Anybody out there know about Windows 7 and 8 and 1TB harddrives?

[AprilSeven]

Calling all of you members who might be able to help with THIS problem!

I got a new computer at work about 6 months ago. Windows 7. Two internal 1TB drives. One holds JUST my programs and the operating system. The other holds JUST my files.

The C drive (programs and OS) currently has about 225GB on it. Over the past couple months it started freezing, shutting itself off, creating BSOD's, and claiming it couldn't find the C drive.

After our IT guy (who is very limited working with graphics issues - and I use the computer for graphics, DTP and video stuff), tried a new hard drive from Dell and a clean install - it does the SAME THING.

NOW Dell tells him that Windows 7 can't handle 1TB drives (like they couldn't have said this when we ORDERED THE COMPUTER) - so you have to partition them. Okay - so now my "room to grow" is cut in half to 500GB.

I've heard that Windows 8 DOES hand large drives without the drama. Is that true? If so, it might be better to see if they could install that operating system on my machine. Otherwise, I'll still have 275GB of "scratch pad" area, but I think in a couple years that is probably not going to be enough and I'll be back to square one...

Any ideas???

THANKS EVERYONE!!

[Little Brown Fox]

... *oh don't mind me; my head is just exploding*

I remember my brother saying something recently about people complaining that Windows 7 crashes/freezes a lot for no reason. In fact, his computer stopped working recently- now when he tries to turn it on, the only thing that works is the fan.

[fafner]

Windows 7 can't handle 1 Tb drives? I don't believe it. Especially since your drive apparently worked without issues for 6 months, and your D drive appears to work if I understood correctly. My guess is the (SATA?) bus controler is dying. Several possibilites: open the box, unplug C drive and plug it in another SATA slot. This may change the C to D though (and vice-versa). Keeping the order by doing the same with the D should prevent that.

Nevertheless, if there is an issue with a slot, maybe the others will follow soon, it may be better to change the motherboard, but I don't know enough to be sure about that. In any case, don't repartition your disks into a cluster of drives, you will be driven mad by the amount of disk letter

Edit: Actually, it might as well be a faulty cable. Swap the cables to see if the problem changes from C to D, or better, use new cables if there are some available somewhere.

[AprilSeven]

Thanks Fafner . . . that sounds logical to me. Yes, the D drive has been performing perfectly. I say, send it back to Dell and get a replacement computer (let THEM fix it!)

[cybotron]

Upgrade to windows 8... And forget about it. What? 70 bucks

[fafner]

70 bucks, and in my opinion it will still not work