XP Installation Issues

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Duke of Stewed Prunes
Member Since: Jun 01, 2007

And... we're back.

I recently picked up a refurb Gateway machine via tigerdirect. Pretty sweet specs and all and infinitely cheaper than doing my own build.

Now, this beast came with Vista, which I've been running for a while (though admittedly not enjoying). I'd really like to try to take it back to XP.

Problem is, I actually tried back when I first received the tower. The two 500GB hard drives in the tower are read by the XP installer as being 260GB or thereabouts and it refuses to see them as anything larger.

Is this a problem inherent with XP or can it be addressed?


Thanks!

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I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


May 04, 2009 04:28 pm

I did a little bit of Googling and it looks like SP1 or SP2 for XP will allow it to recognize larger drives (possibly even limited only by the 32-bit addressing scheme). With no service packs installed, it appears to have a limited amount of recognizable disk space.

Duke of Stewed Prunes
Member
Since: Jun 01, 2007


May 04, 2009 10:58 pm

So, by the theory, if I manage to find an installation disc for XP that includes service pack 2, I should be golden?

Composer / Musician
Member
Since: Feb 04, 2008


May 05, 2009 08:26 am

Service pack 2 is downloaded through the windows update website after you install windows XP. Service pack 3 is available now also.

Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member
Since: Oct 23, 2007


May 05, 2009 11:39 pm

My advice would be to format the extra drive (the one without vista on it) and try an install of XP. Check the specs in the hardware properties after and see what you've got.

If anything, you could always format it back to scratch.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. :)

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