60 GB Maxtor only showing 34 GB?

[KouklatheCat]

I just got a 60 GB Maxtor HDD. I was unable to figure out how to fdisk with WinXP so I used a Win ME boot disk. When I did the fdisk it showed the drive as a 34 GB drive. The POST screen showed a 60GB drive. Now after fdisking as a 34 GB it shows as a 34GB in the POST screen and in Windows. Id hate to have payed $100 for a 30 GB drive. Please tell me what I am doing wrong.

My other system specs are listed on my rigs page.

The new drive is a Maxtor D740X-6L model drive. I looked on Maxtors page and it says MAXBLAST doesn't work with XP.

And im using FAT32.

Thanks for your help

 

[Boobers]

To make partitions and format HD's with XP, you must boot from the XP installation CD and follow the installation instructions...

 

[KouklatheCat]

OK ill try that.... My XP CD wont boot, I think my CD ROM is acting goofy. Will it work the same with the boot floppies?

Also I want to keep my exisiting 30 GB intact with the OS and use the 60 as storage.

 

[John]

Hook the new 60GB up as a slave, and then boot to XP. Go to the admin tools, disk mgmt., and you should see the new drive. You can partition and format it from there.

 

[nightowl]

Also, in WinXP you can only make 32GB FAT32 partitions. To make partitions any larger you have to use NTFS (reccomended) or boot to a Win9x floppy that has the updated fdisk program that supports >32GB FAT32 partitions (Me should have this).

 

[Boobers]

Sorry, I did not know you already had the OS installed on another drive...

 

[KouklatheCat]

Boobers, that is okay. Thanks for the response.

How do I fdisk under disk management?

Never mind, I found it. Hopefully I can get it to find the other 30 GB..

Can I run NTFS on this drive and still keep FAT32 on the primary? What disadvangages are there to NTFS/FAT32?

Thanks

 

[docgonzo]

Let me get this straight. You are running winXp with your HD formated with Fat32 partitioning? Hmmm. I am thinking that if you format the other drive as an NTFS you may have problems reading any files on that HD. Not sure though. I know if you set up a dual boot system, one fat 32 and one NTFS if you boot from the Fat32 OS the NTFS partitioned side disappears. Maybe have to create two partitions on your 60gig if you want to avoid reformating the 30 gig to NTFS.

 

[KouklatheCat]

Are there programs that will run on FAT32 that will not run on NTFS (games etc....)? What is the advantage of running NTFS instead of FAT32?

 

[AndyHui]

Please read the FAQs:

FAT32 vs NTFS

Using FAT32 and NTFS on the same system

How do I convert FAT32 to NTFS?

 

[KouklatheCat]

Thanks Andy,

I was hoping you would come to the rescue. I had a crummy day and didnt have much luck searching the posts, my mother in law came into town.