XP pro Hard drive problem. I have a 60gb seagate hd running xp pro but it is only reading 31.4gb.Is it possible to correct this without formatting? Thanks in advance for any help.

Sounds like it's formatted in FAT32 in which case I don't think you can do very much about it that is non destructive. For reasons best known to themselves MS limits XP to creating partitions no bigger than 32gb in FAT32. Presumably a ploy to force you to use NTFS.

Convert it to NTFS, then use partition magic to resize it to the full available size. ___________________________________________ ☺ When everything else fails, read the instructions.

Hey Depending on the computer you have,answers can vary, Some computer company's put a hidden partition on the HD for back-up. Did you get an XP disk? Also system restore can eat up a lot of HD space and wont show up. Go to system in the control panel and then system restore and turn off system restore, then do a disk clean up. This should reclaim a lot of space. Also right click My Computer/Manage/Disk Management. Check out what it sees there. Disk management does everything that partition magic will and it's included in XP.

Does sound as though the drive has (only?) a Primary partition and it's fat32? This is the max W2K/XP can create during setup; one would normally use a '98 bootdisk to preconfigure a fat32 partition (if it's to be in excess of 32Gig.) prior to installing XP/W2K (as fat32). In your current situation simplest route is to use XP Disk Admin tools to configure balance of drive as an Extended partition; format this as fat32/ntfs (whichever your preference) and use for data etc. Having an all-in-one partitioned drive (i.e. one with only a Primary) is not really the best way to go. Lose that access to that Primary and you "could" lose access to everything (data included). If the OS goes pear-shaped (crashes) and data is in its own area (Extended partition) you can re-install to the Primary (even reformat it) without risk to data (unless one is really careless/unlucky). Also you can frequently still access data (in the Extended partition) even if the Primary (OS etc.) goes down - this via a suitable boot-disk. If data = fat32 then a '98 boot-disk allows access/recovery; if data = ntfs then a util from: http://www.systinternals.com will allow it, likewise one from: http://www.ntfs.com Remember - seldom (never?) wise to put all one's eggs in one basket when crossing a ploughed field/busy road...; or all one's cash in one stock/share...; likewise everything in just one partition...? Note: Disk Admin will not allow you to tweak/changes size of the current Primary partition; it will only allow you to configure etc. the spare space as an Extended partition, or to 'tweak/change'an existing Extended partition (as long as you have previously removed/backed-up its contents it they exist). Partition Magic and System Commander will allow changes to an existing (Primary or Extended) partition without need to remove contents first (although it's wise to back then up first). BUT... XP has some reported problems with XP, whilst System Commander has none... Save your pennies and just configure balance of drive as Extended partition - via Disk Admin tools?

Thanks for your help.Could you please give me further instructions on how to Extend partition - via Disk Admin tools.Thanks again trvlr

Boot to XP; go to Computer Managament tools, then to Storage, then to Disk Management (which will/should open the util and display current drive partitioning in a graphical form); click on Action (top left on menu bar); click on Help and have a good read. It's all in there. If after a good read etc. you still need input post back? Be sure you only elect to 'play' around (create the Extended partition) in the spare/free space...