How do I install my hard drive in Windows 2K/XP?

For proper installation of a drive using Windows XP, simply allow the operating systems to partition and format the drive during the installation process. Below you will find step-by-step instructions to assist you. You will need to install SP2 for Win2k in order to solve several problems.

 

Single Install:



  1. Set BIOS to AUTO for all IDE devices-Since Windows XP acts as it’s own BIOS.
  2. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the system.
  3. Once at the Partitioning Page do the following: Create the partition size you want by pressing C.
    If you are formatting as FAT32 each partition cannot be larger then 32 GB. Click on the following link for addtional information on this limitation: Microsoft's Knowledgebase.
    If you are formatting as NTFS there is no size limit on partitions and just finish the Windows XP install.

Adding Second Drive:

  1. Set BIOS to AUTO for all IDE devices.
  2. To partition a drive go to control panel.
  3. In upper left corner of control panel. Click on "Switch to Classic".
  4. Administrative Tools \ Computer Management \ Storage \ Disk Management
  5. Once you click on Disk Management a wizard will appear called: Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard
    Note: You must use this wizard to write a Signature to the drive otherwise, the hard drive will not work with the Windows XP.

Using Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard:

  1. Drives are numbered as follows: drive 0 being the boot drive and drive 1-3 are all other drives, (except CD’s the first CD is CD 0 the second CD 1 and so forth).
  2. After clicking next on first screen you need to select the drive you wish to install in this case Disk 1.
    In the first screen, you select the drive you are writing the signature to and on the next page you select the drive you are initializing and converting.
  3. The next page shows the drive you selected to initialize. Make sure the drive is checked and hit Next.
  4. The next page will give you the option to convert the drive, which you do not want to select. Leave drive unchecked and hit Next.
  5. Then hit Finish.
    Also, Windows XP needs to write a signature to the hard drive in order for hard drive to be used by the Windows XP
Partitioning/Formatting:
  1. Once done, right click in the unallocated space of the drive-this is what Windows XP calls un-partitioned space.
  2. Then click on create partition.
  3. A new wizard pops up:Create Partition Wizard-next to continue.
  4. On the next page select either Primary, Extended or a Logical Partition and click next to continue.
  5. Next assign a drive letter that is not in use by other devices then click next to continue
  6. Next format the drive and select the type of format (NTFS or FAT32). Leave allocation unit size at default & label the drive as desired.
  7. Edit the partition size, and if using FAT32. Don’t create anything larger then 32GB.
  8. And finish when done,
    Note: You can format as NTFS in Windows XP, then you have no (real) limitation as the size of the partition-the theoretical limit is 8TB(terabytes)

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