160GB: 04/28/98-i430VX-SMC37C93-2A59GB3JC-00

uofmfan4 · Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:20 pm

I know only this about my motherboard:

Bios Type: Award Modular BIOS/G400 R1.11
Bios Date: 04/28/98
BIOS ID: 04/28/98-i430VX-SMC37C93-2A59GB3JC-00
OEM Sign-on: PACKARD BELL BIOS version v1.25I
Super I/O: SMC 93x rev 1 found at port 370h
Chipset: Intel Triton 430VX rev 2
OS: Microsoft Windows 98 Version: 4.10.1998

My computer is a Packard Bell Multimedia 705.

I had a 2GB Hard Drive, and I have now added a 160GB Hard Drive. I am using the 160GB as the boot drive, and am having only one problem. My computer reads the drive as 127GB instead of 160GB (I am still reading the entire 2GB Hard Drive). I was told, by the CompUSA tech who installed the drive, that once I upgrade my BIOS the computer will read 160GB. Where can I find the BIOS upgrade, which one is it, and how do I install it?

Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:24 pm

Heh, on a VX chipset motherboard, consider yourself lucky that it supports 127, let alone 160GB. I'd be surprised if it really works past 8.4GB.

The CompUSA tech is either an idiot, or a liar, or both.

uofmfan4 · Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:14 pm

Well, we did add an Ultra ATA/133 PCI Card, and the software that came with the hard drive makes DOS "think" the hard drive is 8.4 GB, that's what it reads at startup. Once I'm into windows though, the drive is reading 127GB. Does anyone know where I can find the BIOS I need?

Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:12 pm

uofmfan4 wrote:Well, we did add an Ultra ATA/133 PCI Card, and the software that came with the hard drive makes DOS "think" the hard drive is 8.4 GB, that's what it reads at startup. Once I'm into windows though, the drive is reading 127GB. Does anyone know where I can find the BIOS I need?

That would have been nice to know ahead of time.

Ok, once you add the ATA-133 card, the motherboard BIOS no longer enters into play. You don't need an update.

The ATA-133 card SHOULD support the full 160GB out of the box, and it should display the full capacity during POST. If it doesn't you have something configured wrong, or they sold you a really old card.

Win98 probably can't read the full drive, and I don't know if there is a patch for this. Did you partition the drive at all?

I'm not sure what software you're referring to, but you shouldn't need anything for your 160GB. If you still need to boot to DOS for some reason, install it on your 2GB HDD, and dual boot between them.