Problems with HDD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ricky Romaya
  • Start date Start date
R

Ricky Romaya

Hi,

A friend of mine have a problem. He just bought a 160gb HDD, but his P3
mobo always report it as a 8gb HDD. Is this a BIOS problem, which AFAIK
couldn't detect HDD more than 80gb on P3? If it is, are there any other
alternative than updating the BIOS ROM? I couldn't identify the mobo
vendor, but AFAIK it uses 443bx chipset.

TIA
 
Ricky said:
Hi,

A friend of mine have a problem. He just bought a 160gb HDD, but his P3
mobo always report it as a 8gb HDD. Is this a BIOS problem, which AFAIK
couldn't detect HDD more than 80gb on P3? If it is, are there any other
alternative than updating the BIOS ROM? I couldn't identify the mobo
vendor, but AFAIK it uses 443bx chipset.
Click to expand...
If updating the BIOS is an issue, there's two alternatives:

1) Drive Overlay software. This is available from the HDD manufacturers
website and you use it to install the HDD on the system. It basically
interrupts calls to the HDD to allow the OS to see the full capacity.

2) Add in controller card. Add a PCI controller card such as a Promise
IDE controller which will have a newer BIOS and support the larger
drive. Simply use inconjunction with the onboard or disable the onboard
in CMOS settings.
 
Ricky Romaya said:
A friend of mine have a problem. He just bought a 160gb HDD, but his
P3 mobo always report it as a 8gb HDD. Is this a BIOS problem,
Click to expand...

Likely if you have the drive type setting of AUTO in the bios.
which AFAIK couldn't detect HDD more than 80gb on P3?
Click to expand...

That limit isnt seen much.
If it is, are there any other alternative than updating the BIOS ROM?
Yes.

I couldn't identify the mobo vendor, but AFAIK it uses 443bx chipset.
Click to expand...

Everest should be able to tell you the motherboard model etc.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181
If it doesnt, you may be able to work it out using the very long
number usually on the bottom of the black bios screen at boot time.

If its a major manufacturer you may well be able to get a bios update that fixes that from their web
site.

If not, you can normally use install the large drive with no entry
in the bios drive type table and Win should pick it up fine like that.
That does stop you using it as a boot drive tho.

You can normally add a biosed PCI card that handles the drive.

You can even use a bios overlay from the hard drive manufacturer's web
site, but that is about the least desirable route usually. Can be viable tho.
 
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