Member Avatar for HBL

(I swear I just posted this...but it didn't take the first time :confused: )

My 180 GB drive is my slave. It is recognized as the full size after SP1 was installed and some piece of software from the manufacturer. Now I want to reformat my master. I want the 180 to act as a backup during the reformat. I realize it won't recognize 180 GB upon fresh install...so I will only back up under 120 GB. Will my 180 GB drive with <120 GB on it be perfectly recognized after a format? I don't want my drive to hide some data in a sector that will be hidden to a fresh install of Win XP before SP1 will be added. Any info?

Thanks.

  • 4 Contributors
  • 5 Replies
  • 216 Views
  • 6 Years Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by crunchie

Dani AI

Generated

Short answer: if all the files you plan to back up live inside the portion of the disk Windows can address during setup (the "first" ~120GB you mentioned), those files will still be there after a fresh XP install — they won't be magically moved to hidden sectors or erased by the installer. The only risk is any data you already stored beyond the OS/BIOS addressable boundary; that area can become invisible to a clean install until the same vendor support is restored.

Why this happens: older systems had an addressing ceiling (commonly the 28-bit LBA limit, often shown as roughly 120–137GB depending on how size is reported). Makers got around it either with a BIOS update/drive-resident overlay that presents the full disk at boot, or with a Windows-level driver/utility that extends what XP can see. If the fix you used is a Windows driver, a fresh XP install without that driver will not see the extra space. If the fix is BIOS-level or a boot-time overlay, the full drive will be visible during setup.

Practical, safe steps:

  • Do not rely on the invisible area. Copy everything you need off the 180GB to separate media first (external USB, another drive, or a full disk image).
  • The simplest foolproof trick: disconnect the 180GB drive while you reinstall Windows on the master. That prevents accidental formatting or partition-table changes.
  • After XP is installed, restore SP1/vendor utility or apply the BIOS update/driver that originally enabled the full capacity, then reconnect the disk and verify partitions in Disk Management and run CHKDSK if needed.

This follows 's overlay explanation and builds on 's setup: back up first, and avoid touching the slave during setup unless you know exactly what the installer will do.

Recommended Answers

All 5 Replies

Member Avatar for DuncanIdaho

That's a toughie. Being retired I haven't actually gotten to work with any drives over 120gb yet. That said, I would consider it unlikely the drive would be recognized if you had to install special software to make it recognized by Windows the first time. However, you didn't say what the software was. If the software was a 'BIOS overlay', (a 'trick' to make systems recognize disks that are beyond what was supported when it was built), that overlay is on the drive, and gets loaded at bootup automatically. If THIS is the case, then Windows will recognize the drive.

I hope I've been clear and helpful. :)

Member Avatar for HBL

Hmm :)

The drive was recognized right away by Win XP. It was just recognized as 120 GB only (large hard drive limit). I did make the software adjustments to recognize the full 180. So will all my data be on the 120 that Win XP will natively recognize?

Thanks.

Member Avatar for DuncanIdaho

As long as you don't install to the drive, and you make the 'adjustment' as you put it so Windows can recognize the full size before you do anything to the drive, it shouldn't change/delete/or remove anything, if that's what you're asking.

Member Avatar for berniek

Hi. Haven't explored the subject in great detail before but I had used up 2/3 of the 120 GB drive (ISA) with an older Asus P800 motherboard. Any suggestions where I should start?

Thanks,

BernieK, PM' would be appreciated at <snip> I have a couple of P4 with a gig or two of memorty

Thanks. Any help would be appreciated

Edited by crunchie because: Snipped email address
Member Avatar for crunchie

Hi. Haven't explored the subject in great detail before but I had used up 2/3 of the 120 GB drive (ISA) with an older Asus P800 motherboard. Any suggestions where I should start?

Thanks,

BernieK, PM' would be appreciated at <snip> I have a couple of P4 with a gig or two of memorty

Thanks. Any help would be appreciated

Hi berniek. Thread is 7 years old. Please start your own thread and do not include your email address next time.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.