vista cant see my 320gb sata hd

c4sTr0 · 02-23-2007, 07:44 PM

Im using 2 hard drives
160gb sata
320gb sata

when vista looks for a place to install it cant find my 320 but it finds my 160. i have tried different sata slots and cables and there is no problem there. Now later on when i have it installed on the 160 (the 320 is still connected) vista locates the other hard drive but it only has a 129gb capacity!
all i want to do is install vista on the 320, take out the 160, and be happy.
i installed a few things on the 320 in the past though. i have installed xp several times and linux once.
my guess is it might still have a partition taking up alot of space and not letting vista see it. is that what you guys think?

-=[DeEP]Inferno=- · 02-25-2007, 12:56 AM

Have you formatted it?

computermaineack · 02-25-2007, 01:23 AM

It sounds like a bios limitation, which is limiting the size of your harddrives to 129gb..this is a common problem. What motherboard are you using, and have you ever flashed your BIOS?

wafflez · 02-25-2007, 01:28 AM

I've heard this problem before from a friend..He solved by booting off the Vista disc with only the larger hard drive inside and clean installed on it. hope that helps.

-=[DeEP]Inferno=- · 02-25-2007, 01:33 AM

But if he just happened to have forgotten to format it, then it wont show up.

computermaineack · 02-25-2007, 01:38 AM

Yes, but the one that is formatted and showing up is only showing up as 129gb, which leads me to believe it is the 129gb barrier.

-=[DeEP]Inferno=- · 02-25-2007, 01:39 AM

Maybe there is a partition he missed, or old info on there.

c4sTr0 · 02-25-2007, 06:34 PM

I just formatted the 320 and that took care of the capacity problem, its showing 298gb free now. but the only and main problem now is to have the vista boot disk detect the it. where it shows the list of hard disks to use it cant see it at all and says "No hard device detected" or something along those lines.
the 160 im using is sata so i dont see what the hell is the problem..
again, vista can see it when i have installed vista on the 160 and i go to my computer. it shows the 2 hard drives but the 160 has the windows logo on it.

-=[DeEP]Inferno=- · 02-25-2007, 06:42 PM

Well, vista is new and there are only a few people familiar with it. Try to find one of them to help you.

c4sTr0 · 02-25-2007, 06:45 PM

alright thanks
im thinking of transfering all the data from my 160 to the 320 so i can remove the 160. do u have any idea how i can do that?

02-23-2007, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
c4sTr0 Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 59	vista cant see my 320gb sata hd Im using 2 hard drives 160gb sata 320gb sata when vista looks for a place to install it cant find my 320 but it finds my 160. i have tried different sata slots and cables and there is no problem there. Now later on when i have it installed on the 160 (the 320 is still connected) vista locates the other hard drive but it only has a 129gb capacity! all i want to do is install vista on the 320, take out the 160, and be happy. i installed a few things on the 320 in the past though. i have installed xp several times and linux once. my guess is it might still have a partition taking up alot of space and not letting vista see it. is that what you guys think?

02-25-2007, 12:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
-=[DeEP]Inferno=- Silver Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kenyon, Minnesota Posts: 113	Have you formatted it? __________________ 98% of the teenage population will try, does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your signature

02-25-2007, 01:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
computermaineack Diamond Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,259	It sounds like a bios limitation, which is limiting the size of your harddrives to 129gb..this is a common problem. What motherboard are you using, and have you ever flashed your BIOS? __________________ "Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris said, "Hillary Clinton will be the next President, but she'll be the worst President we've ever seen." After hearing this, President Bush said, "Wait a minute, I'm not finished yet."" -Conan O'Brien CPU: Q6600 G0 Mobo: eVGA 680i NF67-A1 Case: Antec P180B GPU: eVGA 8800GTS G92 512mb HSF: Tuniq Tower 120 RAM: 4gb DDR2-800 Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 PSU: Antec True Power Trio 550w

02-25-2007, 01:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
-=[DeEP]Inferno=- Silver Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kenyon, Minnesota Posts: 113	But if he just happened to have forgotten to format it, then it wont show up. __________________ 98% of the teenage population will try, does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your signature

02-25-2007, 01:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
computermaineack Diamond Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,259	Yes, but the one that is formatted and showing up is only showing up as 129gb, which leads me to believe it is the 129gb barrier. __________________ "Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris said, "Hillary Clinton will be the next President, but she'll be the worst President we've ever seen." After hearing this, President Bush said, "Wait a minute, I'm not finished yet."" -Conan O'Brien CPU: Q6600 G0 Mobo: eVGA 680i NF67-A1 Case: Antec P180B GPU: eVGA 8800GTS G92 512mb HSF: Tuniq Tower 120 RAM: 4gb DDR2-800 Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 PSU: Antec True Power Trio 550w

02-25-2007, 01:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
wafflez Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Valley, CA Posts: 400	I've heard this problem before from a friend..He solved by booting off the Vista disc with only the larger hard drive inside and clean installed on it. hope that helps.

02-25-2007, 01:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
-=[DeEP]Inferno=- Silver Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kenyon, Minnesota Posts: 113	Maybe there is a partition he missed, or old info on there. __________________ 98% of the teenage population will try, does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your signature

02-25-2007, 06:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
c4sTr0 Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 59	I just formatted the 320 and that took care of the capacity problem, its showing 298gb free now. but the only and main problem now is to have the vista boot disk detect the it. where it shows the list of hard disks to use it cant see it at all and says "No hard device detected" or something along those lines. the 160 im using is sata so i dont see what the hell is the problem.. again, vista can see it when i have installed vista on the 160 and i go to my computer. it shows the 2 hard drives but the 160 has the windows logo on it.

02-25-2007, 06:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
-=[DeEP]Inferno=- Silver Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kenyon, Minnesota Posts: 113	Well, vista is new and there are only a few people familiar with it. Try to find one of them to help you. __________________ 98% of the teenage population will try, does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your signature

02-25-2007, 06:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
c4sTr0 Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 59	alright thanks im thinking of transfering all the data from my 160 to the 320 so i can remove the 160. do u have any idea how i can do that?

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