Problem with SATA...

[igimo1]

It seems I need SP2 installed to be able to read my SATA harddrive. However, as I have an illegitimate copy of WinXP, and I don't intend to reinstall Windows, I'm left with no options. If you know of a way to get SP2 through a different source (see: the old sp2torrent.com) or tweak Windows to read it, please help me out.

[MyndFyre]

I'm sure you can get SP2 as a downloadable .exe.  If not, there are images of it *everywhere*.

[igimo1]

Only of it packaged with copies of XP: I only want a standalone copy.

[igimo1]

Update: I managed to mount the drive, but I'm limited to 127gigs; the drive is capable of 250. What can/should I do?

[rabbit]

Repartition so that Windows can read it as 2 drives and you can get all the space.

[Ergot]

I do believe it's possible to obtain SP2 through auto-update... which is totally silly.
Somewhere in your hard drive manual should detail why you see 127 gigs instead of the full 250. It has to do with BIOS settings I believe.

[igimo1]

I do believe it's possible to obtain SP2 through auto-update... which is totally silly.
Somewhere in your hard drive manual should detail why you see 127 gigs instead of the full 250. It has to do with BIOS settings I believe.

It's OEM.

EDIT: Rabbit, I just tried that - but instead, I end up with two 65gigs or so drives inistead of two 127's. hmm?

[Sidoh]

You don't need SP2 installed to "read" your hard drive, you need SP2 to create a partition greater than 127 GB in size.  From Google->"SATA 250 drive showing as 127":

NTFS (Pre SP1 installer): 127GB (or there abouts.)
NTFS (SP1 or higher): 2 TB

You'll have to get an SP2 installer and repartition your drive using that.

[skip]

Well, you can always bypass the WGA on the Windows Update site:

   1.  If you've already visited Windows Update and have the new WGA add-on (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)) then proceed with step 2. If you have not installed the March 1st 2006 WGA add-on, visit Windows Update and choose Download and Install Now after you click Express or Custom. Reboot if prompted.
   2. Close all Internet Explorer windows.
   3. Click Start, click Run, and in the edit box, type regsvr32 /u LegitCheckControl.dll and click OK.
   4. Open Internet Explorer. Visit Windows Update as normal. Choose Express or Custom (it does not matter which).
   5. You will be prompted to install WGA again. Do not install it. Click Start, then Run, and then type regsvr32 LegitCheckControl.dll in the box and click OK (note that the /u has been removed from the command). Now click Back on your browser, or press Alt+left on your keyboard to go back to the Express/Custom page. Click Custom. You can now install the optional software updates!

I've used this method numerous times to get updates.

SP2: http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/5/165b076b-aaa9-443d-84f0-73cf11fdcdf8/WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe

I'm not sure if there's a validation check during the installation.

[igimo1]

Well, you can always bypass the WGA on the Windows Update site:

   1.  If you've already visited Windows Update and have the new WGA add-on (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)) then proceed with step 2. If you have not installed the March 1st 2006 WGA add-on, visit Windows Update and choose Download and Install Now after you click Express or Custom. Reboot if prompted.
   2. Close all Internet Explorer windows.
   3. Click Start, click Run, and in the edit box, type regsvr32 /u LegitCheckControl.dll and click OK.
   4. Open Internet Explorer. Visit Windows Update as normal. Choose Express or Custom (it does not matter which).
   5. You will be prompted to install WGA again. Do not install it. Click Start, then Run, and then type regsvr32 LegitCheckControl.dll in the box and click OK (note that the /u has been removed from the command). Now click Back on your browser, or press Alt+left on your keyboard to go back to the Express/Custom page. Click Custom. You can now install the optional software updates!

I've used this method numerous times to get updates.

SP2: http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/5/165b076b-aaa9-443d-84f0-73cf11fdcdf8/WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe

I'm not sure if there's a validation check during the installation.

Eh... what the fuck...

Caption -> Service Pack 2 Setup Error
The core system file (kernel) used to start this computer is not a Microsoft Windows file. The Service Pack will not be installed. For more information, see Knowledge Base article Q327101 at http://support.microsoft.com.

EDIT: Ok, I fixed the problem. I can access all of the drive now (Thanks skip!!)