Hard drive formatting...

I have Windows XP Pro SP2. The the newest version that comes with SP2.
I first partitioned my harddrive to 135GB and then after I installed windows I used partition magic to change it to 300GB. I was constantly getting errors so I attempted a repair. I kept getting errors when I was trying to repair my windows installation. I tried it three times, and I gave up. After I did that I tried to run windows, but the failed repairs must have made some more errors. I couldn't get into windows at all. I tried to format it through the windows install, but It appeared to do it way too fast. When I tried to install windows it said that my harddrive had errors and couldn't be repaired. The harddrive isn't barely 5 months old, and I don't play frisbee with it. So, anyway... I opened up seatools to try messing with it, and Started a "zero-fill full" on it. I was wondering if this will solve the problem with my "harddrive corruption". Thanks

 

Sometimes it really doesn't matter how long you've had the drive - they fail.
If you have seatools, run the "full" diagnostics on it. If there are bad spots you can mark them out and still use the drive or get harddrive regenerator and try that, but if the drive is failing your setting yourself up for a bad time down the road.

 

Could it be that when I formatted it the first time I didn't do it right? And then on top of that I grew the partition with partition magic AFTER I installed windows....... Is that possible?

 

Maybe if you quick formatted it... but I have used PM many times and never had any issues with the disk after resizing... like I said run the diag. if it comes back with no issues, restart your install - since you started a zero fill, I'd say you restarting.

Curious, why start with a smaller partition? BIOS limitation?

 

Seatools told me to start with a smaller than 137GB partition. I'm just going to run the zero-fill, run the diagnostics, partition it to 300GB, and then install windows. I just wanted to make sure that I didn't format it wrong the first time or something. Thanks.

 

Only reason I can think of to partition to 137GB or smaller is a Bios limitation.

If the Bios detects the drive as 300GB, then there's no limitation.

 

Your hard drive wouldn't happen to be a MAXTOR by any chance. I read recently that to format a Maxtor beyond 137gigs, you need their special formatting software. I didn't take any more notice than that at the time, but if you google "Maxtor" and "formatting", or similar, it might throw some light on your problem. Bazza

PS: If not a MAXTOR, then I can't help further. Baz