Award BIOS 48-bit LBA Capable?

Discusses BIOS flashers and utilities from Award, AMI and Uniflash
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rckowal
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My current BIOS is Award version 3.05 (03/01/02). I want to install a 160 GB hard drive. Windows XP is already 48-bit "ready" but I'm uncertain about the BIOS.

Can some one tell me if this BIOS is capable of supporting hard drives larger than the old 137GB limit? If not, what uograde do I need?
ajzchips
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It wouldn't be a bad idea to tell us what motherboard you have.
rckowal
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Hi AJZ Chips, Thanks for the reply.

At this moment, I don't have the exact name of the motherboard handy. As I recall, it is an Asus with Pentium4 processor which came installed in an HP Pavilion 740N desktop (circa late 2002). The Award BIOS Vs. 3.05 also came installed with that motherboard.

When I can get to it, I'll check the MB description more closely but I don't recall there being much more that what I've already said.
ajzchips
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The 740N is listed here... http://www.elhvb.com/mboards/OEM/HP/
rckowal
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Motherboard is an Asus P4S-LA. Does that tell you if I can install a 160GB hard drive????
ajzchips
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Chipsetwise, I believe it's capable, but this has to be implemented in BIOS of course.

On the pure ASUS board, this support was added in 4/2002.
rckowal
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AJZ Chips

HP Tech Support seemed uncertain when I asked about the BIOS in my desktop but ended saying that hardware (unqualified) in my model would not support 160GB HDD. So I'm going to settle for 120GB & call it a day. Thanks for your help.
ajzchips
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You seem to be lucky with your 3.05 BIOS. The latest downloadable from HP's site is 3.04, dated 3/2002.
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