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Thread ID: 40904 2003-12-23 07:06:00 larger hard drive in old computer Mike (15) Press F1
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202435 2003-12-24 08:49:00 I have read this very carefully. Nowhere do I see a motherboard manufacturer or hard drive model. You seem to know what you are doing but for me to help then further info is required.

Quite a while ago I had to replace a hard drive and actually used overlay software to accomplish this.

At that time I didn't want to flash a BIOS but have done so several times since.

For me it's still a little scary flashing the BIOS in so far as I don't know if I may get a power cut part way through.
Elephant (599)
202436 2003-12-24 09:52:00 A BIOS update, if avaliable will fix the problem for the price of a download..

A extra IDE controller will fix the problem for a price. Make sure it is supported by your desired O/S. Also make sure it will work even after you have disabled the on-board IDE controller...

Make your choice.

P.S. Power outages while updating a BIOS can be fixed by a thing called an UPS.
ugh1 (4204)
202437 2003-12-24 19:29:00 > I have read this very carefully. Nowhere do I see a
> motherboard manufacturer or hard drive model. You

I have no idea what motherboard it is, but the hard drive model is a Western Digital Protege 40gb (WD400EB I believe).

> seem to know what you are doing but for me to help
> then further info is required.
>
> Quite a while ago I had to replace a hard drive and
> actually used overlay software to accomplish this.

Well the instructions at the Western Digital website told me how to set the jumpers etc. and how to set the BIOS (since Auto Detect wouldn't work I had to set a User defined HDD to about 528mb to try to fool the BIOS into seeing the drive, as suggested by the instructions). The BIOS still did not see the HDD, and the software that WD suggested I download didn't see the HDD either, so no overlay software could be installed.

> At that time I didn't want to flash a BIOS but have
> done so several times since.
>
> For me it's still a little scary flashing the BIOS in
> so far as I don't know if I may get a power cut part
> way through.

I have no problem flashing BIOS - have done it many many times on different machines. However as this one isn't mine, I don't think I'm prepared to do it "just-in-case" ;) as I've got no back up to replace the machine with if something does happen to go wrong.

I'll have another try at something else I read at WD when I go to my dad's place today, but I'm still very open for suggestions!

Mike.
Mike (15)
202438 2003-12-24 19:30:00 > P.S. Power outages while updating a BIOS can be fixed
> by a thing called an UPS.

And everyone has one of those lying around with the rest of their junk, right? :p

Mike.
Mike (15)
202439 2003-12-24 19:36:00 the ide controller will FIX the problem and without risk drcspy (146)
202440 2003-12-24 19:40:00 > the ide controller will FIX the problem and without
> risk

Where do I get one from? And how much?

Mike.
Mike (15)
202441 2003-12-24 20:07:00 just about any puter shop..............price varies

check this site out........I've copied some for you


www.pricespy.co.nz


ST Lab PCI Ultra ATA133 RAID Controller Card 2 Independent Channels $53.33 $60.00 Paradigm PCs

PCI Ultra ATA133 IDE Raid Card $60.44 $68.00 PCGear-dunedin

ATA133 Raid PCI $64.00 $72.00 PB Tech Hamilton

Ultra ATA133 IDE RAID $75.56 $85.00 Quay Computers
drcspy (146)
202442 2003-12-24 20:30:00 OK Mike,

It would appear you have two options.

Do a BIOS flash or get a card. Your choice.

If it was me in your situation on another machine I would start with downloading Aida32 and this will give you the motherboard model. This assumes you still have an Internet connection on the PC in question. You can open the case and maybe find certain numbers on the motherboard to help you search.

Once you have the motherboard make and model you can then search for a BIOS update to flash the BIOS.

I'm fairly sure you you know this already though.

It is my belief that we have a BIOS problem here but a new controller card may well help.
Elephant (599)
202443 2003-12-24 20:39:00 > If it was me in your situation on another machine I
> would start with downloading Aida32 and this will
> give you the motherboard model.

Does Aida32 run from DOS, or does it require Windows? Or is there an Aida16 that'll run from a boot floppy? There is no HDD in the machine anymore.

Mike.
Mike (15)
202444 2003-12-24 20:45:00 Since you have said that you don't know what your motherboard is, and if you can't find out what it is, then you only option is to try the PCI IDE card. While it should work (depends on just how old the motherboard is), be aware that if it doesn't then most retailers won't take the card back as it has been opened. Talk to them first and ask if it is alright to return the card if it doesn't solve the problem.

The consumers guarantee doesn't cover you if a device doesn't work because your system can't handle it, Unless the salesperson specifically tells you that it will.

Goodluck, maybe as said above Aida32 can give you the information needed to check out the board manufacturer so you can see if there is in fact a Bios update that will fix the problem.
Odin (227)
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