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Computer wont show correct hard drive size

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Name: Patricia
Date: January 6, 2000 at 16:10:56 Pacific
Comment:

Running win98. Installed 6.4 gig harddrive (Maxtor) but os is only showing 2 gig. How can I get system to recognize the correct size w/o losing any existing data? I bought the hard drive at a comp show w/o a box or supporting instructions. I did dwn load the MAXBLAST.exe from the windrivers site, but I am not sure how to use it. Thanx



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Response Number 1
Name: Al
Date: January 6, 2000 at 16:34:26 Pacific
Reply:

Do not use Maxblast!!The hard drive is partitioned with FAT16 which only supports up to 2GB. If you already have data on the drive, then you will have to use Partition magic to convert to FAT32, then expand partition to full size of drive. If drive is empty, or you don't mind losing the data, you can use FDISK to remove existing partition, and repartition using FAT32.
Al


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Response Number 2
Name: NESTIAM
Date: January 6, 2000 at 16:37:03 Pacific
Reply:

If you computer is about 3 years old or more the BIOS may not be able to support a drive of this size. In which case you would need to install the EZ-BIOS off the MAXBLAST.exe. It allows older systems to utilize the System BIOS and still recognize a large hard drive. If your computer is newer, just make sure LBA is enabled, and if you want to run the 6.4 gb hardrive without partitioning it, use FAT 32.


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Response Number 3
Name: DAMIAN
Date: January 6, 2000 at 17:14:46 Pacific
Reply:

boot to DOS
type FDISK
select create dos partition (1)
then create extended partition (2)FOLLOW Instuctions............
reboot
FORMAT the new partitions
THIS WILL GIVE U BACK UR SPACE AND NOT DESTROY UR EXISTING DATA (BE CAREFULL)
supertech


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Response Number 4
Name: ironman28
Date: January 6, 2000 at 18:16:20 Pacific
Reply:

Formating or partitioning a drive will destroy all data do not listen to supertech


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Response Number 5
Name: c2me
Date: January 6, 2000 at 19:31:51 Pacific
Reply:

If he creates extended partitions like adding d,e,f, this will not delete the data that is on the active primary dos partition.
And as long as you don't format the c: drive you will not lose any data.


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Response Number 6
Name: Bryan
Date: January 7, 2000 at 07:16:55 Pacific
Reply:

I had this problem. Instead of screwing with losing data, I just use the 2 gig that shows on the C drive to store windows, utilities, and office/home office programs. I keep games on the other partition.


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Response Number 7
Name: Pyotr
Date: January 7, 2000 at 21:36:47 Pacific
Reply:

This is the exact problem I once had. Follow supertech's instructions. What you have now is a primary, FAT16, bootable partition only--of 2GB maximum, created by DOS. You need an extended FAT32 partition, which Win98 can create for the remainder of the drive. However, you should be aware that there are limitations to how the FAT32 partition can be used. For example, you cannot compress that part of the drive. Much more info about FAT32 drives and conversion can be found in the Help section of Win98 (Start Menu).


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Response Number 8
Name: Stevespencer
Date: November 6, 2000 at 14:06:47 Pacific
Reply:

I have the sme problem windows 98 shows a 2gig C drive but dos shows a 3 gig drive the drive is fat 32 and if I try to partition it dos will not let me. Help!!!


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Response Number 9
Name: jimmy
Date: December 28, 2000 at 08:51:44 Pacific
Reply:

I have a hard drive of 20 gig but when I partition the disk it put me only 18gig
I dont mind mising my data but I would like to have my 20 gig what should I do?


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