HD read problem: 160gb drive only showing 131069MB during setup

[minendo]

I know some space is lost during formatting, but my other 160gb drive shows 152gb on my other computer.

How do I get it to recognize the full size of the drive? This is on an Abit BP6 running dual celeron 533s.

Thanks.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: minendo
I know some space is lost during formatting, but my other 160gb drive shows 152gb on my other computer.

How do I get it to recognize the full size of the drive? This is on an Abit BP6 running dual celeron 533s.

Thanks.

What OS is in use at the time you formatted it?

If =XPSP2, does your BP6 support drives >128GB? Do you have the latest BIOS?

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: minendo
I know some space is lost during formatting, but my other 160gb drive shows 152gb on my other computer.

How do I get it to recognize the full size of the drive? This is on an Abit BP6 running dual celeron 533s.

Thanks.

What OS is in use at the time you formatted it?

If =XPSP2, does your BP6 support drives >128GB? Do you have the latest BIOS?

Am trying to install Win2k. Should be the lasted bios and not sure if it supports >128gb, but I hope it does.

 

[dclive]

Win2k SP0 doesn't support drives over 128GB.

I suggest you integrate SP4 into the CD, rebuild it, and try again.

Or move to XP SP2.

 

[dclive]

http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/faq/137_win2000.html

 

[Stumps]

I have an ABIT BP6 + 2X 466 celerons, the largest Harddisk size supported by that motherboard is 137gb, nothing larger, I have tried several WD2000JB's and all of them were recongised as 137gb.

 

[UMfanatic2k6]

Stumps is right normal reading of a 160Gb hard drive is between 149 and 152 from my experience, seems like such a waste to need almost 11 gigs for system reasons, but A motherboards do have restrictions even with the latest Bios update, and 2K itself has restrictions in SP versions

 

[Stumps]

ooops I forgot to mention, if you add a raid card or a PCI IDE card with it's own bios (on that supports larger than 137gb...most new ones do)you should be able to get that drive working at its full capacity...but the mobo's bios is limited to 137gb.

 

[dBTelos]

Computers read data in Binary form, while HDs are made in the decimal format and are advertised like-wise. This is why your drive isn't the advertised size. See these wikis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_prefix
Binary prefix

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_byte
Megabyte

 

[dclive]

The above post explains the 160 "GB" to "152 GB" change (which the OP already knew about) but does not discuss or explain the 160GB -> 131GB change, which has now been detailed as, in all likelihood, both a BIOS limitation and an operating system limitation.

The OP has a path forward for both.

 

[imported_Phil]

I don't think they ever released a BIOS for >128GB HDs:

http://www.abit.com.tw/page/uk/download...il.php?pFILE_TYPE=Bios&fSEARCHTEXT=bp6

This is from the BH6 page, which was produced at roughly the same time:

Supports 40GB harddisks and above, However we aren't quite sure what the precise capacity is, since the current maximun harddisk on the market is 40GB.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Phil
I don't think they ever released a BIOS for >128GB HDs:

http://www.abit.com.tw/page/uk/download...il.php?pFILE_TYPE=Bios&fSEARCHTEXT=bp6

This is from the BH6 page, which was produced at roughly the same time:

Supports 40GB harddisks and above, However we aren't quite sure what the precise capacity is, since the current maximun harddisk on the market is 40GB.

Yeah, I ended up reading that late last night and figured I'd just go buy an IDE controller card. Would install WinXP, but I've used all of my licenses for it thus I planned on using 2k.

 

[UMfanatic]

oh just use another license again, they wont know

 

[Blake]

You need a motherboard that has a bios that supports 48-bit Logical Block Addressing (LBA) . You may need to trade-in for a newer model to have this capability.

 

[Stumps]

Originally posted by: Blake
You need a motherboard that has a bios that supports 48-bit Logical Block Addressing (LBA) . You may need to trade-in for a newer model to have this capability.

