I recently had exactly the same problem with a disk and over came the
problem by changing a simple  (if there is such a thing) registry key.
Please see below  for the instructions. Like all registry editing please be
careful.

      A. Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows 2000 SP3 add support
for 48-bit Logical Block Addressing (LBA), which lets you access hard disks
larger than 137GB. To enable 48-bit LBA, perform the following steps:

      1. Start registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).

      2. Navigate to the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi\Parameters
registry subkey.

      3. From the Edit menu, select New, DWORD Value.

      4. Enter the name EnableBigLba, then press Enter.

      5. Double-click the new value, set it to 1, then click OK.

      6. Close the registry editor.

      7. Restart the machine for the change to take effect.

      Be aware that if you multiboot your system with OSs that don't support
48-bit LBA, editing this registry setting might cause data corruption. If
you still can't access hard disk space beyond the 137GB limit after you
restart your system, your system BIOS might not be 48-bit LBA compatible, in
which case you need to talk to your computer manufacturer.


"
ilbey" <sisman@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:wHKnb.17$GB5.15@news7.dion.ne.jp...
> Best thing to do is to use the partition tool that came with your HD. i
> tried with 120GB and did it on the fly.
> But be aware of the OS that you have, and in which platform you use the
> tool.
> If you have different OS partitions on your fixed HD, you have the
> posibility to not to use your external one with all of them.
> In my case it was the bundled bootable floopy who made all the job.
>
> "SR" <srindler@da2.so-net.ne.jp> wrote in message
> news:3f9f2c2d$1_3@cosmos.uncensored-news.com...
> > I bought a 180 GB Hitachi/IBM hard drive, and now I am attempting the
> > partitioning process.
> > The HD is connected via an external USB2 case, and the OS is Windows XP.
> >
> > The "Computer Management" reports the HD as 128 GB   and
> >
> > Partition Magic shows it as 131 GB.
> >
> > 185.2 GB is written on the hard disk...
> >
> >
> > Why do I get a wrong reading? What's the trick to solve this problem?
> >
> > Sigi
> >
> >
> > PS:
> > 7200 rmp, 8 MB cache, 16,000 Yen in Akihabara.
> > An additional 3.5 inch USB2/IDE external case was 4,000 Yen.
> > Entire combinations fro IO-Date, Buffalo offer 160 GB hard drives for
> 21,000
> > Yen.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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