40GB: Biostar M6TBC

Recommended by Wim's BIOS...

Yet, i have a 40 GB disk limited to 32 GB with a jumper

Isn't it more secure, easer to use an overlay program as to replace some lines of bios with nop and try if it's work flawlessly?

My disk is partialy full with datas. Is it a particular risk at the moment i install the overlay program to lose datas on one or more partitions?

After the install of overlay , i don't think to have trouble with fdisk or PM to create/modify partition, but with computer, you can never be 100% sure before

I admire the effort you all spend to solve this technical trouble but is it really the best method to modify the bios?

I understand that overlay technique is less satisfying for the brain but what are the disadvantages of overlay program?

[edwin]

If something goes wrong with your disk forget about trying to boot from a floppy. You will not be able to retrieve any data.

Slows down your computer (greatly)

Not all software can handle it

I'm not sure if you keep your data if you use the overlay software, basically you are creating a new disk on which you can place a partition. Check your harddisk manufacturers FAQ section on the overlay software they have.

[KachiWachi]

Always better to do things in the hardware than by a software patch...

You've heard of WinModem, K56 and AMR Software modems...right?????

Thank you for the response

My disk is a Seagate Barracuda IV and the overlay program is Diskwizard (Ontrack)

edwin wrote:

If something goes wrong with your disk forget about trying to boot from a floppy. You will not be able to retrieve any data.

It's also possible to create a boot floppy disk to restore mbr and overlay table of the disk.



Indeed i am not very attracted when i read to remove the overlay program:
"It is strongly recommended that you do not use the migrate feature of DiscWizard Starter Edition to convert existing partitions to LBA format"


I was looking for good reasons not to spend time tricking the bios.
Maybe, i will try when i find some time

[soupy]

IIRC, if you install the overlay now, you WILL lose your data.

[edwin]

Gesp:
What motherboard do you have?

edwin wrote:

Gesp:
What motherboard do you have?

Biostar M6TBC last available bios http://www.biostar.com.tw/products/mainboard/slot_1/m6tbc/bios.php3

I have got also an eprom programmer available not so new so i have dowloaded the program under windows to use it (before it was with a 286 and a dos program )

soupi wrote:

IIRC, if you install the overlay now, you WILL lose your data.

When i say that i will try, it's not overlay but bios change

[Rainbow]

The 32GB bug can be easily fixed.

how fix ? can you tell me more?

thanks!

[ajzchips]

We moderators would have to "fix" it for you.

All you have to do is:
a) Try the LATEST BIOS provided by your manufacturer first. If this doesn't fix the large HDD support, then
b) Send us the LATEST BIOS and we'll analyze it to see if it can be patched.
c) If it CAN be patched, then we'll send you the "fixed" version.
d) Once received, flash it (at your own risk) and give us feedback.

[Rainbow]

Patched BIOS sent.

You were terrific, i have receive so quickly the modified bios.

I patch the bios and can withdraw the 32G limitation jumper and discover a new not allocated area.

But the size of this partition is only 5,78 Gb because i have forgoten the 7% error between 1 Gb constructor=1E9 bytes and not 1024^3

Excuse me to have open the other topic as this, because if the related hardware was the same, the subject was a bit different.

http://www.wimsbios.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=7846#7846

I thank you all very much