Trying to install new HD, can't get my XP machine to start up in DOS.

[KevDODOUBLEG]

I'm trying to install a new 180 gb hard drive. I need to make the partition and format it in dos because windows only recognizes it as 128 gb because of the HD size limit (i'm plugging the drive into a controller card so that it will trick it into thinking it's a scsi drive). The problem with getting into dos, is that my floppy drive doesn't work. Any ideas, besides get a new floppy drive? (and a command prompt won't work in XP to do this stuff). Thanks.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

The 128gb is a controller limit, not a limit with windows. Any ATA-133 device should be able to use the full 180Gb.
What are you using to make the partition? What would you use in dos to do so?
Easiest way of booting into dos is to use a win98 CD to boot from.

 

[John]

The Win XP cdrom is bootable, so set your bios to boot from the cdrom before it hits the hdd. You can then hit f6 at the beginning of Win XP setup and define mass storage.

 

[KevDODOUBLEG]

Originally posted by: Woodchuck2000
The 128gb is a controller limit, not a limit with windows. Any ATA-133 device should be able to use the full 180Gb.
What are you using to make the partition? What would you use in dos to do so?
Easiest way of booting into dos is to use a win98 CD to boot from.

hmmmm, maybe i can't use my old controller card and should use the one they gave me, i'll try that.

 

[KevDODOUBLEG]

Originally posted by: John
The Win XP cdrom is bootable, so set your bios to boot from the cdrom before it hits the hdd. You can then hit f6 at the beginning of Win XP setup and define mass storage.

But it doesn't boot into DOS, it boots into windows setup, and then restarts your computer when you leave setup.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

but why do you even want to get into dos? What were you planning to use to create a partition?

 

[KevDODOUBLEG]

Originally posted by: Woodchuck2000
but why do you even want to get into dos? What were you planning to use to create a partition?

fdisk, trying to do it in windwos only recognized it as 128. It might work in windows if I switch controller cards, i'll try that. I just can't for a few hours.