kem

i put fresh install of windows xp pro on western digital 250 update to sp1 and the sp2 windows is reading it as 137 gig ummm so i went to microsoft for changing reg to enable large drive parameters

The following conditions are necessary for the correct functioning of 48-bit LBA ATAPI support: • A computer with a 48-bit LBA-compatible Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) installed.
• A computer with a hard disk that has a capacity of greater than 137 gigabytes (GB).
• You must enable the support in the Windows registry by adding or changing the EnableBigLba registry value to 1 in the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Parameters
To enable 48-bit LBA large-disk support in the registry: 1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atapi\Parameters
3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
Value name: EnableBigLba
Data type: REG_DWORD
Value data: 0x1
4. Quit Registry Editor.
and i done all the above but the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atapi\Parameters
doesnt exist in my reg im stumped why it doesnt exist help please :)

Kalim

Well if you updated Windows XP to SP1 or later, the 48bit LBA is enabled by default.

Make sure you're Admin and then right-click My Computer>Properties and under the General tab see which Service Pack you have installed.

Also check in Windows Explorer %systemroot%\system32\Drivers folder for the right Atapi.sys version 5.1.2600.1135 (properties>version)

You need a 48-bit LBA compatible BIOS too. Which is the first reg key you encountered a problem finding from the reg tree you listed above?

linderman

three easy options here:


A) just enter disk management and right click on the unallocated section of your new drive and choose "format" this will give the remaining section of your hard drive a drive letter and format it

B) seeing as this is a new install >> you could slipstream SP-2 onto your native win xp disk >>>> then perfrom another clean install of windows this time with Sp-2 intergarated into the disk you wont get that 137 gig barrier
in my signature links / under procedures you will find slipstreaming

C) you could buy Partition Magic or look for a freeware partitioning program(majorgeeks.com / hard drive utilities) and bring the unsed section of your drive as it is now and migrate it into the 137gig partition. As you have discovered the installation of SP-2 after the drive has been formatted and installed does not cure or alter your drive set-up. SP-2 has to exist on the CD before the install.

kem

ty for all your help i went into computer management and found the missing partition now all i want to do is merge the partition

dai

just format the unformated space and use the extra partition for storage

Kalim

Is the partition you want to merge empty?

linderman

you cant merge partitions from within windows tools. you can right click and format the space and it will get its own drive letter.


if you want to merge the partition you will need a partition program like partition magic