40GB: Totem TM-P2EXAT

[mika]

I have a Totem TM-P2EXAT Version 1.02 motherboard, BIOS ID string after flashing is "08/31/1998-i440LX-W977TF-2A69JTJCC-00". Before flashing, the date portion was "05/18/1998". BIOS size is 128kb. Still my new 40 GB Samsung hard disk is not recognised. Please help.

[gb]

Have you used the right BIOS version?
When you are detecting the HDD in the BIOS (auto detect for the hdd) is it hanging, when
it is scanning the IDE device.
Have you put the ide cabel correctly into the motherboard and into the drive.
Have you tried to use a dynamic drive overlay software, like the tool by Seagate.

[mika]

I have used the BIOS available at http://www.totem.com.tw/uindex.htm.
When I set the jumper od hdd to 40 gb, it is hanging.
When I set the jumper od hdd to 32 gb, it is NOT hanging.
IDE cable is put correctly.

What is the dynamic drive overlay software, anything like this for Samsung harddisks ? What does this thing do?

[NickS]

I have used the BIOS available at http://www.totem.com.tw/uindex.htm.
When I set the jumper of hdd to 40 gb, it is hanging.
When I set the jumper of hdd to 32 gb, it is NOT hanging.

This BIOS looks like it has the well-known Award BIOS 32 Gb limit bug.
I will email you a patched BIOS

[mika]

You are right. I found out that Award BIOSs which were made before June 1999 had this bug. After June 1999, this bug was removed.

But please remember that I can't afford to loose my present motherboard.
Hey I am not a rich guy, besides that I have just bought the new 40 GB Samsung hard disk on 6th August, 2002.

Thanks for your prompt reply.
Mika

[gb]

A dynamic drive overlay is a programm, that is loaded, when the BIOS is reading the Master Boot
Record of your HDD drive.

I have had, the same problem, but now it is history.

I have had a 80GB problem, but my BIOS had the 8.4 GB Limit, but when I have set the
jumpers to 32 it works.

This was very strange, because the manufacturar of my MOMO (PC Chips) had a 8.4 limit
on this MOMO???

But now I have the 80GB!!!

[mika]

So Nick, you are saying that you solved your BIOS problem WITHOUT flashing your BIOS by using a "dynamic drive overlay" program or a Disk Manager type program.
My BIOS has only the 32GB limit, the 8.4GB limit problem was NEVER there.
Will the utility, mentioned here "http://www.samsungindia.com/what_sell/c ... ies_01.asp", be able to solve my problem ?

[NickS]

No, Mika, gb was saying that. Personally, I have patched BIOSes in two of my machines because I in the past I found that at some point a DDO program would cause problems**. So my preference is for a patched BIOS, but I understand that people may be reluctant to flash their board - there is always the chance that something may go wrong along the way, even a power failure during flashing. If you had an updated BIOS available from your board manufacturer, would you flash it ?

http://www.samsungindia.com/what_sell/c ... ies_01.asp is the Samsung branded version of OnTrack Disk Manager, so it should work with your Samsung drive, and if it doesn't you can complain to Samsung or just wipe the drive and start again.

[NickS]

**for example, your DDO is on the hard drive but not on your Windows 98 SE installation boot diskette. So your boot diskette doesn't know what the drive really is. This makes installation a little more complicated (in my opinion). I may be exaggerating the problem, gb can probably advise.

[mika]

If I had an updated BIOS available from Totem, I would definitely flash(after taking the necessary precautions), but the latest which I found from their website had a BIOS date of 31/8/1998, which didn't solve my problem.
I know that a DDO program is not the best solution but its better than having a dead motherboard or using only 32GB.

[NickS]

Mika, did you receive the patched BIOS I sent you ?

[mika]

I have some problems in my existing mail id. So I didn't receive any mails since 8/8/2002.
Please re-send any mails to my new mail id.

[NickS]

OK, re-sent.

[mika]

I have tried the dynamic drive overlay software by samsung. I am now able to access about 37.25GB of my actual HDD space in Win2k.
THANKS gb.

gb said "I have set the jumpers to 32". What do you mean by that?

Nick, what kind of problems can a DDO program cause?

[NickS]

Possible problems using DDO software:
- If you boot from a diskette which does not have the DDO program it will not recognise the full capacityof the disc, or may not use the correct addressing mode. It may see a smaller drive or just find it unreadable.
- It is unlikely to co-exist with other programs which want to sit in the Master Boot Record area of the disk such as multi-boot menus.