HDD does not get detectet properly

seaman-florestan

I've got the following problem:
My laptop does not detect it's hdd correctly since a few days.
I've tried an 30 GB Tochiba and a 60 gb IBM/HIT. , both get the same wrong AutoDetection settings: 8191 MB, (CHS=15871/16/63) LBA = off
When trying to boot anyway, the bios does not find any MBR, and with Linux (SUSE8.2) boot DVD LINUX can not initialize the disk.
But, to make it a bit more complicated, it works from time to time, but very often it doesn't.

I dont know anything more to fix it, so pleas help me who ever get an idea.
Thx for any help!
Seaman-florestan

ajzchips · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:15 pm Post subject:

What system do you have?
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<betaBIOS> <okBIOS> <Utils> <MyJob>

seaman-florestan · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:51 pm Post subject:

>What system do you have?
Using WinXP currendly, was about so install Linux Suse8.2

ajzchips · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2003 5:12 am Post subject:

I was referring to your computer, not the OS.
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<betaBIOS> <okBIOS> <Utils> <MyJob>

seaman-florestan · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:14 am Post subject:

Ahh.. Laptop Targa Visionary 1300WS, VIA chipset, AMI-Bios

ajzchips · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 2:09 am Post subject:

Can you post the AMI BIOS string? (full, including the release date).
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<betaBIOS> <okBIOS> <Utils> <MyJob>

seaman-florestan · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 2:42 am Post subject:

What bios string?
released: 02/04/2002
AMIBIOS c 2001 A.M. Inc
Bios Ver 1.05a
NS591 KBC Version 0.11/1.12
mobile amd athlon 4 processor, 1200Mhz

....

63-2000-009999-00101111-040201-VIA_K7-1AAWU015

I have no idea what this means, but maybe you ...

ajzchips · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 12:14 pm Post subject:

OK. The BIOS is recent enough to support very large HDDs. You might have a defective IDE cable in your laptop.
Anyway, I had a similar problem once in my DELL Latitude CPiA (laptop). Its BIOS would occasionally not identify the HDD connected to it. In my particular case, a BIOS update solved the problem. Now my HDD is ALWAYS recognized and purring like a kitten Smile

Note: it is also possible your HDD is simply malfunctioning. You did hint that it was working properly before.
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<betaBIOS> <okBIOS> <Utils> <MyJob>