What is the drive size limitation in windows 2000 pro? I just installed a maxtor 160gb HD in my file server and it only shows 130gb. Is this a limitation of the operating system or the motherboard?
The motherboard is an old epox dual slot 1 with a single plll. I am not able to install windows xp on this system (tried several times) so I know it has some limits.

Thanks,
DAD

THIS thread pretty much answers your question. Basically, either use the reghack listed in one of the posts or purchase a separate Promise Ultra ATA controller card and use an F6 install for Win 2K

That sounds like it will do the trick but the MS hack says its for sp2 or earlier. I'm running sp4 but that shouldn't make any dif.
By the way I have 2 promise ata 100 cards installed and this drive is on one of them.

DAD

Originally posted by dadecamp:

Ah, well then that sounds like the OS is limiting what can be seen and not the controller, however be sure you have the latest firmware installed on the Promise controller card as they did update that and other controller cards to support LBA 48-bit addressing

There is indeed a 130GB limit on hard drives in Win2K. However, it was supposed to have been fixed by a post-SP2 addition. I suggest you go the Microsoft's website and search for Knowledgebase article 305098 (under Win2K), which will explain the basis of the problem and how to get around it.

This must be the case. I will do as it says in the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 305098 because it states:

Important Although support for 48-bit LBA is included in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) and later, it is still necessary to create the registry change that is described in the "Resolution" section of this article.

That resolution is:

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.