Formatted and recieved 8gb not 120gb, HELP

[aZnUlTiMaTe]

I recently had a computer crash, so I formatted my computer. First, my computer is Window XP SP2, but when I formatted, I use the window 98 boot disk to format. After it is done formatting, I installed Window 98 then Window XP SP2. When I use advanced mode to convert everything into Window XP SP2, I converted FAT32 into NTFS. I didn't like NTFS and I converted accidently. So I formatted again trying to get FAT32. But it wouldn't let me. After that I delete the partition, trying to get rid of the NTFS and recreate a new primary partition to FAT32. After I was done creating, I format again and installed window 98. But this time after I was done installing Window 98, I check the properties of the hard drive space changed to 8.0 gb. Then, installed Window XP SP2 to look at the hard drive space and it is still 8.0gb. My Maxtor hard drive space should be 120gb. Now my question is how do I get from 8.0 gb to 120gb? I want to use Window XP SP2, FAT32 with 120 gb. Anyone know how to do it? I like FAT32 instead of NTFS. So I don't need any information for NTFS. Thanks.

[mjc]

Why are playing with 98 when you want XP?

The XP CD allows you to partition and format the hard drive before installing, use it instead of the 98 boot disk.

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

[kirbykirbykirby]

Fat32 has limitations due to the size of the Harddisk you are installing, the best solution if you want to continue to use fat32 is to several partitions up to 34.9GB's.

#2 Dont use the 98 boot disk, use the windows xp Cd to partition the harddrive for fat32 use.

#3, if you have to install windows 98 to use the windows xp upgrade cd, you dont have to, the windows xp cd has a feature which allows you to insert the 98 cd to prove that you are valid for the upgrade, which means you dont have to install 98 in order to upgrade to XP.

Pretty much the only way(Easiest) you will be able to convert the paritions back to Fat32, is to do a full wipe and reinstall of Xp from scratch. Just dont install 98 if you have the upgrade edition since it allows you prove that you are valid for the upgrade edition.

and if you have the full edition/OEM edition you dont have to install 98 at all.

[Paul Komski]

Fat32 has limitations due to the size of the Harddisk you are installing, the best solution if you want to continue to use fat32 is to several partitions up to 34.9GB's.This is NOT a limitation of the FAT file system.

FAT32 can be as large as 2 TB (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/partSizes-c.html)

WinXP's formatter will only format FAT partitions up to 32 GB (an annoying and typically Microsoft thing) but other utilities can make FAT partitions much larger than this.

There is also a barrier at 128GB which requires that both the operating system and the PC's BIOS support 48bit LBA. This too has nothing directly to do with FAT and is, in any case, beyond the 120gig of your current drive.

The other lower barriers (and notably the 8.4gig or 1023cylinder barrier which may be coming into play here) are a BIOS limitation that can be overcome diversely by Flashing the BIOS, using DDO or putting the drive onto a Controller Card and not directly from the Mobo.

So (assuming your BIOS supports partitions >8.4 gig) if you want FAT partitions larger than 32GB you will need to use 3rd Party Tools such as BiNG or Partition Magic to create them. You should then be able to install WinXP directly onto the large FAT32 partitions and not do any repartitioning/reformatting during the installation.

PS If you were able to access all of the 120gig previously then do check that there has been no jumper set on the HDD to limit the size of the drive to 8.4gig in order to accomodate older BIOS.

[mjc]

Actually, thinking about this, if you did not hit Y when fdisk asked for "large disk support" you would end up with only an 8 gig if you went for max size...

[Paul Komski]

Just to be clear: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=255867

Leaving aside the earliest versions of fdisk, large disk support refers to HDDs larger than 500MB. Fdisk, because it does not use LBA, may only see the int13 value of 8.4 gig for the maximum size of a Hard Drive.

Not choosing large drive support also means that partitions will be created for FAT16 and the maximum size of FAT16 partitions is 2gb (or 4gb under NT4 because of different cluster size maximum).

Just wanted to be clear about the difference between the maximum partition size and the maximum hard drive size when large drive support is not enabled.

... and for msdos 6 from http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=96847

Fdisk relies on the BIOS to report the hard disk size. If Fdisk incorrectly reports that your hard disk is smaller than it actually is, either your BIOS is set for the wrong drive type (that is, it is set incorrectly or it does not support your specific drive's dimensions), or your drive has more than 1024 cylinders (http://%3Cbr%20/%3E%0A%20%5BQUOTE%5DFdisk%20relies%20on%20theBIOS% 20to%20report%20the%20hard%20disk%20size.%20If%20F disk%20incorrectly%20reports%20that%20your%20hard% 20disk%20is%20smallerthan%20it%20actually%20is,%20 either%20your%20BIOS%20is%20set%20for%20the%20wron g%20drive%20type%20%28that%20is,it%20is%20set%20in correctly%20or%20it%20does%20not%20support%20your% 20specific%20drive%27s%20dimensions%29,%20or%20you r%20drivehas%20more%20than%201024%20cylinders.%5B/QUOTE%5D)