Where are the rest of the gigabytes?

[Nicky]

Hi http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif

Is it normal that my PC sees only 137GB out of my 160GB HDD? http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/privateeye.gif

[Joseph]

Hi Nicky. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif We know you have a new pc. Does it have XP pre-installed? If so, a hidden partition contains the restore version.

Besides that, a 160 GB harddiskdrive is never 160 Gigabytes large. Windows and the harddiskmanufacturers use a different definition of GB. But your hdd should be around 158 i guess.
137 would mean you are missing 21 GB That is even too much for a hidden Windows restore partition. :confused:

[Neteru]

Pre SP1 yes, post, no. But, your 160GB hard drive isn't actually going to be 160GB. It will be a little short of that. Also, if your operating system came preinstalled, there is likely to be a hidden part of the HD containing the OS for recovery purposes (though the difference does seem a little excessive).

[EDIT] LOL, yeah, what Joseph said :D http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif

[ 04. July 2005, 18:23: Message edited by: Neteru ]

[Henhead]

A true size of a gigabyte is 1024mb, however as joseph said the common size of gigabyte is 1000mb

So it should show up at around 156.25gb, so you are loosing about 19gb, this could be due to your motherboard not being able to recognise the full capacity of the drive. You could try updating your BIOS to fix this. Also what configuration are the jumpers set on the drive, some drives will clip the drive capacity, as to allow some BIOS to recognise larger drives.

[ 04. July 2005, 18:32: Message edited by: Henhead ]

[Nicky]

Hi Jo, Net, Henhead http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Net:
your 160GB hard drive isn't actually going to be 160GB. It will be a little short of that. Yes, the infamous VAT that the system sort of eats up :D http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif I do know this of course, but yes, those missing GBs are too much now.

Net:
Pre SP1 yes, post, no.Well, I didn't install SP1; I installed the OS and then immediately the SP2 - but I guess it's the same, right? http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Jo:
Does it have XP pre-installed? If so, a hidden partition contains the restore version. No, the HDD was empty, totally. I told them to leave it as is, because I wanted to install XP myself at home http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Henhead:
Also what configuration are the jumpers set on the drive,Where do I find this? http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[ 04. July 2005, 19:11: Message edited by: Nicky ]

[Apofiss]

Where do I find this? On the HDD.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/Rihards/hdd.jpg

[ 04. July 2005, 19:18: Message edited by: Apofiss ]

[Henhead]

The jumpers are next to where you plug in the power for the drive

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/Henhead/jumpers.jpg

The available configurations may be printed on the drive itself, or in the instruction sheet that came with the drive. My drive has these configurations available

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/Henhead/drive.jpg

So if I add a jumper to J46 it will be a capped drive therefore smaller than it should be.

[Nicky]

Apofiss, Henhead, thanks for this tip http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif But I'm not going to start opening the tower so soon after getting the PC, sorry :( :D

Isn't there any other way I can find out what's going on?

[Apofiss]

Perhaps there is. How many partitions your HDD has? (148.5 to 150.5 GBs should be ok for your HDD if it has more than 2 partitions) OR maybe the size of HDD is limited to 137GB with jumper settings, but it's unlikely. OR maybe it's just a windows error > showing wrong HDD size. Who know? http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/privateeye.gif

[ 04. July 2005, 19:57: Message edited by: Apofiss ]

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Nicky:
But I'm not going to start opening the tower so soon after getting the PC, sorry :( :D

That's what i immediately would do in the first place. Open the case, and see what you just bought! http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Nicky]

Ummm, not sure, Jo :( I usually don't touch anything for as long as the warranty is valid http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/redface.gif :D

Apofiss:
How many partitions your HDD has?Only one, but I just came across something: if I format the HDD and on fresh installation I choose to create two partitions, is it more likely that the proper GBs will appear?

[Apofiss]

more likely that the proper GBs will appear?Exactly! For example; I have 120GB HDD which has 3 partitions > wherewith my HDD is only loosing 7% of capacity. [111.6/120 GB] More partitions > less GBs are lost.

[ 04. July 2005, 21:30: Message edited by: Apofiss ]

[Joseph]

Nicky. Do not believe that you will regain 21 GB by partitioning!

I checked my pc. I have 4 exactly the same type Western Digital hdd's of 80 GB each. One of them is not partitioned (has only 1 partition). Windows says the size = 74.52 GB.
Another is partitioned into 2.
58.59 GB
15.93 GB
Total = 74.52 GB

Another is partitioned into 3.
4.70 GB
11.23 GB
58.59
Total = 74.52 GB

And finally another is partitioned into 4.
56.45 GB
2.44 GB
5.86 GB
9.77 GB
Total = 74.52 GB

[Joseph]

Out of assumed 320 GB i effectively have 298.08 GB.
I "loose" 22 GB, in portions of 5.75 GB per hdd.

