80GB: DFI P2XLX/E

BIOS update, EIDE card, or overlay software? (FAQ Hard disk recognition)
Post Reply
AsgeirSigurvinson
New visitors - please read the rules.
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2002 3:16 pm

I have a 80 GB harddisk, that isn't recognized by the BIOS.
Therefore I've to limit the capacity (by setting a jumper at
the harddisk) to 32 GB.
Nevertheless I can address all the 80 GB with the LBA-addressing
mechanism in the Partition table. Of course programs like Partition Magic report an error in the Partition Table, because they assume, that the
harddisk is only 32 GB big and partitions are addressed in the Partition
Table over this 32 GB (over LBA). BUT besides this error messages
in Partition Magic everything runs fine. I can use the whole 80 GB
in my Operating Systems (Win98 and Linux).

Now the problem:
If I turn off my computer, the BIOS (I think) recognizes that the
Partition Table has an "error" and changes the Partition values!
Therefore I have to adjust the values everytime, when I switch
off my computer. When I only reboot everything runs fine.

My question:
Is there a way to tell the Award BIOS not to check the Partition Table, and
leave it like it is?

I would be delighted to hear from you!

Greetings Siggi.
KachiWachi
The New Guy
Posts: 1451
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2002 10:32 pm
Location: Pennsylvania, USA

I'm sure the "Experts" here can patch your BIOS to recognize all 80GB, if you give them your BIOS string and other related info...
NickS
BIOS Bodhisattva
Posts: 3145
Joined: Fri May 03, 2002 10:34 am
Location: Thames Valley, UK

KachiWachi wrote:I'm sure the "Experts" here can patch your BIOS to recognize all 80GB, if you give them your BIOS string and other related info...
In my case, be sure you put "Experts" in quotes. In fact, you can use "so-called expert". I'm still learning....

@asgeir: give us your BIOS ID and let us see what we can find !
Tested patched BIOSes. Untested patched BIOSes.
Emails *will* be ignored unless the subject line starts "Wim's BIOS forum"
AsgeirSigurvinson
New visitors - please read the rules.
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2002 3:16 pm

Here are the figures:

AwardIDStr. 01/11/01-i440LX-DO-2A69JD4EC-00

Motherboard:
Manufacturer: DFI
Model: P2XLX/e Rev. B

BIOS:
Award PCI/PnP 686 S/N133647136@1998

CompID:FC Type AT (ATX)
Bios Date: 01/11/01
Award BIOS: v451PG
soupy
Absentee administrator
Posts: 1086
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2002 1:06 am
Location: Ontario, Canada
Contact:

You have the manufacturer and model, did you check their website?

http://sj.dfi.com.tw/support1/download2.asp
Flash your BIOS at your own risk.
AsgeirSigurvinson
New visitors - please read the rules.
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2002 3:16 pm

I checked the site, of course.
BUT...the actual BIOS doesn't support harddiscs over
40 GB
. There is another beta version of the BIOS that should
support harddiscs over 80 GB, BUT ... it doesn't work.
It cannot detect the harddisc. I have now installed this
newest beta version, but, as I said, with a jumper con-
figuration on the harddisc, that restricts the harddisc
to 40 GB.

So the question remains ...
How can I tell the BIOS not to check and alter the Partition Table, after it
is turned off?

It would be great, if someone has answers!
soupy
Absentee administrator
Posts: 1086
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2002 1:06 am
Location: Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Either BIOS can be patched to support >64GB. I can't email it to you from work, but hopefully another associate can take care of it.

http://sj.dfi.com.tw/Download/Beta%20Si ... XE0111.ZIP
Flash your BIOS at your own risk.
ajzchips
El cheapo dude
Posts: 3048
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2002 12:41 pm
Location: Madrid, Spain

I just checked. Max size recognized is 64GB...

Here's the patched release:

http://wims.rainbow-software.org/ajz/

Don't forget to give us some feedback, Asgeir.
AsgeirSigurvinson
New visitors - please read the rules.
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2002 3:16 pm

:D IT WORKS!!! :D

I don´t know, how you patched this BIOS,
but it´s working perfectly.

Thanks a lot!

To say it with the words of James Brown:
I feel good (again)!
Post Reply