I need a resource re: HDD size limits

[Phluge]

I have an older ATT 730 PC w/intel pentium, and a Western Digital Caviar
31600 1.6GB HDD. I use it as a second PC, it runs W98SE OK but slow.

The HDD has died and I would like to replace it with either the same size,
or preferably a larger one (so long as it remains a simple HDD
install --nothing fancy re: extra interfaces or mods, etc. that an advanced
novice could not handle).

I went to another forum for help -- they helped me as much as they could
considering their ng was about PCs prior to Windows OSs, and gave me the
following recommendations regarding my questions about replacing it with an
upgraded size:

"With the only question remaining being whether there is a limitation from
BIOS parameters or the controller itself which will limit the maximum size
of disk which you can actually use, you might simply check whether you can
find a web site which gives any limitations on the disk size from the BIOS
or the controller."

Does anybody know of such a resource that would have that type of info for
my PC model? It may be a lot to ask, but preferably the resource would
indicate what my choices are without my having to know a lot of in-depth
technical HDD-speak beyond the basic specs of my PC (I don't have a manual
at hand.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Pflu

 

[Peter]

I have an older ATT 730 PC w/intel pentium, and a Western Digital Caviar

31600 1.6GB HDD. I use it as a second PC, it runs W98SE OK but slow.

The HDD has died and I would like to replace it with either the same size,
or preferably a larger one (so long as it remains a simple HDD
install --nothing fancy re: extra interfaces or mods, etc. that an
advanced
novice could not handle).

I went to another forum for help -- they helped me as much as they could
considering their ng was about PCs prior to Windows OSs, and gave me the
following recommendations regarding my questions about replacing it with
an
upgraded size:

"With the only question remaining being whether there is a limitation from
BIOS parameters or the controller itself which will limit the maximum size
of disk which you can actually use, you might simply check whether you can
find a web site which gives any limitations on the disk size from the BIOS
or the controller."

Does anybody know of such a resource that would have that type of info for
my PC model? It may be a lot to ask, but preferably the resource would
indicate what my choices are without my having to know a lot of in-depth
technical HDD-speak beyond the basic specs of my PC (I don't have a manual
at hand.)

Is that your system?
http://groups.google.ca/group/misc....730"+disk+bios&rnum=12&hl=en#d3df752d8e2e0874
and
http://www.ncr.com/en/support/support_drivers_patches.asp?Class=pc_library_3358
Then go after CMD controller specs. I think support for up to 32GB IDE
should be there.

 

[Rod Speed]

I have an older ATT 730 PC w/intel pentium, and
a Western Digital Caviar 31600 1.6GB HDD. I use
it as a second PC, it runs W98SE OK but slow.

The HDD has died and I would like to replace it with either the same
size, or preferably a larger one (so long as it remains a simple HDD
install --nothing fancy re: extra interfaces or mods, etc. that an
advanced novice could not handle).

I went to another forum for help -- they helped me as much as they
could considering their ng was about PCs prior to Windows OSs, and
gave me the following recommendations regarding my questions about
replacing it with an upgraded size:

"With the only question remaining being whether there is a limitation
from BIOS parameters or the controller itself which will limit the
maximum size of disk which you can actually use, you might simply
check whether you can find a web site which gives any limitations on
the disk size from the BIOS or the controller."

Does anybody know of such a resource that would have that type of
info for my PC model? It may be a lot to ask, but preferably the
resource would indicate what my choices are without my having to know
a lot of in-depth technical HDD-speak beyond the basic specs of my PC
(I don't have a manual at hand.)

It should run just about any ATA/IDE hard drive. The worst
that might happen is that you need to use the jumper on the
drive to limit its size to 32G if its got an Award bios with the
bug that has a problem with drives over 32G.

 

[Arno Wagner]

I have an older ATT 730 PC w/intel pentium, and a Western Digital Caviar
31600 1.6GB HDD. I use it as a second PC, it runs W98SE OK but slow.

The HDD has died and I would like to replace it with either the same size,
or preferably a larger one (so long as it remains a simple HDD
install --nothing fancy re: extra interfaces or mods, etc. that an advanced
novice could not handle).

I went to another forum for help -- they helped me as much as they could
considering their ng was about PCs prior to Windows OSs, and gave me the
following recommendations regarding my questions about replacing it with an
upgraded size:

"With the only question remaining being whether there is a limitation from
BIOS parameters or the controller itself which will limit the maximum size
of disk which you can actually use, you might simply check whether you can
find a web site which gives any limitations on the disk size from the BIOS
or the controller."

Does anybody know of such a resource that would have that type of info for
my PC model? It may be a lot to ask, but preferably the resource would
indicate what my choices are without my having to know a lot of in-depth
technical HDD-speak beyond the basic specs of my PC (I don't have a manual
at hand.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Well, in theory you could try to google in the usenet-archives
for your mainboard (or controller, if it is on a card) and
with some luck, somebody asked the question some years ago and
got an answer.

Arno

 

[Arno Wagner]

Is that your system?
http://groups.google.ca/group/misc....730"+disk+bios&rnum=12&hl=en#d3df752d8e2e0874
and
http://www.ncr.com/en/support/support_drivers_patches.asp?Class=pc_library_3358
Then go after CMD controller specs. I think support for up to 32GB IDE
should be there.

If that is the case, you need to get a disk that is either smaller or can
be jumperd down to 32GB. For the first you will likely have to get
a notebook HDD, the smallest 3.5" disks today are 40GB. For the
possibility to limit the capacity to 32GB, you need to look into
the technical data of the disk.

Arno

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

If that is the case, you need to get a disk that is either smaller or can
be jumperd down to 32GB.

Any drive is suitable as long as you can get past bios post or have access
to a system that can.
Then you can set it to *any* size that your system supports by means of
software such as IBM/HITACHI's FTOOL.

For the first you will likely have to get a notebook HDD, the smallest 3.5" disks
today are 40GB.

For the possibility to limit the capacity to 32GB, you need to look into the
technical data of the disk.

Just use Feature Tool.