Full Hard Drive size (160GB) not being detected

[jbaggins]

I just purchased a 160 gb Maxtor hd for my computer. i'm using a dell 2400 with windows xp service pack 2. i have downloaded intel chipsets accelerator file and installed it. i used the software that came with my hd (maxblast) to configure the drives. I now have the 1 160gb drive i use to boot and have transferred all the files from the original 40g drive that is setup as a slave and is still in my computer.

Windows XP states that my 160 gb hd has 163,921,571,840 bytes, which would seem fine, however it goes on to say 152 GB. it says capactiy is 152 GB.

Same thing with my second, original hd. its reading it as 39,xxx,xxx,xxx bytes, but then it says 37.2 GB.

Does this mean I will not be able to utilize the full hard drive space? That would mean a loss of potential use of 8 GB on my first drive, which seems absurd.

Explanations? Thanks!

 

[BlueD0T]

this HDD is 160... but the partition and boot crap takes up space. the larger the HDD the more space it takes up.

i.e. on a 20gb drive b4 its fdisked and formated its over 20gb, after its formated its around 19gb/

 

[mastertech01]

Hard drive manufacturers define a decimal GB=1000x1000x1000=1,000,000,000

Operating system defines a binary GB=1024x1024x1024=1,073,741,824

163,921,571,840 divided by 1,073,741,824 = 152.663xxx GB

 

[jbaggins]

So i take it this is normal?

I've never owned such a large drive b4, so i guess i didn't pay much attention. but with 8 gigs less, thats quite a difference.

Is there anything i can do or that can be done? or is this normal?

Thanks for the replies.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: mastertech01
Hard drive manufacturers define a decimal GB=1000x1000x1000=1,000,000,000

Operating system defines a binary GB=1024x1024x1024=1,073,741,824

163,921,571,840 divided by 1,073,741,824 = 152.663xxx GB

Did you read mastertech's response?

It is normal.

 

[mastertech01]

Yes, it is an industry standard amoung hard drive manufacturers to advertise decimal GB in thier ratings. But if you look at it, you will see your manufacturer actually gave you close to 4 extra decimal GB than advertised. So they compromised somewhat to your favor... something you will not always find.

All Windows operating systems format in binary GB.

I wouldnt sweat the 8 fewer GB than you anticipated having, as most people have a hard time keeping a fraction of that intact for any given time.