500GB SATA HD but it only gives my 13.6 GB capacity for C:?
I replaced the HD on my HP desktop with a 500GB West Digital. I run the system recovery disks and all went well. I went to see my C: and noticed I only have 13.6GB capacity and my D: with 7.49GB. WD has a Data Lifeguard Tools where I can setup and partition my drive, but it tells me Lifeguard Tools only detected a Windows drive in my system and cannot do setup on Windows drive. I don’t know what that means but I think this is related. Any suggestions on what is going on here and how I can get my C: to have the normal capacity? Thanks in advance.
July 21st, 2011 at 1:12 am
The recovery drive has completely restored your computer’s HDD, including the original partion, I think. So, to get all the space, if you can, move all the data onto an external drive or something and then format. Copy all the stuff back onto the computer, and you should be fine.
July 21st, 2011 at 2:08 am
The recovery disk you used was designed to work a hard drive of the original size that came with the computer 20 gb. It was set to create a 13 gb partition for Windows, and a 7 gb partition that probably has an image of the Windows CD and over system tools.
When you ran the disk, it did exactly what it is suppose to do. It created a 13 gb and 7 gb partition and installed Windows in the larger one.
You then tried to run the tool that came with the drive, and because Windows was already on the 13 gb partition of the drive, the tool refused to run. It is designed not to delete a partition that has Windows on it so as not to allow a person accidentally delete Windows off their computer making it unbootable and losing all their data.
You may need to locate a complete Windows CD, rather than the recovery disk that came with your computer, to re the reinstall. As around and you should be able to find a friend who has one, or get a copy from one of the Torrent sites. You can legally use either as you have a license (on the sticker on your PC) for the complete software.
Boot off the Windows CD and it will give you an option to repartition and format the hard drive. This will allow you to create as large a partition as you want, included using the entire 500 gb as you C: drive.
Another alternative is to get a copy of a partitioning software such as Partition Magic. You boot from the program CD and it will allow you to resize the 13.6 gb partition without losing anything on it. This way you keep all the “extras” that came with your computer, but can still use the entire hard drive. The program will allow you to expanded the 13.6 gb partition up to the entire 500 gb of the drive if you want.
July 21st, 2011 at 2:55 am
don’t use the WD Tool but reinstall Windows from the XP(i assume) CD and you will get the full space and partition drives as you like. Remember not to do”quick format” when the prompt comes.
July 21st, 2011 at 3:09 am
dewcoons is 100% correct