IJVelas wrote:
> My computer setup before reinstalling a fresh copy of WIndows XP is
> P4 2.8 Ghz on a Intel PERL Motherboard, 1GB RAM, 128MB Video,
> Partitioned PATA 80GB Seagate (C: 40GB, D: 40GB) hard disk, SATA
> 250GB hard disk (E:), SATA 320GB hard disk (F:). Installed is
> Windows XP SP2 with the latest updates by Microsoft. This setup is
> already a year old so I've decided to reinstall a fresh copy of
> Windows XP. After successfully installing a new Windows XP SP2, I
> couldn't access my 320GB hard disk and everytime I boot up my
> WIndows XP scandisk always run. I always cancel the scandisk
> because I'm afraid that I might loose my valuable data if scandisk
> corrects the problems found by scandisk.
>
> Windows XP tells me that my 320GB hard disk is not formatted. I
> opened Computer Management to see the list of drives and found out
> that my 320GB hard disk is only detected as 130GB hard disk but in
> the BIOS it says 320GB hard disk. After doing some research on the
> net, I found out that Windows XP doesn't automatically support
> large hard drives greater than 130GB (I think). I edited the
> registry and added DWORD EnableLargeLba = 1 then rebooted my PC.
> After the reboot, Windows XP still reports that my 250GB hard disk
> has problems. Opened Computer Management again and checked my hard
> drives. Computer Management now reports that my 320GB hard disk has
> 130GB (healthy) and 170GB (unallocated).
>
> I also lost some data and corrupted files on my 250GB hard disk.
>
> I think the cause of this was Windows XP automatically reconfigured
> the partitions on my hard drive since it doesn't support large hard
> disks greater than 130GB.
>
> Is it still possible to recover all my data on my 320gb hard disk
> and 250gb hard disk drives? What should I do? I am sure that my
> hard drives are working in good condition because I just bought
> them a few months ago.

Windows XP SP1 and later 'automatically' (out-of-the-box) supports drives
larger than 137GB.
Your results from your research was incorrect or at least incomplete.

As long as you installed Windows XP SP1 or SP2 initially (not updated it to
SP2) - the support was there from the beginning.

You may be having trouble with the drivers for the controller?
Update those from the controller card or motherboard manufacturer?
(If built into the motherboard - the chipset drivers should cover that.)

No one should have suspected a hard disk issue from the information you
gave...

When you installed Windows XP - was it from a CD integrated with SP1 or SP2?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
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