I have a 160GB HardDrive, when I go to install W2K server, on the partition screen it only says 131,000MB so I see this as only being about 130GB hard drive, is this a problem? In computer Management it has the drive at just below 130GB! When I go to make the partition it will only let me enter a partition size less than 100,000MB (I can only enter a 5 digit value), is this a problem or normal? I don't want to use the whole drive for system files, I also want to create seperate partitions for RIS Images, Home Folders, Roaming Profiles etc..

I don't know about Win2Kserver edition but Win2Kpro needs at least SP3 in order to recognise drives larger than 137GB (127actual). Additionally your MBoard BIOS needs to be 48 bit LBA compliant. Look here for further info on this topic. http://www.48bitlba.com/index.htm

Since you are not going to use the entire drive as one partition don't worry about what you see with install. Make your OS partition, instal and then update W2K to see the entire disk. Then use disk management to partition out the rest of the disk. Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search

wanderer If the poster's BOIS doesn't support the drive eventual data corruption can result, even if partitioned. It appears that may be the case as the CPU is listed as a 600 MHz. Below is an excerpt from the 48bitLBA site. "BIOS support for 48-bit LBA. As stated in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 305098 one of the requirements to use 48-bit LBA support in Windows 2000 is that you must have a 48-bit LBA compatible BIOS. To test your system's BIOS for 48-bit LBA, refer to our HDInfo tool. If your 48-bit LBA hard drive is connected to a PCI ATA controller card, you should make sure the card supports 48-bit LBA. If the card was provided with the hard drive this should be the case".

Fact that W2K is reporting it as 130gig, which is what sp3 fixes, tells me this isn't a 48bit lba issue. Trick then it to get w2k installed on its partition, something less than 130gig and then update w2k to sp3 to use the rest of the drive. This is a known working solution. Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search

wanderer You may be correct or not. I understand what you say, as it is the same as I said. Assumming the BIOS is compliant. The poster is attempting to partition while in Win2000 so obviously this isn't the boot drive. If the BIOS is 48 bit LBA compliant it would make more sense to FIRST install SP3 or 4 and then partition the drive, which should then be fully identified. However, I recommend the poster watch the POST screens carefully at startup. This will verify if the BIOS is seeing the entire drive or not. If it isn't then data corruption may result.

Othehill writes: "The poster is attempting to partition while in Win2000" But.. t-bone writes... "when I go to install W2K server" but t-bone also writes "In computer Management.." I see where you are coming from now OtheHill. I was taking t-bone at install, you are taking t-bone after install. Two very different views which makes us both offering correct information. t-bone you always want to plan your partitioning BEFORE installation. Odds are, unless as Othehill points out your bios may not support 48bit lba, when you install sp3 you will see the rest of the drive in disk management which will then allow you to partition the remaining 30gig. Anyway it goes post back so Othehill and I know what is going on. Thanks. Are you ready for where Microsoft wants you to go today?