Windows only recognizes 128gb of my 300gb hard drive.

[budz]

Hey BUDZ thanks for helping me so much and being sooo patient!!

Ok, so i went to the site you provided for the prolific chipset firmware download... but there are so many i dont know which one to download? once i get the correct one what do i do? im guessing installing it with the usb enclosure connected to the machine right?

sorry i have so many questions....

I'd email bafo tech support before you flash the enclosure. You don't want to flash it with the wrong firmware. Ask bafo tech support what firmware is in that prolific chipset enclosure. Also ask if you can flash it with firmware directly from the prolific website.
http://www.bafo.com/sendquestion2.htm

I've never flashed a hard drive enclosure before so I can't help you in that phase. I'm sure other members here can instruct you on how to flash it once you know for sure what firmware can be used from the prolific website.

As redwudz suggested try installing the hard drive internally into another computer. That way you will know for sure if the hard drive is working correctly. If all else fails then you may just have to invest in another hard drive enclosure.

[avillabon]

Well yes... this maxtor hard drive came with a utility called MaxBlast 4 and that is the first thing i did, i ran it but it only ofered me the option of giving the drive format but only 137gb (which in reality is 128gb).

[avillabon]

Since emailing big companies is mostly useless im waiting for monday morning to call both maxtor and bafo to see what could be the issue here.

Budz, what do you mean be flashing? Installing new firmware? Will this affect the hard drive?

[budz]

I meant flashing the hard drive enclosure with new firmware. As I mentioned I've never flashed one before so I wouldn't know if you leave the hard drive in there when you flash the enclosure with new firmware. I've flashed motherboards and dvd burners but never a hard drive enclosure.

[avillabon]

oh ok...

[avillabon]

Ok so here is the latest news....

I called BAFO (the company that produces my enclosure) and what they said is that due to how old the enclosure is they only guarantee that it will read correclty 160gb hard drives or a little over that, so i guess i was lucky since i was using it with a 200gb hard drive. He also said that even if i where lucky enough to work it is unrealiable and that at any point it could crash my hard drive therefore loosing all my data so it was a good thing i had already given up on it... I hope this is THE reason why it didnt work, im still hoping that the hard drive is fine...

Thanks everyone for all your help

Alex

[redwudz]

At least the company was honest with you and understood the problem.
Looks like it's time to shop for a new enclosure. Just my preference, but you might get one with a USB 2.0 and FireWire combo, if it isn't too much more in cost. That just gives you more options for the future if one interface doesn't work out. I would also make sure they state it will work with large drives, and get one with a fan. Some of those Maxtors run very warm and some cooling would extend their lifetime.

There is a good selection of drive enclosures on the market, Newegg for one, has some. Some other companies that have a big selection are: www.cooldrives.com/usbenclosures.html and www.xpcgear.com/enclosures.html

[avillabon]

Hey thanks for the tips! I have to go enclosure shopping; originally i was going to buy it online but i will buy it from a store, that way if something goes wrong i can always return it or exchange it. If you know of any good stores to get it from i would really appreciate it. Im new here in the US. thanks!