Hard drive size problem

[Hidex]

Hi, I just got a new computer and tried to install the hard-drive. But Windows could only see 33gb, so I went in BIOS (award) and it also saw only 33gb. It was set on auto-detect. I tried to fill manualy the settings in BIOS, but it didn't work.

I tried to delete partitions, rebuild them and format. But it still didn't work.

I then booted with Data Lifeguard (WD's diagnostic software) and it did regognize my 80gb hard-drive. I tried to install the hard drive with Data Lifeguard, but when I tried to Windows after, I got the message "NTLDR is missing".

I don't know what to do anymore.
Thanks

 

[mrEvil]

More details....what size of drive are we talking about? What version of Windows? What service pack? And exactly what are you trying to do? Are you trying to replace your old hard drive or just add this one in as a second hard drive?

 

[Hidex]

Originally posted by: mrEvil
More details....what size of drive are we talking about? What version of Windows? What service pack? And exactly what are you trying to do? Are you trying to replace your old hard drive or just add this one in as a second hard drive?

It's an 80 gigs hard drive.
Windows XP SP1

It's a new hard drive, and will be the only HD that I will use on that computer.

My setup is:
AMD AthlonXP 2500+
Asus A7N8X-X Motherboard
256MB PC2700 RAM
80gb Western Digital Caviar SE (WD800JB)

 

[mrEvil]

I'll bump this because at the moment, I'm at a loss as to what is causing the issue. Two thoughts:
1. Update the A7N8X to the latest BIOS. That should not be the issue at all but who knows....seen stranger things in my day
2. Try removing all other peripherals from the IDE devices and see what the BIOS says.

I know that you should not have to these days, but you may have to manually set the BIOS information for the hard drive. A WD drive will generally have all of that info on the top of it. Heads, cylinders, and.....I'm drawing a blank on the last one - it's been that long....scrach that idea from the hard drive. Just looked at my WD that I have to RMA...none of it on the drive. Maybe in the manual or online.

 

[Ryoga]

Either the drive is only reporting that it has 33GB, or the BIOS is unable to read past 33GB.

Check the jumper configuration of your HDD. Many of them have a compatability mode that foces them not to use LBA mode, capping you at 33.8 GB or 31.5 GiB.

Double check your system BIOS to be sure that LBA mode is enabled (most modern boards shouldn't have this setting at all because you have no reason to turn it off anymore).

Use Data Lifeguard Tools to zero-fill your drive (erasing all contents of it and resetting the contents to the way it was when it came from the factory) and then try installing Windows XP on it again. Be sure to format the drive as NTFS and not FAT32. I seem to remeber some versions of FAT32 in Windows not being able to support partitions larger than 32GiB (Win95 for sure, but I think FAT32 was depreciated in WinXP).

 

[GregANDTCH]

WinXP can use FAT32 partitions larger than 32.
You have to format them another way first though.
XP won't format them larger than that on an installation.

I think like Ryoga that the jumpers could be wrong.
Your instruction sheet for the jumpers could be printed wrong.
Look on the WD site for a sheet for the jumper settings.
http://support.wdc.com/techinfo/general/jumpers.asp

 

[Theslowone]

This might be a long shot, but have you tried to change your ide cable, or make sure that its plugged in right?