WinXP install not detecting full size of SATA HD

[BobaFettK]

I'm getting ready to set up partitions, and the setup screen says 131070 MB available of unpartitioned space on my 500 GB Western Digital Caviar SATA drive. Is the setup unable to detect 500 GB, or is there some driver I need to install before installing Windows?

Thanks.

[BobaFettK]

And as a follow-up, if I format the 131 GB partition now as an NTSF partition and install XP on it, will it allow me to reformat the entire 500GB of the drive from within Windows after I install SP2? Or will that not work since it would erase the installation of Windows and I'd be back to SP1 anyway? (My disk is old--no SP2 until I install XP and upgrade).

Basically, all I'm asking is what's the best way to install the OS without doing permanent HD damage or screwing myself out of accessing the full 500 GB?:o

[The Wise Monkey]

If you get something like Partition Magic, you can just extend the partition that has already got your windows installation on. Either that, or use Cute Partition Manager - http://www.cutepm.com/

This is freeware, and is also good. :)

[Lerxt]

Just discovered this problem with XP - the main cause is that XP can't support HDD's > 131 (or 137) GB's unless you have 48-bit LBA in XP (should be enabled with SP1). Also, your main board must also support 48-bit LBA.

Go to this link to learn more about 48-bit LBA. It seems pretty straightforward:

http://www.largeharddrivesupport.windowsreinstall.com/winxp.htm

Also, WD's software should be able to get 48-bit LBA working for your without doing any manual changes (you still need SP1 at least).

So, first option would be to set up a 131 GB partition, install XP, install your SP1/SP2 updates, install the WD software and have it enable 48-bit LBA (assuming your BIOS supports it), then resize the drive to the full 500 GB.