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Old 12-06-2007, 07:34 AM   #1
Agafaster
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Default Bios problem with a big HDD
I have a Viglen P3/450 I recently had to replace the hard disk on - its the kids PC, not mine! The smallest disk I could find was an 80GB PATA. unfortunately, the BIOS (award IIRC - its at home, I'm not !) didnt recognise it, and I had to jumper the HDD down - via the '32GB clip' jumper setting. now I have 48GB thats doing nowt !

is there something I can do in the interim before I get round to upgrading to a more modern mobo ?

If I attempt to install Debian 4.0 Etch Linux (off a DVD I have), will it see what the BIOS doesnt ?

Can I reflash to a more modern BIOS or summat ?

Ta !
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Old 12-06-2007, 08:17 AM   #2
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
Quote:
Agafaster wrote:
now I have 48GB thats doing nowt !

is there something I can do in the interim before I get round to upgrading to a more modern mobo ?
You can send that 48GB to me Aga.
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Old 12-06-2007, 08:30 AM   #3
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
I remember that the hard drive manufacturers used to do extra software for mobo's that couldn't see the full size of the drive. Certainly worth a look (unless as you state there is already a BIOS update that covers this issue).
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Old 12-06-2007, 12:48 PM   #4
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
Two options:
- either get an updated (manufacturer)/patched BIOS
- use disk manager style software (usually from HDD manufacturer) that works around the BIOS bug
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Old 12-07-2007, 03:45 AM   #5
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
Quite often, BIOS updates can take care of that issue. It depends on the manufacturer though.

Linux may be able to see the whole disk (not sure though), but I think a lot of boot loaders can only access what the BIOS reports.
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Old 12-07-2007, 05:03 AM   #6
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
Quote:
meega wrote:
Quote:
Agafaster wrote:
now I have 48GB thats doing nowt !

is there something I can do in the interim before I get round to upgrading to a more modern mobo ?
You can send that 48GB to me Aga.
Meega mate, if I could, I would.


At a price of course ! ;-)
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Old 12-07-2007, 05:06 AM   #7
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
Quote:
Oliver wrote:
Quite often, BIOS updates can take care of that issue. It depends on the manufacturer though.

Linux may be able to see the whole disk (not sure though), but I think a lot of boot loaders can only access what the BIOS reports.
still, that would be no different to when we were first installing Debian on A1's using RDB schema - I just put the boot partition in the lower 32 gig, surely ?

I'll see if Viglen, or the BIOS peeps have ote.

Thanks all !
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Old 12-07-2007, 07:07 AM   #8
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
Quote:
Agafaster wrote:I just put the boot partition in the lower 32 gig, surely ?
Quite right. Just something to be aware of. You could try a live CD, and check if your partition manager can access the whole disk.
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Old 12-08-2007, 01:43 AM   #9
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
I'm not quite sure if this software will work on such a large HDD, but have you ever tried EZ-Drive? You can also look for MaxBlast which is an OEM relabled EZ-Drive software that shipped with Maxtor hard drives. What it does is create an overlay that bypasses the BIOS limitations. I would send you a copy, but alas this modern day PC doesn't have a floppy drive (damn modern day non-legacy supporting PC's grrrr!)

Alternatively you can buy an ATA-xxx (xxx denotes the ATA speed of the hard drive) adapter card that fits in a PCI slot. Those also provide large hard drive support for systems with BIOS limiations.
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Old 12-08-2007, 05:35 AM   #10
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Default Re: Bios problem with a big HDD
@agafaster

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/

Saluditos,

Ferrán.
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