pc not finding all my hardrive space

[gamer_from_aust]

Ok one of my computers have a 500gb harddrive however its only reading 298gb. which is annoying is there a way to fix this? i heard that old service packs do it? If so how do i see what service pack i have.

[Outlaw]

Is it a brand new drive? Assuming this is all Windows. This happened with a friends HD. Manufacturer put an un-formatted partition on it. Just have to go to Computer Management\Disk Management and look up the drive letter. It should show the formatted side "Healthy" and probably 298GB, then an "unallocated" side. If this is the case you just have to delete the 298GB side (make sure to back up any data you want saved if there is anything on it). To check your Service Pack, right click "My Computer", then select "Properties" at the bottom of the drop down menu. It should give you basic pc info (hardware, ownership...etc) and the Service Pack should be under "System" where the OS is listed.

[Luke122]

If it's the only hdd in the system, you certainly wouldnt want to delete the partition! Chances are that it's either got multiple partitions (system, hidden, recovery, etc) or that the partition isnt using the full size of the drive. (unallocated space)

If it's the only drive in the system, then you'll need to resize the partition using a third party app, such as Paragon HDD Manager or the good old Partition Magic.

Unless you are running low on space, I wouldnt worry much about it. :)

[knowledgegranted]

Please answer these few questions first:

1. Laptop or desktop?
2. New/Used/Old?
3.Did you just buy the HDD or did it come with the computer?

[gamer_from_aust]

Well its an optima computer fairly new 2 years maybe and origianl hd western digital i think? i try some things you guys said on the week end to busy with school atm.