Hard drive partion question

[Rezillo]

I bought a new 250gb hard drive. I forgot to partion it into 2 seperate ones. Ofcourse I realized this the next day after I got my system back up and running. So, Windoze XP is only showing 130gb I was wondering can I use an old 98 startup disk and run fDisk to create a new logical disk partion and not lose my existing data? If this can't be done, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my unallocated space back without reformatting.

[Key Keeper]

If you have unallocated space that you want to set as another partition, then you should be able to do this in disk managment. Right click my comp and select manage/disk management/ then right click the area of unallocated space and assign a drive letter and format that partition so you can access it in my comp. Should be that simple.

[eGoCeNTRoNiX]

Have you tried using the Disk Management feature in XP?

lol What Key Keeper said.. We posted at the same time..

eGo

[FlyingPenguin]

You have one of two situations. Either your computer is not seeing the entire HDD (130Gb limit due to lack of 48bit LBA support) or you only patitioned the first 130Mb of the drive.

Run Disk Mangement from the Administation Tools and see if there's unallocated space. If there is, then make another partition.

If Disk Management only sees a 130Gb drive then you have a 48bit LBA issue. You need to make sure your HDD controller supports 48bit LBA and that you're running at least SP1 in WinXP.

[Rezillo]

Thanks! Disk managment only show 127.99 gigs. I have SP1. Now how do I tell if my hdd controler supports it? I know I can look at specs if I had them, but I this motherboard was given to me out of an HP. I know, I know, garbage. I am just making due with it till I build me new system at the end of the year.

*edit
Also if I can't figure it out. I could always reformat and make 2 partions one 130gb and the other 120gb and everything would be fine, right?

[FlyingPenguin]

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPORT OF 48-BIT LBA (EXCEEDING 137GB HDD SIZE LIMIT):
------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 or better or Windows XP with Service Pack 1 or better


HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:

Your hard drive controller must support 48bit LBA (Large Block Addressing) - check the motherboard manufacturer's website for BIOS update and/or motherboard chipset driver update that MAY add this ability.

Alternately, you can install an add-on 48bit LBA capable controller card.


MOTHERBOARD DRIVER AND BIOS UPDATE:

You may need install the latest motherboard BIOS update.

You may need to install the latest motherboard driver. Intel boards in particular may require the latest "Intel Application Accelerator" driver.

[Rezillo]

Thanx penguin. As always you come to the rescue. I'll get on my bios update first then look in the Intel application accerator.