[PaulD]

BIOS does not support LBA48, i.e. max HDD size for this BIOS is 137GB.

[Apofiss]

Originally posted by joseph:
Do not believe that you will regain 21 GB by partitioning! Not all 21 GB, but 1 to 3 GB (more or less).

I have 120GB Seagate:

Before partitioning > [110.4/120 GB]
After partitioning > [111.6/120 GB]

OR that is:

The listed capacity is an unformatted (raw) capacity. After partitioning and formatting, actual storage capacities may vary depending on the operating system and configuration

[ 04. July 2005, 22:59: Message edited by: Apofiss ]

[Joseph]

Question
During Windows installation, why is my drive recognized as 137GB (128GB binary) when it is larger than 137GB?


Answer
There are three common reasons why a hard drive would be detected as 137GB (128GB Binary) during Windows installation:

</font> 1. If the Windows installation CD does not contain Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 or Windows XP Service Pack 1, the initial installation of Windows will not support drives larger than 137GB. During installation of Windows, the hard drive will be limited to a 137GB (or less) partition. After Windows installation as been completed and Service Pack 1 (for Windows XP) or Service Pack 3 (for Windows 2000) have been installed, the remaining empty area of the hard drive can be partitioned and formatted from the directions in Answer ID 330.</font> 2. The system does not have a 48-bit LBA-compatible Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) installed. This includes EIDE controller card BIOSs. Please contact your motherboard or controller card manufacturer to determine if your hardware supports 48-bit LBA addressing. Please see Answer ID 936 for information pertaining to this issue.</font> 3. Drivers for the motherboard IDE controller or controller card are not installed. Some motherboards and controller cards require drivers to be installed (during Windows installation) to support hard drives over 137GB. Please contact your motherboard or controller card manufacturer for installation instructions and driver availability for this issue.</font>

source: Western Digital.

[ 04. July 2005, 22:43: Message edited by: joseph ]

[Apofiss]

Some good info &gt; Installing IDE hard drives greater than 137GB &gt; click HERE (http://www.shuttle.com/share/fae/hq/faq/top10/top10ans/How%20to%20install%20HDD%20that%20greater%20than%2 0137GB.htm).

[Joseph]

Question
What issues should I be concerned with when using a drive over 137GB (128GB binary)?

Answer

General Information

Whether or not a given system can support 48-bit addressing (drives over 137GB) is dependent upon several factors. The operating system must support the higher capacities. Windows 98 and higher will support these drives with the proper BIOS, EIDE controller, and driver support. However, since motherboards and BIOSs vary widely, the answer is not as simple as making sure your operating system will support the drive.
Systems which do not support the full capacity of these drives, will generally report the capacity only up to the 137 GB limit. Any capacity above this limit will neither be recognized nor displayed. If your system is capable of supporting the full capacity of your drive, it should be properly displayed in either the CMOS set-up or during Power On Self Test (POST) prior to booting.

The motherboard BIOS, the EIDE controller, and the EIDE controller drivers you are using within your operating system must support the drives as well. It is best to contact your motherboard manufacturer to determine if your motherboard, BIOS, and EIDE controller drivers support drives over 137GB.

Another possibility is the use of an add-on EIDE controller that supports 48-bit addressing. We sell PCI EIDE controllers on our Online Store.

Recommendations
Once the hardware limit has been overcome by using an updated BIOS or a controller card, then specific drivers must be loaded so that your version of Windows will allow for the safe use of any capacity above 137GB. Without these specific drivers, there is a definite possibility of data loss. The Data Lifeguard Tools version 10.0, in conjunction with the proper drivers for the controller card, will allow Windows 98 Second Edition and above to utilize this space properly.

If you will be using Data Lifeguard Tools 10 to copy data from an old drive to a new (larger than 137GB) drive, assure that each drive is attached to the same Ultra ATA 100 controller card. Otherwise, you will not be able to copy the data successfully. If your system BIOS supports the drive and you are not using a controller card, both drives may be connected to the motherboard.

If you have an Intel chipset motherboard listed in Answer ID 1004, you can install a software package from Intel called The Intel Application Accelerator version 2.3 to give the system (motherboard) support for hard drives over 137GB.

Common Issues
There is some risk to your data if you use a drive that is larger than 137GB and your system does not support it properly. Once the operating system has used all the bits that it does support to access the drive, it may begin writing over data that already exists at the beginning of the drive. If the operating system files are overwritten, the operating system is rendered unbootable and inaccessible. Drivers or Service Packs for the operating system are necessary to overcome this issue.

It is important to realize that the reported capacity of a large drive may often appear as less than expected. Please remember that, depending on the particular utility used, the capacity of the hard drive can be reported in either decimal gigabytes (where 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes) or in binary gigabytes (where 1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). Highlighting your C: drive in Windows Explorer reports the drive capacity in binary gigabytes. For example, a WD2000BB hard drive’s capacity will be reported as approximately 186 binary gigabytes. For more details about this issue, please see Answer ID 615. Source: Western Digital.

