80GB: 6/15/1998-i440BX-W977TF-2A69KEC9C-00

[ebs007]

Please help - I can't get my new 80GB Western Digital hard drive working on my ENPC KB-21 MB. BIOS is Award v4.51PG. I have KB-21 BIOS ROM Ver.1.5 7/14/1998.

The symptom is that the BIOS hangs when trying to detect the HDD. If I use a different computer to detect the HDD and enter the correct settings my BIOS still hangs. The HDD works fine in a newer computer - detected properly and formats fine.

I obtained a spare FLASH chip and tried the BIOS updates from http://support.enlightcorp.com.tw/ftp/BIOS/ENPC/ however none of them solve the problem. From this site the kb2115.bin is my original BIOS, however I prefer the KB2118.BIN as it has some minor enhancements.

I've tested some BIOS from other computers with i440BX-W977TF chipset but they do not work on my machine. A 20GB hard drive was used before and was properly detected on the same motherboard with the same BIOS. FYI

Thank you VERY MUCH for your help!!




Ben

[ajzchips]

I patched KB2118.BIN for you. It's at http://wims.rainbow-software.org/ajz/

Try it and post your results.

[Rainbow]

What about KB21V181.bin?:
03/02/1999-i440BX-W977TF-2A69KEC9C-00
KB21 (1Mbit) BIOS V1.81 10/1/1999

[ebs007]

This patch worked like a dream!

Thank you very much ajzchips - I am now in Hard Drive Heaven!



A quick question - why are you so willing to help poor souls that you don't even know, such as myself?

Thanks again,
Ben

PS: Rainbow - I did not get to try the KB21V181.bin, although the date is only 2 mos newer than the version I was using before. Any particular reason you suspect it might work better?

[ajzchips]

A quick question - why are you so willing to help poor souls that you don't even know, such as myself?

Why not?

Anyway, the version Rainbow pointed out is actually newer than the one I patched. But if you think your system is stable enough, then perhaps you really don't need another update.

[PatS]

What about KB21V181.bin?:
03/02/1999-i440BX-W977TF-2A69KEC9C-00
KB21 (1Mbit) BIOS V1.81 10/1/1999

I tried KB21V181 from the EN website. There seems to be some confusion with the BIOS date - 03/02/1999 in one portion of the title and 10/1/1999 later on. I was hoping to find that it met the "07/1999" date and could deal with >32Gb drives. The earler date must be the "real" one.

Bottom line:it still has the 32Gb limit. Looks as if IBM's comments about all AWARD V4.5X they had tested is correct.

http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/bios338gb.htm

V181 appears to be the latest 1meg BIOS file on their site for the KB21 family. (KB2120.bin is dated 1998) There are some later files (192 & 193) but these are 2meg from the looks of it.

I have pulled down your patched V1.80 BIOS, that is the version level I had in the PC to start with, and will give it a go. Thanks for your help and time.

Is it possible to use the later 1.9X files if I can find a 2Mb flash part? They seem to be for the same chip set, from what I can see. Being 300 Km north of Manila makes finding PC hardware a bit more interesting, but I may be able to dig one up.

Feedback later;