XP setup "looping" on large (320gb) drive.

curls · 02-24-2008, 01:45 PM

Hi everyone.

I just got a new WD 320GB (non-SATA, just regular IDE) drive to replace a failing Maxtor 80GB drive.

I have the WD hooked up as primary master, and when I get into XP setup, I get to the part where it asks to create a new partition, but at that point, XP setup only "sees" around 128GB of the drive, and nothing more. So I create the partition, NTFS formatted, and start installing XP. The files copy over from the CD, but at that point, setup reboots my computer and I am literally back to square one -- at the partition info part of setup!

What is happening here? I only have a non-SP1 / non-SP2 copy of XP and have no interest in slipstreaming (let's call it "activation issues") either service pack. I do have SP2 sitting on my other HD so I can install it from there, before I even connect to the internet for the first time, but after my "activation".

Can anyone help me with this bizarre XP setup looping problem? I've used this exact disc about 3 or 4 other times on this system with no problems... it just seems as though this new HD is causing the problems.

Oh, for what its worth, the BIOS detects the new WD HD (usually) as 320GB, and I also checked the HD in XP (non-SP2) and Partition Magic was able to see, and create partitions on, the entire 320GB. It's just the setup for XP that doesn't see it.

Thanks.
Eric

curls · 02-24-2008, 04:56 PM

Nevermind.. problem solved. My non-SP1/SP2 disc wasn't working, so I slipstreamed SP2 into my existing disc and it worked on the first attempt.

Mods, please close this thread. Thanks.

02-24-2008, 01:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
curls Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 29 OS: XP	XP setup "looping" on large (320gb) drive. Hi everyone. I just got a new WD 320GB (non-SATA, just regular IDE) drive to replace a failing Maxtor 80GB drive. I have the WD hooked up as primary master, and when I get into XP setup, I get to the part where it asks to create a new partition, but at that point, XP setup only "sees" around 128GB of the drive, and nothing more. So I create the partition, NTFS formatted, and start installing XP. The files copy over from the CD, but at that point, setup reboots my computer and I am literally back to square one -- at the partition info part of setup! What is happening here? I only have a non-SP1 / non-SP2 copy of XP and have no interest in slipstreaming (let's call it "activation issues") either service pack. I do have SP2 sitting on my other HD so I can install it from there, before I even connect to the internet for the first time, but after my "activation". Can anyone help me with this bizarre XP setup looping problem? I've used this exact disc about 3 or 4 other times on this system with no problems... it just seems as though this new HD is causing the problems. Oh, for what its worth, the BIOS detects the new WD HD (usually) as 320GB, and I also checked the HD in XP (non-SP2) and Partition Magic was able to see, and create partitions on, the entire 320GB. It's just the setup for XP that doesn't see it. Thanks. Eric

02-24-2008, 04:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
curls Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 29 OS: XP	Re: XP setup "looping" on large (320gb) drive. Nevermind.. problem solved. My non-SP1/SP2 disc wasn't working, so I slipstreamed SP2 into my existing disc and it worked on the first attempt. Mods, please close this thread. Thanks.