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Subject: Found the problem....it stinks and none of the solutions are pretty :-(
Name:
 ludicrous
Date: 8/22/2001 5:38:24 PM (GMT-7)
IP Address: 138.67.74.229
In Reply to: Any known limits regarding Windows NT4.0 and a 40GB hard drive? posted by
ludicrous
Message:
Apparently Windows NT cannot deal with this drive if any partion exists beyond the 8GB mark. At all.
Why, I don't know. As noted in the various posts below, it has worked fine on a 20GB drive for some time now. Both Western Digital parts, no unusual setups or anything.
But I tested a few different configurations, and was unable to resolve the issue. NT will set up and install successfully IF no Logical DOS drives are defined beyond the 8GB mark. Create a partion beyond 8GB, NT can still recognize the partitions underneath that barrier but only as "unformatted or damaged". Remove any >8GB partition(s), and the <8GB partitions magically come right back and are properly recognized.
So I tried running the basic NT setup and installing service pack 3 (didn't have 6 handy), then re-creating the other partitions. Try to boot NT, and it fails on boot while still in 80-column DOS mode, grousing that it cannot find NTOSKRNL in <WinNT root>\system32.
What is absolutey aburd is that NT on the 20GB drive has no problems accessing or working with partitions on the 40GB drive when the 40 is installed as a secondary.
So, I guess I am stuck with one of three options:
(1) Cough up $130 for an OEM Win2k disc. Ugh.
(2) Run the 40GB as a secondary. No thanks. The whole point of buying a 40 and not a second 20 was to free up a hard drive for other use. Also I don't want to set up the 40 without a Primary partition, and if I don't BUT use it as a secondary drive, that extra Primary partition screws up my drive letter order.
(3) Run WinMe or Win9x only. Did somebody just hear insane laughter?
(4) Firebomb Microsoft. Tempting, but I don't want to spend that much time in jail.
I have been assimilated 
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