Considering the fact that Windows XP is still the most-used OS worldwide, anyone considering swapping out their old hard drives for a new one should heed this advice: be careful. You may want to even consider not doing it.
Why am I getting all cautious on you? After reading warnings by both the BBC and Ars Technica, who have delved into the new generation of 4K hard drives, and found there to be compatibility issues.
The problem rests with the hard disk sectors, which are the smallest unit of a hard disk. Each sector, or block, has 512 bytes, but has a certain percentage of “wasted space”, which can’t store anything. The new 4K sectors that are being ushered in before January 2011 (the deadline the International Disk Drive Equipment and Materials Association has given manufacturers) have less than eight times the wasted space, with each sector given more than double the capacity – 4096 bytes, to be exact.
Using XP with new drives could slow down the write-time noticeably, but more advanced drives will trick XP into thinking it still has 512-byte sectors. If you do have a PC running XP, and want to upgrade your drive at some point, Ars Technica’s write-up on the issue is a verbose, detailed look and definitely worth your time.
Failing that, just buy a new laptop running Windows Vista or 7, OS X Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard or Linux (after September 2009), as there are no 4K hard disk compatibility issues there. [BBC via Ars Technica]
Image Credit: Barjack
matt
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 11:30 AMThanks for this, I was just looking for a good explanation of why this is the case.
olearymo
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 12:50 PMYeah, in other news, support is no longer available for DOS and Mac OS7!
Ridiculous!
guest86
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 2:08 PMThis is call racist or ANTI-TRUST!!!!!!!! WRONG!!! WRONG!!! What the retard what companies are insulting and threat to Windows XP fans! Companies are PURE EVIL!!!!!!!!
Microsoft and Hard drive manufacturers will face 1+ Billions of dollars for damaged when drop support on Windows XP!
Dear Windows XP fans, Please SUE Microsoft and hard drive companies now!!!!!!!!
I will going set up in court on Spring 2012 then fill massive complaint there then Companies will have pay billions of dollars fines for damaged call know as ANTI-TRUST!!!
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER drop support on Windows XP PERIOD! I will use Windows XP for over 50 to 80 years!
Vista and 7 are SUCKS!!!
Steve
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 12:26 PMwhat wrong with 7? i was skeptical till i bit the bullet and started using it, now i love it.
friend
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 4:04 PMWhy is Microsoft doing this?Why stop support on something that is working well XP will be the OS that lives on forever and the best one at that and Microsoft wants to kill it.They made their money now it’s time to move on I guess.Microsoft comes out with Vista (what a piece of crap)so they fix Vista and call it Windows 7 to cover their mistake and cost people alot of money by going out and buying new computer.