new to sata...

[510kut]

so this is my first sata drive (Hitachi 160gb sata II well I guess sata II drive). Anyhow its in a new computer and I just put in the xp cd to install. Any it only has approx 127gb, now I know you lose some space but I didn't think you lost 40gb. Is that normal? Also it hasn't asked me to put in the floppy with the drivers (I thought all sata required you to slap in the floppy?) Anyhow I'm using a DFI nf4 board too.

 

[stevty2889]

Do you have SP1 or SP2 with your windows CD? If not, thats the problem, you need SP1 or SP2 for windows to recognize the rest of the drive. You could always use the hard drive MFG's utilities to partition the drive prior to installing windows.

 

[510kut]

ahh!! ok yea its just a old cd I had laying around.. knew I shoulda got around to slipstreaming sp2... is it possible to just boot with the boot floppy and partition? without any OS?

oh btw thanks haha

 

[stevty2889]

If you download the hard drive manufacturers tools, they usualy have something to make a bootable floppy or cd, and you can partition the drive that way, without needing an OS installed.