Recently fitted a larger WD2500BEVE 250GB IDE hard drive to my Acer TravelMate 8006LMi laptop running XP Pro + SP3.

The drive was partitioned into three under NTFS. Initially after re-boot only the first 131GB (first two partitions) is seen, suggesting 48bit LBA issue (this size is right on the older 24-bit LBA limit). After putting machine into & out of standby, if I check again using any hard drive info tool, the full size of hard drive is shown & I can access the third partition normally, i.e. the partition table is read & accepted.

In fact to get the drive working within my machine I had initially to format & load system files across from my old drive using only the first 131GB, with the remaining space left unallocated, otherwise the drive would not mount.

All tests I run including using HDInfo from 48bitlba.com website indicate that BIOS, drivers & system all have 48bit LBA enabled. I thoroughly checked the drive before installing whilst in USB caddy, including the full Western Digital diagnostic taking nearly three hours. No errors found so I don't suspect drive itself, especially as the intermittent problem only reproduces after boot & then clears after using standby.

Any suggestions?

Regards - Richard Wood

Thanks for suggestions JadeEmperor. Yes I did upgrade BIOS whilst trying to resove this problem although I don't think it helped this issue. HDInfo tool shows that BIOS is 48bit LBA enabled. In any case why would it work at all if not.

Yes new drive is new, previous one fitted two years ago, after original Toshiba failed, was also WD although I'm sure that's not an issue.

Have found that hibernating also causes machine to revert to post boot condition, i.e. drive shows up as 131GB only & third partition not accessible. Cycling through standby gets everthing working again - weird!

Richard

Thanks for suggestion. Re-installed latest driver version 6.3.0.1007 for Intel 855GME chipset on my machine. Many newer drivers already present reported, which I didn't replace - no change after re-boot:
Max cylinders 16709 = 137.1GB

After cycling through standby:
Max cylinders 30401 = 250.1GB

This problem is 100% reproducable.

Richard

Have already tried creating EnableBigLba registry value set to 1 - it makes no difference to problem.

As I understand it the issue mentioned in above link was relevant to XP pre SP1, I have XP SP3.

Thanks for suggestion anyway Rick

Thanks for interest Rick.

I have heard of others suffering intermittent access to new hard drive, but no solution.

My only thoughts now are that standby takes power off hard drive, when it's powered up again problem is gone. Maybe working back from the cure would be be answer??

Richard

Further thoughts:

I have noticed that when trying to install XP or Vista with this drive, no partitions are recognised if the third partition (above 131GB logical) is present after booting from installation CD. I have to delete the third partition, leaving space above first 131GB unallocated, in order that the first two partitions are seen by installation.

This leads me to believe the problem is a low level one not directly associated to Windows. I have upgraded to the latest BIOS which tests as 48bit LBA enabled. I wonder if any options in XP boot.ini file might help.

Incidentally when booted under XP, I can then re-instate the third partition/drive & use it after cycling through standby. I can only boot successfully to Vista (Home Premium) though if the third partition is not present (unallocated space).

Richard