large hard drive formatting on XP

[Murr045]

Is it possible to format a HD larger than 127 GB on XP without SP1? If not, can I make 2 partitions of 125 each (its 250 gig), and how? The service packs really bog down my computer. Thanks for any help!

 

[montag451]

It depends on the mobo.

 

[Murr045]

I have an Asus p4p800 deluxe. I heard that windows was the limiting factor. How is it the motherboard/what do I do?

 

[cubby1223]

You can make a 125gig partition during initial setup, then once done, upgrade to SP2, and after that you can create a second partition.

And while you're at it, wouldn't hurt to slipstream sp2 onto a new installation cd for WinXP.

 

[montag451]

I dunno that board personally, but if you look up on Asus website, look at that board, check it has 48bit LBA support - that board will support your >137GB hdd.
Check the BIOS revision you have versus the latest downloadable one on the website.
You may or may not have a problem with xp after that - only you can try it.
SP2 has fixed it.
What is the exact problem you have with it? I know it doesn't suit everybody with existing builds, but:

If you install it as part of the operating system, ie, straight after installing windows, then it should minimize the chances of something going ape.

 

[SGtheArtist]

I thought SP2 was required in order to recognize any HDD larger than 137GB.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: SGtheArtist
I thought SP2 was required in order to recognize any HDD larger than 137GB.

SP1 is the requirement, and even XP discs without any service packs recognize the hard drives, they just can access only the first 127gb of the drive.

 

[skisteven1]

XP SP2 is bloatware IMHO. There's absolutely no need to install it just to access the whole drive. And I'm pretty sure I've used XP (no SP) with my 250gb. not positive though.

...did you just try to format the whole thing through windows? Or are you asking theoretically?

 

[Murr045]

When I go to format it in Windows it says it's only 127 gigs. I've given up and gone ahead with a full reformat with XP sp2, it needed it anyway. Ah well. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[WiseOldDude]

make a single partition of 137 update to SP2 then you can use something like Partition Magic to expand the partition to use the rest of the disk. I did this on a 250 gigger