WIN-ME incorrect HD size

[bagglo]

using WinME on a GA-6VX7-4X Gigabyte with a WD 40 gig HD , bios shows the HD as 40 gig but My Computer-properties only shows 5.25 gigs, I have checked bios all seems to be OK, any help would be appreciated on this, I am not sure what to check or do in ME..helping a friend..

[Hpro]

Did you try to Run SCANDISK on the drive ? Are there more than one partition on this drive?

[bagglo]

Hpro, Thank you, no I did not even think to run scan disk, I'll do that right now, and no partitions, even in System tools shows Drive info as 40gigs but disk info as 5.25..thank you,

[bagglo]

Ran scan disk took about 15 minutes, did thorough..no errors and 5.26. In System Information , under Storage Drives C: Local Fixed, Compressed NO, Size 5.26GB, under Disk #0, Partition #0, Partition size 37.27 GB (40,015,954,944) and under Problem Devices, their is this info: API IRQ for PCU IRQ Steering ACPI|PNP0COF-00000002 Error Code 22..any help will be appreciated..Thank you!

[bagglo]

I am posting more information to this post in hopes of some more help,please!

I ran WD Diag's Disk and this is the information returned, but I need help in understanding what it says:
Cylinder Head Sect MB
Drive Default 12009 16 63 40023
Drive Currently 4047 16 255 8454
EDPT Actual 19158 16 255 40022
EDPT Apparent 1024 255 63 8423


Bios shows at post:
19158 16 255 40021MB
32 Bit Mode Block Mode PIO Mode UDMA
on 16 Sec 4 4

I am clueless on this tech stuff, any help will be appreciated muchly!!!!
Thank you!!

[bagglo]

please..please, I AM REPOSTING IN HOPES OF SOME HELP...Thank you!

[EzyStvy]

For grins, go to a DOS prompt and type CHKDSK. You'll see a line like:

16,384 bytes in each allocation unit

Tell us what you number (cluster size) is..

[bagglo]

this is the info CHKDSK reports:
5,513,028 KB total disk space
3,635,836 KB free

4,096 bytes in each allocation unit
1,378,302 Total allocation units on disk
908,959 available allocation units on disk

[HAL9000]

Was this a clean install of WinME, or did you use a program to transfer from one drive to another, if so, which program.

View the partition in FDISK, does it show the correct size, if it is only showing 5Gb, is it showing 100% of the disk being used?

[EzyStvy]

The small cluster size you reported is known to cause problems. How far along are you into this pc? Is fdisking and reformatting an option?



Err Msg: Your Computer Does Not Have Enough Free Memory to Defrag the Drive (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q229/1/54.ASP)


CAUSE
This issue can occur if you are running Windows on a hard disk that is larger than 8 gigabytes (GB) in size and has a cluster size less than 8 kilobytes (KB). This configuration may be created if you use a third-party disk tool to create a partition on a hard disk that is larger than 8 (GB) in size and has a cluster size less than 8 KB.

[bagglo]

Hal, I am not sure on the clean install, this computer came from the manufacturer like this, I was asked to look at why it runs for crap, locks up etc, and noticed that the HD size was reported incorrectly, I was in hopes an IRQ conflict or double devices in Device Manager, but I've stumbled on to more than I can handle, I'll check FDisk, and report back, Thank you,

EzyStvy,
yes starting all over is an option, there is all kinds of programs loaded but not much data, as this machine is only a month old, and that is my thinking, that this HD was not formated correctly and the only was to correct is to start over.

Thank you both for the help!

[bagglo]

I hope it is OK but opted to post here again where all the info is, today decided to format and re-partition the hard drive transfered all the programs to a slave, I am using Data Lifeguard Tools disk from Western Digital, it says there are 19 partitions of 2024MB and an option to change the size, but it will not let me, says the partitons can be smaller but not larger, I am confused, these partition never showed up any where and what was reported was 5.25, how do I get remove these so that I can get a normal amount like three?? any and all help appreciated..Thank you!!!!

[bailey]

how new is this drive? how long have you used it?

[pboadle]

You have to delete partions before you can resize a partion if there is no room left. Find out which is the active partion delete the rest then resize, the partion.

[pboadle]

Originally posted by pboadle
You have to delete partions before you can resize a partion if there is no room left. Find out which is the active partion delete the rest then resize, the partion.

Forgot to mention Powerquest Partionmagic would help a lot

[glc]

Use the Data Lifeguard Tools to write zeros to the drive, wiping all partitions out. Then boot with the ME cd or a 98 startup disk and run Fdisk off it to set the drive up into a FAT 32 partition or partitions the way you want it. For some reason the DLG wants to make the drive FAT16 which is limited to 2047 mb partitions.

[bagglo]

glc,pboadle,bailey, thank you for the replies, this HD is approx 1 month old, in the machine, tho the date on the HD is a year old, i wrote zeros took about 3 1/2 hours and thats when I found the 19 partition when I went to repartition and format, so now using the win98 boot disk, partitioned and formated, now am back to the Data Life guard and it will let me create four partitions,I seem to be incapable of using the format and set partitions with the win98 boot disk, Thank you for all your help!!

[Hpro]

bagglo,
sorry no to respond to your other post before but I was really busy otherways here, anyway out of experience it tells me by reading your last post that there is still something funny with the hard drive - it shouldn't take 3 1/2 hour to Zero fill the drive even it's 40 Gb - a month old drive should be done within max 45 minutes - even on a Gigabyte board which are known to be slow.....I would suggest to run a diagnostic test on the drive also..

As for using Fdisk form the booable floppy or direct form the CDrom it's not that hard to do - first you should make up your mind how many partition you like to create and if created then restarting the computer and let Setup of Windows do the rest for you - I wouldn't use lifeguard because I actually don't believe in those LIFEGUARD DATA PROTECTING things which come with the drive anyway this is another story..

[bagglo]

Hpro, Thank you, I think I finally have the hard drive fixed?? and I did test the drive for errors, said none found, yes for a 1000mhz processor I think it is real slow, but I have partitions and seems ok, the hard drive that is, I am having other problems now..Thank you again for your help.