How big of a hard drive can I use on XP and Vista?

V

Viva Las Vegas

CAGiversary!
Feedback
1 (100%)
How large of a hard drive can I use on Windows XP and also on Vista? I hope I'm framing this question correctly. I want one large hard drive not one split up into multiple drives. The reason I ask is I'm moving a lot of files from an XP machine to a Vista machine and would like to condense 4 hd into one large one. Thanks or the assistance in advance!
 
[quote name='RchrdJ']If it is going to be formatted NTFS (which it should be) the largest XP will support is 2TB, the same as Vista and 7.
http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm[/QUOTE]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think you can use drives larger than 2 TB as long as you are not booting from that drive in XP or Vista.
 
A 2TB limit... with 1.5 TB available on the cheap now and really affordable 2TB drives around the corner, this kinda looks small, doesn't it?
 
[quote name='rumarudrathas']A 2TB limit... with 1.5 TB available on the cheap now and really affordable 2TB drives around the corner, this kinda looks small, doesn't it?[/QUOTE]

I can understand why XP would have a limit of 2 TB, it is pretty old. But I'm really surprised that Windows 7 has such a small limit.
 
[quote name='mogamer']I can understand why XP would have a limit of 2 TB, it is pretty old. But I'm really surprised that Windows 7 has such a small limit.[/QUOTE]

That's because the limit comes from the bios, not windows.
 
[quote name='n25philly']That's because the limit comes from the bios, not windows.[/QUOTE]

Do you mean the mobo bios? So a bios update can change that, right?
 
[quote name='mogamer']Do you mean the mobo bios? So a bios update can change that, right?[/QUOTE]

Yes, but from what I've read an update can't fix it. There are a few shipping now that can handle over 2tb, but it likely won't truly be fixed until mobo makers move beyond the bios.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top