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.
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> 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?
IJVelas wrote:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303013
>
> Thanks for correcting me, I reviewed the article again. But why is
> it that my hard disks is not recognized correctly by Windows XP?
> What I did was, I installed a Windows XP (not SP1 and SP2) and
> reinstalled Windows XP SP2.
Unfortunately - my experience with this issue is limited - as I normally
integrate all of the patches into my installation media as it is released.
What this means is I always install with the latest version of the OS.
I cannot say if your data is okay or not. One of the more interesting
quotes I can find on this issue is:
"Usually its preferable to use Windows XP SP1 or Windows XP SP2 for
installation with drives larger than 137GB, and NOT using Windows XP
(original release) AND updated to SP1 or SP2. If its the UPDATE TO SP1/SP2
type, then setting the EnableBigLba registry is required for drives larger
than 137GB. To add more.. NEVER attach larger than 137GB drives while the
48-bit LBA feature is not enabled or not present! Enable first before
attaching the drives!"
(
http://forums.storagereview.net/inde...ST&f=2&t=21489 )
What that says to me is that your theory is correct - when you thought
Windows (non-SP that you initially installed) could not see your drives
correctly - it may have written something to them and - well - messed things
up majorly. The proper way - without slipstreaming/integrating SP2 into
your installation media - to do what you were trying to would have been to
unhook all drives but the one you were installing on (the 80GB?) and
installed, patched, etc - then reconnected the larger drives once Windows XP
had been patched to support such drives (SP2...)
There may be nothing wrong and a simple solution to this - but I have not
found in in my searches and like I said - I am unfamilar with this issue
beyond what I have read. Perhaps someone who has more experience can help
now that we know how it happened...
All drives - including the ones too large to be recognized without at least
SP1 for Windows XP - were available to Windows XP (non-SP) when it was
installed and now - even after upgrading to SP2 - you cannot see your data.
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
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