Hardrive Size Problem

[DJSUB]

Does anyody know how i can return back the size of my 30gb laptop hardrive to it's normal size, because before i remove the old FAT32 file system on that drive, the size of my drive is 28gb on Windows XP, but when i remove the file system on dos & make a new FAT32 file system & format it on my laptop computer the size of my hardrive became 7.79gb but when i tried to format it inside windows xp using FAT32 or NTFS file system, It didnt return back to normal size. is there any good software that can bring back my harddrive partition to it's normal size?

Please Help


THANKS IN ADVANCE

Not sure what you are asking, but starting fresh is always best. FDISK or Partition Magic/DOS are still the best that I know of.


Zo

[unicorn]

Maybe you were using something like IBM dynamic disk overlay to overcome a BIOS limit to 8 gigs. The solution could then be to start fresh and load the overlay again (reinstall it) before reformatting again.

[richardc2000]

Given that you said you have tried from within XP, I assume you wish to keep your OS intact and just want to reclaim the vanishing MBs. So, I suggest you grab a copy of Parttion Magic .

N.B. You also mention NTFS - so, make sure you grab verson 7.01

BTW - exactly what you have done is not all that clear to me - whic files system is on C: - you have mentioned both NTFS and FAT32. Also, which files sytem to you plan to stay with.

[DJSUB]

Actually that's my friend's laptop [ No cdrom ], he has 3 harddrive 1st is the 3.2 gb main drive, 2nd is a external pcmcia hardrive & the 3rd is the 30gb [ NTFS ] external usb storage & he want me to install win98 [ I need to change the file system to FAT32 to install Win98 ] so I format the 30gb external drive from my desktop computer to FAT32 to install win98. when i format it to Windows XP the drive size didn't change. so i put back the drive to laptop. but during the scandisk [ file system check ] [ before installing win98 ] It seems so slow, I think there's something's wrong. i cancelled the installation of win98 & remove the file system, so i need to create a new FAT32 file system again to install win98. but after i formatted the 30gb, i look again for the file system & size of the drive using FDISK. i was shocked when i saw the 30gb drive became almost 8gb in size. so i remove the drive again from the laptop & format it again from my desktop computer using FAT32 & also try NTFS because i thought i could bring it back to it's normal size when i format it again in Windows XP. but i failed. i want to remove the file system again in DOS. but i think the drive will not be detected on Windows XP without any file system on it.

I need a suggestion please help!
Is there a Partition Magic Pro version 7.01?
I visit powerquest but there's no update for 7.0
does anyone have a link for 7.01 Please!

THANKS IN ADVANCE

[DJSUB]

Problem Solved
I used Partition Magic Pro 7.0 to restore the drive to it's original size.

Thanks for all your help Guys!


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THANKS IN ADVANCE