New hard drive but the computer doesnt see the extra size?

[Big Lee]

I`ve had a 200 GB hard drive fitted into my laptop from a 40gb but when I`ve look on the properties and tried to defragment etc it`s still coming up as a 40gb? Is there anything I can do to make the computer see and use the bigger hard drive?

Cheers

Lee

P.S.
Please make it simple!

 

[Big Lee]

Anybody?

 

[bustupbiker]

XP ?.

 

[rc mad]

more info plz, what laptop, which version if windows

 

[cookie]

XP needs to be updated to at least SP1 before it will recognise disks larger than 137GB.

XP cannot create or format FAT32 volumes partitions greater than 32GB.

your motherboard BIOS might need updating. i think that is the most likely.

 

[Spikehammer]

I presume you're using the 200Gb as the only drive, albeit partitioned. The old 40Gb is not still your C: drive, is it?

I also presume that you've backed everything up!

You'll need another computer or have access to one to do the first bit:

Get the latest bios from your MB makers site. Download all known updates to bring your version of XP up to date, save these on a DVD etc.


Once you've got all this stuff and if you're confident in what you'll be doing you should upload the latest bios first, then try Fdisking the drive first and reinstalling, check the size indicated in the bios screens. Then split the drive into three partitions
C: System
D: Applications
E: Data

Then load all the XP updates etc and then try the repartitioning to the utilise the full size of the drive.

If it still fails then you may have to run the fmbr command to wipe the Master Boot Record on the drive and start afresh with the fdisk and XP install.

Hope this helps.

 

[Big Lee]

more info plz, what laptop, which version if windows

It`s a Toshiba Equium A100-549 running XP

XP needs to be updated to at least SP1 before it will recognise disks larger than 137GB.

XP cannot create or format FAT32 volumes partitions greater than 32GB.

your motherboard BIOS might need updating. i think that is the most likely.

It`s running SP2. The motherboard failed on me when the computer was only 6 months old and was replaced. How can I find out who the maker is?

I presume you're using the 200Gb as the only drive, albeit partitioned. The old 40Gb is not still your C: drive, is it?

I also presume that you've backed everything up!

You'll need another computer or have access to one to do the first bit:

Get the latest bios from your MB makers site. Download all known updates to bring your version of XP up to date, save these on a DVD etc.


Once you've got all this stuff and if you're confident in what you'll be doing you should upload the latest bios first, then try Fdisking the drive first and reinstalling, check the size indicated in the bios screens. Then split the drive into three partitions
C: System
D: Applications
E: Data

Then load all the XP updates etc and then try the repartitioning to the utilise the full size of the drive.

If it still fails then you may have to run the fmbr command to wipe the Master Boot Record on the drive and start afresh with the fdisk and XP install.

Hope this helps.

The only drive I have is C drive, I was maybe thinking they might have put another one on if they partitioned it but no sign of it. I have the old 40gb drive with everything still on it so no pobs there, I hope
I would`ve thought the shop who done the job for me would`ve at least checked to see i the drive was there at 200 gb

The rest of what you said scares me so I`ll give the shop a ring on Monday

Thanks for your help guys

 

[cookie]

The rest of what you said scares me so I`ll give the shop a ring on Monday

might be best.

or get a geeky friend to do it

 

[Big Lee]

Well seeing as I`ve paid them to supply & fit it I`ll get them to sort it. I just thought it might`ve been a tick in a box somewhere that needed done maybe it was, the one on the job card saying "customer needs job completed properly. Tick box if yes"

 

[Mick_rw]

I....

Well seeing as I`ve paid them to supply & fit it I`ll get them to sort it. I just thought it might`ve been a tick in a box somewhere that needed done maybe it was, the one on the job card saying "customer needs job completed properly. Tick box if yes"

assume from your statement, they fitted the drive and transfered your OS and data to the new drive, it may be possible they used imaging software to do that and left it at the 40GB size.

Try this.....

Right click "My Computer"

Click "Manage"

Click "Disk Management"

That will show your hard drive and its total capacity and the partitions on the drive. If they didn't use the full drive you should see a 40GB partition and a 160GB un-partitioned. If that is the case just partition the remaing space.

 

[Big Lee]

assume from your statement, they fitted the drive and transfered your OS and data to the new drive, it may be possible they used imaging software to do that and left it at the 40GB size.

Try this.....

Right click "My Computer"

Click "Manage"

Click "Disk Management"

That will show your hard drive and its total capacity and the partitions on the drive. If they didn't use the full drive you should see a 40GB partition and a 160GB un-partitioned. If that is the case just partition the remaing space.

You`ve hit the nail on the head there Mike I`ve just done as you said and lo and behold the sneaky little bugger of 160gb is hiding there
All I need to know now is how to access it. I`ve had a look at the partitioning wizard but as I`ve never done it before and it`s asking me what I want to do I think I need a bit of advice.
When I do get it sorted do I transfer most of my stuff from my "c" drive onto the new drive or can I extend the size of my "c" drive to store all my junk on anyway? or does it not matter



Lee

 

[Big Lee]

BTW on the computer management bit it says the 160gb bit is "unallocated" & the 40gb is "healthy". Don`t know if that helps ?

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

BTW on the computer management bit it says the 160gb bit is "unallocated" & the 40gb is "healthy". Don`t know if that helps ?

I'll try and do this from memory.

Right click (that's the right mouse button) on the 160GB bit that is unallocated and select create partition.

Leave it the 160GB if you want, select a drive letter that you want to allocate to it, I think the next bit will say do you want to format now select yes.

Once it's finished you have access to your 'lost' 160GB

 

[Mick_rw]

Once you have....

When I do get it sorted do I transfer most of my stuff from my "c" drive onto the new drive or can I extend the size of my "c" drive to store all my junk on anyway? or does it not matter



Lee

followed Pauls instructions I would just use the new partition for data storage, documents etc, don't try transfering everything, other than documents, from the C drive to the new partition or you will cause yourself major problems.

If you want to extend the C drive to include the new partiton you will need specialist software such as Acronis Disk Management. Just accept having 2 drives....

 

[Big Lee]

Thanks a lot Mike & Paul I`m in the process of formatting my new drive now.

Will I be able to move all my music, itunes etc & pictures over as they`re taking up most of the room?

 

[Mick_rw]

That will....

Thanks a lot Mike & Paul I`m in the process of formatting my new drive now.

Will I be able to move all my music, itunes etc & pictures over as they`re taking up most of the room?

not be a problem.....

 

[Big Lee]

not be a problem.....

Good
I got a little wary when I spotted the words "major problems" in your last post

 

[Mick_rw]

That would....

Good
I got a little wary when I spotted the words "major problems" in your last post

only be a problem if you moved such things as the Windows Folder.....

 

[Big Lee]

Well thanks again lads The hard drive is now formatted and stuff moved over onto it
See, I knew it was easy