My old hdd died last week and I found a good deal on a 200GB Maxtor. The broblem is that I'm using Windows 2k Pro which will normally only recognize 137GB, it came with software that will enable the OS to recognize the larger hdd as long as the W2k has SP3 or better. There's the rub...all I had was the CD to install the W2k, no service pac, so I split the drive into C and D partitions and installed the OS. The instructions had warned that installing this large of a hdd without the software provided could lead to lost data. The only problem that I see is that Everest only shows 127GB of the 200.

This seams like the old catch 22, can't install the sp4 ( what is current) until the system is up and running, and then the hdd is all ready partitioned and formatted and has w2k running, what's a guy suppose to do?

Does this remind anyone of the descrition of a blivit?

Time Consuming:
install it, download the SP4 or whatever and then burn it.. reinstall

The Slightly Illegal:
Get a copy of XP

The Best Option:
get someone else to get you the SP4

Download Digital Dolly 1.0 , and follow the instruction to burn it to a CD. It will allow you to resize you partitions after you install w2K sp4.
It has alot of other features also. Even if you don't resize your HD it's a good utility to have and best of all it's free.
I would have left a partition for my data. 20gb partition to save your data to in case you have to reinstll windows.
Have several
c:/ WINDOWS
d:/ DATA
e:/ MP3
f:/ PICTURES
g:/ MyDocuments

You get the idea. Good luck.

Illegal practices are not condoned here at BC, Please don't advise the members here to obtain an Illegal version of any software.

Is there a way to burn a copy of the sp4 from my machine to use in a reinsall?

acklan...I sure would like to check out that program, but not bad enought to indulge in a download that will take over four hours. I'm restricted to a snailophone line.

We have a local used computer store that burned me a copy. They ordered a copy form MS for their shop use. I think MS offers a the cd for the cost of shipping. Set the DL of Dig. Dol. for after you go to bed. It's worth every penny .