that there is none because he asked nothing
about installing a drive internally, to which you info applies.. I am not
wrong in my statement, since I gave an answer regarding an EXTERNAL drive.
What part of EXTERNAL do you not understand?

OP wrote "but heard somewhere that there is a limit on the size of hard
drive acceptable to XP". I wrote "Pre SP1 the drives did have a 128 GB size
limit. XP also won't format a FAT
partition larger than 32 GB. These are the only limits. If you have SP1
installed and 48bit LBA enabled, the drive size formatted as NTFS is much
larger than you are going to install.

The information relating to formatting a drive larger than 32 GB as a FAT
drive is pertinent to the case since Disk Management will not give you the
option of a FAT 32 format if the partition is larger than 32 GB. I just
verified this with an 80 GB USB drive. Would format as 80 GB NTFS but had
to partition as 32 GB to get a FAT 32 format option.

While I can't verify the information on the SP1 & 48 bit information as all
my XP machines are properly equipped, the information I gave him was
factual, especially the information in reference the limits. The
information was meant to alleviate any fears he may have in reference to
this new drive.

So, obviously you were wrong in your statement, non prosequitur (and yes I
am using this slightly wrong.)

Unknown also is well KNOWN for giving very bad advice if not patently worng
advice.

I don't come here to coddle wrong advice, as you so replied to Unknown when
he coddled you; I simply pointed out your error, in which I was very nice
about it. What you stated had nothing to do with the limits that XP has with
FAT32 or NTFS file formats on hard drives externally connected, since your
reply only applies to internal devices patched into the MOBO. As I stated,
an external device has no such limit, since no parameters are set through
the MOBO.

The OP clearly was asking about his EXTERNAL hard drive, so you previous
reply was not only wrong regarding the OP's query, it was non sequitur!

Thanks Unknown
The guy was just giving additional information as a means to help educate
the
new user you putz. Take a pill and chill. Moron. {]:~(

 

[Guest]

mabe i havent understand the discussion but there are many limits with
external discs like ie. the disc cannot be dynamic ntfs, but as always you
can do almost anything but its not recommended or smart in longterm with
compability and so on.

nuff with boring talk, any ata/atapi device have a limit to 24bit adressing
to the disc
unless sp1 and tweaking is made!!! otherwise you havent made tweak your
drive will be lost when adressing is exeeding the limit and so 1st
masterfiletable is overwritten what can you do if your tables of files are
gone.... mush work in recovery i guess. If extrenal device is ata disc or
compatible connected with USB/firewire... cable out of the box its adressing
is still made with the atapi drivers!!!!!

many of 160GB disc died before i got it right... read about it

http://www.48bitlba.com

dont say anything before you know, done that been there... dont stay in the
square.

/D like dagoba - think before you vote, can moneyraced elections be a
democratic way to freedom? Buissnes is buissnes, never forget!

---

That 32GB limit for FAT32 is only when you format it from XP. Older
Windows's (W98SE/ME/W2k) has no such limit.. (2TB??)


--
Tumppi
Reply to group
=================================================
Most learned on nntp://news.mircosoft.com
Helsinki, Finland (remove _NOSPAM)
(translations from FI/SE not always accurate)
=================================================

Is not a USB drive an external drive (haven't seen many that are internal.)
As I stated in my previous post the drive is still limited to 32 GB if
formatting as a FAT 32 partition as I proved to myself when testing with
said USB EXTERNAL 80 GB drive. You are at least partially wrong as the size
limit DOES apply to USB External drives for FAT 32 partitions if formatted
in XP. Of course, if the drive was partitioned and formatted using a 98 DOS
Boot disk the limit does not apply to the FAT 32 partitions and XP will use
them happily. As I stated I can not verify (without dumping a computer back
to pre SP1) if the 128 GB limit is in effect for EXTERNAL drives.


Listen, he asked if there was such a limit on an EXTERNAL drive, get it, so
I am not wrong. !!!! I replied that there is none because he asked nothing
about installing a drive internally, to which you info applies.. I am not
wrong in my statement, since I gave an answer regarding an EXTERNAL drive.
What part of EXTERNAL do you not understand?

OP wrote "but heard somewhere that there is a limit on the size of hard
drive acceptable to XP". I wrote "Pre SP1 the drives did have a 128 GB size
limit. XP also won't format a FAT
partition larger than 32 GB. These are the only limits. If you have SP1
installed and 48bit LBA enabled, the drive size formatted as NTFS is much
larger than you are going to install.

The information relating to formatting a drive larger than 32 GB as a FAT
drive is pertinent to the case since Disk Management will not give you the
option of a FAT 32 format if the partition is larger than 32 GB. I just
verified this with an 80 GB USB drive. Would format as 80 GB NTFS but had
to partition as 32 GB to get a FAT 32 format option.

While I can't verify the information on the SP1 & 48 bit information as all
my XP machines are properly equipped, the information I gave him was
factual, especially the information in reference the limits. The
information was meant to alleviate any fears he may have in reference to
this new drive.

