Full Hard Drive Not Recognized

The following has been a problem since back in May when I got this brand new computer. However, the issue was not really an issue since there was still plenty of space on the Hard Drive. However, now that we are about 6.5GB to 'maxing' out the Hard Drive, it needs attention.

You see, this computer is a custom build with a 500GB Hard Drive. Yet, for the longest time, Windows XP (SP1, 2, and 3) has not recognized the full amount. Rather, it will only acknowledge about 127GB of space. (When 'C' Drive is right-clicked, then Properties selected)

Now, some Specs.

ASUS P5Q Motherboard
500GB Hard Drive
Windows XP Professional Edition, Service Pack 3

System Properties Read-Out: (Control Panel, System)

Intel (R) Core (TM)2 Duo CPU
E7400 @ 2.80GHtz
2.80GHtz, 3.25GB of RAM

Thank you very much for your time. I'm not very techy so I can't do this on my own. =/

the problem is that early versions of windows XP didn't recognize past 127GB. At the time, when 20GB ahrddrives were the norm, this wasn't an issue.

install SP3 since you need to anyway...

then using a partition manager, adjust the partition size.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...oning_software
http://download.cnet.com/Parted-Magi...-10663999.html
problem solved.

Originally Posted by nighthawkx

the problem is that early versions of windows XP didn't recognize past 127GB. At the time, when 20GB ahrddrives were the norm, this wasn't an issue.

install SP3 since you need to anyway...

then using a partition manager, adjust the partition size.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...oning_software
http://download.cnet.com/Parted-Magi...-10663999.html
problem solved.

I just said I have Service Pack 3 though. >_>

Originally Posted by Ciroton

I just said I have Service Pack 3 though. >_>

Did you format the drive before installing Service Pack 3? Are you sure that there isn't more space available and you just didn't make a large enough partition?

If that's not the case, then try formatting the drive (back up everything you have on it, obviously) and see if you can format it to its full capacity (should be recognised as around 460 GB by the operating system). If you can't, then it's probably a bad drive and should be exchanged for a new one, assuming it's still under warranty.

Originally Posted by sea

Did you format the drive before installing Service Pack 3? Are you sure that there isn't more space available and you just didn't make a large enough partition?

If that's not the case, then try formatting the drive (back up everything you have on it, obviously) and see if you can format it to its full capacity (should be recognised as around 460 GB by the operating system). If you can't, then it's probably a bad drive and should be exchanged for a new one, assuming it's still under warranty.

Would upgrading to Windows 7 do the trick instead? That sounds like a lot of hard work, and we don't have 125GB worth of memory storage in the house to back up the files onto.

Originally Posted by Ciroton

Would upgrading to Windows 7 do the trick instead? That sounds like a lot of hard work, and we don't have 125GB worth of memory storage in the house to back up the files onto.

No, because you would still have the same issues. If you formatted the drive before putting Windows XP on, then Windows 7 likely wouldn't recognize it. Because it didn't format the drive correctly the first time, the chances of you upgrading to a new OS with the same information wouldn't help. Now, if you were doing a clean install (which involves formatting the drive anyway), that would be another matter.

you need to COMPLETELY reformat or to change the partitions.

the problem is that when you made the partition, the system would only let you go to 137GB...
it's still 137GB
you need to redo the partition or to make an extra one.

We haven't made any partitions in the first place. Can anyone point to a walkthrough for partitioning and formatting a hard drive then?

download the thing I linked to
burn it to CD
boot the CD
???????
profit

gparted is VERY easy to use FYI. slide the bar, hit enter, DONE

for those unwilling to use google
http://www.linux.com/archive/articles/53924

Originally Posted by nighthawkx

download the thing I linked to
burn it to CD
boot the CD
???????
profit

gparted is VERY easy to use FYI. slide the bar, hit enter, DONE

for those unwilling to use google
http://www.linux.com/archive/articles/53924

Okay then, how do you format a hard drive? (Keep in mind I just don't have enough CDs to back everything up.)

Why are you wanting to format it when you just need to resize it, especially if you can't make a backup?

Originally Posted by F3

Why are you wanting to format it when you just need to resize it, especially if you can't make a backup?

... Because everyone thus far has said it needs to be formatted?

You can attempt to resize the partition, but if Windows does not recognize the resized partition or your data gets corrupted anyway, your only option is to just reformat. Resizing the partition still carries the danger of ruining data.