I'm having some problems installing a 320 gigabyte HDD on a new system, with a Windows XP Pro OS.

When first installing the OS, I saw that the computer only recognized about 130 gigs of space, but I installed Windows anyways, figureing I could fix it later. But now is later, and I am lost.

I have checked several websites, including the microsoft support site, but the first solution: to go into the registry and simply enable 48 bit LBA, isn't working for me because I am not given the option when I go to the specified destination. I tried both before and after installing SP2, with no difference.

On the microsoft support website http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303013 it recomends downloading a fix in the case that the option was missing, which I did. However, upon running the fix, it informs me that my service pack version is too recent for it to work.

I've checked the Atapi.sys driver type: instead of the 5.1.2600.1135 driver they specify, mine is 5.1.2600.2180 I don't know if this is a critical difference, or if its just a more recent version.

I've also read of people enabling 48 bit LBA support trough BIOS: however, the sites I visited did not explain just what they did to get there. I've looked all over my BIOS, but havent seen any such option to support large hard drives.

This is way out of my domain, I'm dealing with something that, 2 days ago, I didn't know even existed. Could somebody please help?

What service pack is integrated into your installation CD? Is yours WinXP ORIGINAL (no service packs)?

Go to Manage> storage> disk management. Is there a portion of drive space marked as unallocated and with or without a drive letter?

I found a driver that placed an option to enable large drives in the registry, Maxtor Big Drive, and then went where you suggested. I never knew that such a disk management existed <(^^, it was pretty self explanatory from there. Thanks alot for your help man, it really saved alot of trouble!