Questions regarding 40GB HD on new T42...HELP!!!

[Ezangjen]

I have 2 basic questions I was hoping someone could answer:

1) I recently purchased a T42, 40GB hard drive. After doing all the Windows Updates, I only have 24GB of free space (without putting anything extra on the drive). Total capacity is 32.9GB. I definitely expected to have less than 40GB because of necessary files, but 24GB? Is there any way to fix this problem? Should I purchase recovery CDs or reformat using a copy of XP I own? I called IBM customer support but the lady over the phone couldn't give me a straightforward answer.

2) My old laptop (a Sony Vaio) monitor started fizzing out on me, the reason for my T42 purchase. Does this kind of thing inevitably happen to laptops? What can I do to preserve the monitor on my brand new laptop?

Thanks, whoever you are!

[ashleys]

Sounds like you still have the service partition there.

A 40GB HD will only show as about 37.5GB in Windows due to the difference in the way HD manufacturers count Basically the HD guys use decimal and everyone else uses hexadecimal. However, as you can only see about 32GB I suspect you've still got the service (hidden) partition active.

Regarding a normal Windows install then a fully installed TP system should take between 4 to 5GB (well mine does anyway) on your C: drive.