So, obviously you were wrong in your statement, non prosequitur (and yes I
am using this slightly wrong.)

Unknown also is well KNOWN for giving very bad advice if not patently worng
advice.

I don't come here to coddle wrong advice, as you so replied to Unknown when
he coddled you; I simply pointed out your error, in which I was very nice
about it. What you stated had nothing to do with the limits that XP has with
FAT32 or NTFS file formats on hard drives externally connected, since your
reply only applies to internal devices patched into the MOBO. As I stated,
an external device has no such limit, since no parameters are set through
the MOBO.

The OP clearly was asking about his EXTERNAL hard drive, so you previous
reply was not only wrong regarding the OP's query, it was non sequitur!


Thanks Unknown
The guy was just giving additional information as a means to help educate
the
new user you putz. Take a pill and chill. Moron. {]:~(

 

[Gary Hendricks]

Hi all

A limit of 32GB applies to FAT32 drives. So if you format a drive
under Windows XP as a FAT32 drive, then that limit will apply.

Gary Hendricks
www.baby-product-guide.com

mabe i havent understand the discussion but there are many limits with
external discs like ie. the disc cannot be dynamic ntfs, but as always you
can do almost anything but its not recommended or smart in longterm with
compability and so on.

nuff with boring talk, any ata/atapi device have a limit to 24bit adressing
to the disc
unless sp1 and tweaking is made!!! otherwise you havent made tweak your
drive will be lost when adressing is exeeding the limit and so 1st
masterfiletable is overwritten what can you do if your tables of files are
gone.... mush work in recovery i guess. If extrenal device is ata disc or
compatible connected with USB/firewire... cable out of the box its adressing
is still made with the atapi drivers!!!!!

many of 160GB disc died before i got it right... read about it

http://www.48bitlba.com

dont say anything before you know, done that been there... dont stay in the
square.

/D like dagoba - think before you vote, can moneyraced elections be a
democratic way to freedom? Buissnes is buissnes, never forget!

---

That 32GB limit for FAT32 is only when you format it from XP. Older
Windows's (W98SE/ME/W2k) has no such limit.. (2TB??)


--
Tumppi
Reply to group
=================================================
Most learned on nntp://news.mircosoft.com
Helsinki, Finland (remove _NOSPAM)
(translations from FI/SE not always accurate)
=================================================

Is not a USB drive an external drive (haven't seen many that are internal.)
As I stated in my previous post the drive is still limited to 32 GB if
formatting as a FAT 32 partition as I proved to myself when testing with
said USB EXTERNAL 80 GB drive. You are at least partially wrong as the size
limit DOES apply to USB External drives for FAT 32 partitions if formatted
in XP. Of course, if the drive was partitioned and formatted using a 98 DOS
Boot disk the limit does not apply to the FAT 32 partitions and XP will use
them happily. As I stated I can not verify (without dumping a computer back
to pre SP1) if the 128 GB limit is in effect for EXTERNAL drives.


Listen, he asked if there was such a limit on an EXTERNAL drive, get it, so
I am not wrong. !!!! I replied that there is none because he asked nothing
about installing a drive internally, to which you info applies.. I am not
wrong in my statement, since I gave an answer regarding an EXTERNAL drive.
What part of EXTERNAL do you not understand?


OP wrote "but heard somewhere that there is a limit on the size of hard
drive acceptable to XP". I wrote "Pre SP1 the drives did have a 128 GB size
limit. XP also won't format a FAT
partition larger than 32 GB. These are the only limits. If you have SP1
installed and 48bit LBA enabled, the drive size formatted as NTFS is much
larger than you are going to install.

The information relating to formatting a drive larger than 32 GB as a FAT
drive is pertinent to the case since Disk Management will not give you the
option of a FAT 32 format if the partition is larger than 32 GB. I just
verified this with an 80 GB USB drive. Would format as 80 GB NTFS but had
to partition as 32 GB to get a FAT 32 format option.

While I can't verify the information on the SP1 & 48 bit information as all
my XP machines are properly equipped, the information I gave him was
factual, especially the information in reference the limits. The
information was meant to alleviate any fears he may have in reference to
this new drive.

So, obviously you were wrong in your statement, non prosequitur (and yes I
am using this slightly wrong.)

Unknown also is well KNOWN for giving very bad advice if not patently worng
advice.

I don't come here to coddle wrong advice, as you so replied to Unknown when
he coddled you; I simply pointed out your error, in which I was very nice
about it. What you stated had nothing to do with the limits that XP has with
FAT32 or NTFS file formats on hard drives externally connected, since your
reply only applies to internal devices patched into the MOBO. As I stated,
an external device has no such limit, since no parameters are set through
the MOBO.

The OP clearly was asking about his EXTERNAL hard drive, so you previous
reply was not only wrong regarding the OP's query, it was non sequitur!


Thanks Unknown
The guy was just giving additional information as a means to help

educate
the

new user you putz. Take a pill and chill. Moron. {]:~(