160GB Hard Drive reads 148GB Hard Drive :(

Artmuzz · Artmuzz #1 (**permalink**)

11-19-2007, 04:11 PM

Hi,

I bought a 160GB Hard Drive for my MacBook new and when I open DisK Utility, it reads the Hard Drive as 148GB instead of 160GB.

Is this right? Or have I been given a Hard Drive that is 148GB instead of 160GB.

Please help

PS... Mac OSX isn't installed yet on the drive because it is new.

Artmuzz

D3v1L80Y · D3v1L80Y #2 (**permalink**)

11-19-2007, 04:14 PM

Formatting a disk will make the disk appear "smaller".
Even if there is nothing installed, the disk is still formatted.

illusionist · illusionist #3 (**permalink**)

11-20-2007, 11:25 PM

1024MB per gig, not 1000MB. It's the way bytes are counted.

kirby14 · kirby14 #4 (**permalink**)

11-20-2007, 11:44 PM

As everyone else stated, there are two things that can change advertised versus usable space.

1. Most advertised sizes are not formatted sizes (since different filesytems will take different amounts of space)

2. Advertised space usually considers 1GB = 1000MB. It will usually say on the box. OSes always consider 1GB = 1024MB.

Chimpur · Chimpur #5 (**permalink**)

11-20-2007, 11:48 PM

Also theres the amount of space sectors and stuff take up so they mathematically with the 1GB=1024MB, 1 MB=1024kB, 1kB=1024 bytes... I'm fairly sure formatted capacities vary for different file systems too.

D3v1L80Y #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 02, 2004 Location: PA Posts: 12,455 Mac Specs: MacBook	11-19-2007, 04:14 PM Formatting a disk will make the disk appear "smaller". Even if there is nothing installed, the disk is still formatted. __________________________________________________ Posting and YOU\|Forum Community Guidelines\|The Apple Product Cycle\|Forum Courtesy mac: a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric MAC: a data communication protocol sub-layer, also known as the Media Access Control Mac: a brand name which covers several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc.
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160GB Hard Drive reads 148GB Hard Drive :(

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Artmuzz #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 39 Mac Specs: MacBook 1.83Ghz Core 2 Duo, 1GB ram, 160GB HD. iMac 20" 2Ghz Core 2 Duo Aluminum, 2GB ram, 250GB HD	11-19-2007, 04:11 PM Hi, I bought a 160GB Hard Drive for my MacBook new and when I open DisK Utility, it reads the Hard Drive as 148GB instead of 160GB. Is this right? Or have I been given a Hard Drive that is 148GB instead of 160GB. Please help PS... Mac OSX isn't installed yet on the drive because it is new. Artmuzz
	QUOTE Thanks

kirby14 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 20, 2007 Posts: 93	11-20-2007, 11:44 PM As everyone else stated, there are two things that can change advertised versus usable space. 1. Most advertised sizes are not formatted sizes (since different filesytems will take different amounts of space) 2. Advertised space usually considers 1GB = 1000MB. It will usually say on the box. OSes always consider 1GB = 1024MB.
	QUOTE Thanks

Chimpur #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 18, 2007 Location: Burlington Posts: 413 Mac Specs: See Signature	11-20-2007, 11:48 PM Also theres the amount of space sectors and stuff take up so they mathematically with the 1GB=1024MB, 1 MB=1024kB, 1kB=1024 bytes... I'm fairly sure formatted capacities vary for different file systems too.
	QUOTE Thanks

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