[ 04. July 2005, 22:50: Message edited by: joseph ]

[Joseph]

Good page, Apofiss! http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

BUT NOTE THE SPELLING ERROR: Input the variable name: EmableBigLba

Which MUST be: EnableBigLba
(look at the picture)!

[Apofiss]

Yes, that's a mistake. Good you noticed that. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif

[Joseph]

Here is the full Microsoft article: <a href="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013" target="_blank">http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013) </a>

How to enable 48-bit Logical Block Addressing support for ATAPI disk drives in Windows XP
By default, the original release version of Windows XP Home Edition and of Windows XP Professional do not have 48-bit LBA support. Your computer must meet the following requirements to use 48-bit LBA ATAPI support:
</font> 48-bit LBA-compatible BIOS.</font> 137-GB hard disk or larger.</font> You must have Windows XP SP1 installed.

For the original release version of Windows XP Home Edition or of Windows XP Professional, you can enable 48-bit LBA for testing purposes. To do this, set the EnableBigLba registry value to 1 in the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Atapi\Parameters\

Warning Data corruption may occur if either of the following conditions is true:</font> You use this registry value to enable 48-bit LBA support in the original release version of Windows XP Home Edition or of Windows XP Professional.</font> You install an earlier version of Windows on a disk partition that was previously created by a 48-bit aware operating system, such as Windows XP SP1. And that disk partition is equal to or larger than the current addressable limit of 137 GB.

Note The previous registry setting is ignored in Windows XP SP1 and later. If you try to enable the 48-bit LBA ATAPI support in the original release version of Windows XP Home Edition or of Windows XP Professional by editing the previous registry setting, and you did not meet the minimum requirements, the following issues may occur:</font> The registry value EnableBigLba is disabled. If you have a 48-bit compatible BIOS that can support a hard disk that has a capacity that is greater than 137 GB, only the first 137 GB of the hard disk are addressable. The rest of the hard disk is not used.</font> The registry value EnableBigLba is enabled, but you do not have a 48-bit LBA compatible BIOS and the capacity of the hard disk is not greater than 137 GB.

If you enable the 48-bit LBA ATAPI support by editing the registry setting, but you lack both a 48-bit LBA compatible BIOS and a hard disk that has a capacity that is see comment than 137 GB, you have not changed the system. The hard disk continues to function as a standard hard disk.</font> The registry value EnableBigLba is enabled without a 48-bit LBA compatible BIOS, but you have a hard disk with a capacity that is larger than 137 GB.

If you enable 48-bit ATAPI support in the registry and you have a hard disk that has a capacity that is larger than 137 GB, but you do not have a 48-bit LBA compatible BIOS, only the first 137 GB of the hard disk are addressable. The remainder of the hard disk is not used.</font>

[ 04. July 2005, 23:19: Message edited by: joseph ]

[Nicky]

First of all, thanks everyone for your time http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif

Now, reading through the posts, I think the reason why the GBs appear as less could be this:

If the Windows installation CD does not contain Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 or Windows XP Service Pack 1, the initial installation of Windows will not support drives larger than 137GB.I installed the OS I already had from 2002, so it was Win XP home with no service pack. I did install SP2 of course, but this was after the OS was already in my computer.

BTW, my HDD is Western Digital too.

As for that 'EnableBigLA' stuff, I shall have to read the posts again to understand what it means http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/clown.gif :D

[Joseph]

Alternatively, you can format, and reinstall XP, then SP1, then SP2.
http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

[Nicky]

http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif Formatting was something that crossed my mind more than once http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif Most probably I wll do that, and choose to create two partitions by the way http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[katmandoo]

I have a problem like this instead it is on my USB Flash Device (or pen drive). I formatted it and now it is missing 10 megabytes. When I first bought it, it had 256 megabytes.

[§m¤k€¥]

You really should create 3 partitions atleast. One for Windows XP only, one for Installations, and one for the Page File (although I would have the page file on a seperate hard drive). I created 5 within 2 hard drives, but look at what I did:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/segagamer/comp.jpg

A partition for Windows XP and it's updates only (about 5 GB), and Installations drive (about 40GB), a Downloads drive (about 40 GB), a Windows 98 drive, and a Page File drive (1024MB).

If you don't download a lot of things then just merge it with the installations drive, or split it with the Windows XP drive. I should of really given Windows XP 10GB, but I'm not sure whether or not I'll loose any data if I changed the sizes now :S

[Joseph]

§m¤k€¥, to resize partitions without losing any data, use Partition Magic (http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/) . You can resize any partition anytime, and the data on the next partition will just be moved, and not removed.

[ 10. July 2005, 20:26: Message edited by: joseph ]

[Joseph]

Besides: how come your Windows 98 is on "H:\"? Is that your external harddrive?