Format 320 GB HDD problem

Are you trying to upgrade from xp to windows 7? First check if your hardware can support windows 7. You should have atleast 2 GB or above memory, 60 GB of HDD for windows alone so 320 GB HDD would be recommended. Your cpu should be dual core or core 2 duo atleast. If those are checked, upgrade to windows should delete your windows xp.
Or the other option is format the partition of the HDD where windows xp is installed.
Let me know more. So that we on the FixYa can help.
Good luck

DDR PC2700 or PC 3200 RAM is compatible.
Up to 1 GB per slot.
Here is a link to Crucial for RAM that is compatible:

Computer memory upgrades for ASUS P4PE Motherboard from Crucial com

Yes, it's compatible with the motherboard, no, it's not compatible with the XP install disk because it doesn't have SATA support. And since Asus doesn't provides it special driver needed (one that must be put on a floppy) it means that you simply cannot install XP on this disk.
All you can do is to obtain another PATA hdd what ever its size and install XP in it. Then put the new SATA disk in and use it to store all the installed programs and all your files on it. As a bonus you won't lose them if the new PATA disk fails or XP gets corrupted.
Or install Vista or 7 instead of XP, the have support for SATA disks

Hi,
Thanks for the details. I have used K8V-MX Asus motherboard and found it very reliable with quite reasonable performance. It definately supports 500 GB Sata drive and there must not be any issues after increasing just the storage. However, Operating System upgrade may result in sluggish performance. Drivers dont seem to be an issue to me either.
I suggest to review a few points detailed as under: -
- K8V-MX Asus Supports RAID, so, check for any RAID Drivers/ settings. (You dont have to use RAID for two Hard Drives of different make, capacity and speed). Try using one disk at a time having same Operating System (e.g. Windows XP) and compare the performance.
- Infact SATA Drives have better data transfer rate than IDE, which results in enhanced performance.
- Some Programs (that you may not be using with 80GB drive) Like antivirus may result in decreased performance.
- Please Review you Operating System environment and software installed. Make sure that the new drive & Operating System are free of any virus, which results in CPU Utilization upto 100%.
- Also, motherboard supports Max 2GB RAM, so you may consider adding more RAM.

Let me know if any further clarification/ assistance is required.
Hope it helps! Good Luck!
CreativeTECH

If you have windows xp with service pack 3, there is no limit. There is no limit if you run Vistaor Windows 7. If you don't have service pack 3, you are limited to 137 gb.

The drive is bad, I had a similar problem with a WD HDD, You can download Seatools and work on it in DOS, http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools

Dear Fried its possible.. Go the Boot Menu at your BIOS ( For go the BIOS Press DEL at startup your system) there you may se Hard Disk Priority Option. There you can change Hard disk Priority... you may need setup your sata as first one..


Thanks...

you may try formating into a linux partion first using partion magic and then to any of the windows partition

This motherboard does support SATA. Check out the specs on the ASUS website:)

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=14&l3=225&model=754&modelmenu=1

The size of the drive that will be detected can vary on a number of things: bios version, and OS.

They will both "physically" work, but the full capacity may not be "seen".

The 160 should work fine, but the 320 may only "show" as a 250 or 300.

My best advice is to flash the bios to the latest, and start with the 160. Install your OS, and connect the 320 as a slave after the OS install, and check its properties.