Microsoft Knowledge Base

First 2-GB or Larger Hard Disk Can Be Formatted to Only 1 GB
Last reviewed: March 27, 1997
Article ID: Q155615
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you are installing Windows NT using the three boot floppy disks on a computer with 2 hard disks, where the first hard disk is unpartitioned and larger than 1 GB in size, Windows NT Setup allows you to partition and format the first hard disk to only 1 GB.

CAUSE

Due to issues involving limitations at 1024 cylinders for hard disk geometry, Windows NT Setup restricts the size of the partition to 1 GB if the first hard disk is unpartitioned and there is a second hard disk available.

RESOLUTION

Before you install Windows NT, establish a partition of any size on the first hard Disk. During Windows NT Setup, choose to remove the partition. Setup will then fully partition the entire hard disk.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q114841
   TITLE     : Windows NT Boot Process and Hard Disk Constraints

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : kbsetup ntsetup NTSrvWkst
Version : 4.0
Platform : WinNT

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Last reviewed: March 27, 1997
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.