No, he doesn't need to replace his mobo, a simple $20 PCI IDE card will fix the problem...only a bonehead would ditch a good motherboard to get around a simple problem like this. the BP6 is a unique mobo and with dual celerons will run quite well under win2k

Minendo, just get a IDE card and use Win2K SP3 or better, you will then be able to use your harddisk to it's full capacity, I have used Win2k on 250gb HDD's with out any problems...just make sure you press F6 when setup first loads and have your IDE card drivers on a floppy ready to use.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: Stumps

Originally posted by: Blake
You need a motherboard that has a bios that supports 48-bit Logical Block Addressing (LBA) . You may need to trade-in for a newer model to have this capability.

No, he doesn't need to replace his mobo, a simple $20 PCI IDE card will fix the problem...only a bonehead would ditch a good motherboard to get around a simple problem like this. the BP6 is a unique mobo and with dual celerons will run quite well under win2k

Minendo, just get a IDE card and use Win2K SP3 or better, you will then be able to use your harddisk to it's full capacity, I have used Win2k on 250gb HDD's with out any problems...just make sure you press F6 when setup first loads and have your IDE card drivers on a floppy ready to use.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

FWIW, my BH6 works perfectly with a 60GB.

 

[Blake]

It's true that you can use an IDE card to boot a driver larger than the BIOS was able to recognize (older hardware and the manufacturer no longer produces flash upgrades for this particular motherboard). I've used a Promise PCI IDE Card before and the computer will boot from the new BIOS that comes with the card. They are only 20-25 bucks vs. cost of a later model motherboard.

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
oh just use another license again, they wont know

He was trying to be honest.....that's what keeps the software industry alive.

 

[Blake]

I see that is a unique motherboard. I would recommend something like this: Promise Ultra133 TX2

I have installed the 100 version before and I can tell you what is involved. First thing is that they want the computer up and running with an operating system. I found it helpful to use two hard drives. One with the operating system on it hooked up to the IDE channel on the motherboard. Install the PCI card and start the computer, it will recognize the new hardware. Install the drivers that come with it. Shut down. Now we no longer need the hard drive with the operating system on it that is plugged into the motherboard.
Disconnect the IDE cable from that drive. Now we can put the new large harddrive in and connect it to the PCI card. All done. Now start the computer and do a fresh install of Windows and all the other software.

The point is to plan on having the system up and running to do the install. I've seen very good reviews of this product on Newegg. It's about 32 bucks. You can also download manuals, bios, and drivers from the Promise website. Best wishes.

 

[Stumps]

Originally posted by: Blake
I see that is a unique motherboard. I would recommend something like this: Promise Ultra133 TX2

I have installed the 100 version before and I can tell you what is involved. First thing is that they want the computer up and running with an operating system. I found it helpful to use two hard drives. One with the operating system on it hooked up to the IDE channel on the motherboard. Install the PCI card and start the computer, it will recognize the new hardware. Install the drivers that come with it. Shut down. Now we no longer need the hard drive with the operating system on it that is plugged into the motherboard.
Disconnect the IDE cable from that drive. Now we can put the new large harddrive in and connect it to the PCI card. All done. Now start the computer and do a fresh install of Windows and all the other software.

The point is to plan on having the system up and running to do the install. I've seen very good reviews of this product on Newegg. It's about 32 bucks. You can also download manuals, bios, and drivers from the Promise website. Best wishes.

yes, the Promise card is a good one, I have used many of them before...but I'm not sure that your method of setting up windows is the worth the hassle.

Win2K setup works exactly the same way as WinXP's so using the F6 Method with a floppy and some drivers is the easiest method as no extra drives or installations are required.

Just boot off of the Win2K CD, when the Blue setup screen appears hit F6 when prompted and then whacl in the floppy when asked...it's that simple, then the setup continues as normal.

the only draw back is that a Win2K with SP3 are ready intergrated in to the CD is required, which isn't to hard to make if you don't have one already.

A quick look on google will find a method to make one.