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40GB: 2A5KKF9AC-00
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 2:03 am
by BoogieMan
Hello!
I am looking for a BIOS Version wich supports a 40GB harddisk for the following mainboard:
BravoBaby (FordLian/Redfox)
Model: ??? (Ali-AGP M1543/M1542 Chipset)
BIOS-ID 09/06/1999-ALADDIN5-2A5KKF9AC-00
AWARD-BIOS v 4.51
Can anybody help me? Thanks a lot!!!
Sebastian
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 2:27 am
by ajzchips
Yep, Redfox ALI-AGP board.
Check
www.redfox-online.com
But their BIOS release is identical to yours:
09/06/1999-ALADDIN5-2A5KKF9AC-00
FOR AGP-ALI PCI/ISA/AGP MODE VER:1.4
...and strangely, our utility says:
"BIOS already supports HDDs over 32GB & 64GB - Nothing to do!"
So, either you've got to set the HDD parameters manually, or the version available at redfox-online has been updated, without modifying its full BIOS ID string at all.
BIOS auto-detection offers only 32GB Harddisks
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 2:45 am
by BoogieMan
Thank you for Your prompt answer!
I am using a MAXTOR 34098H4 40GB-Harddisk.
Award Bios auto-detection offers me only three different 32GB-Configurations.
If I enter the parameters manually (4982 cyl, 255 head, 63 sectors) the BIOS generates the right parameter for "harddisk size" but I receive a primary harddisk failure when booting the system.
I have to mention that I do not know what I have to enter in the "precomp" and "Landing Zone" fields. (so i used the parameters from the false auto-detection for them).
The Maxtor Website and the Harddisk Manual do not give any information about these two parameters.
Does anybody know whats going on in my PC ???
Best regards
Sebastian
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 3:14 am
by Denniss
Check the jumpers on your HDD - the 32GB limitation jumper is set !
Remove it and you'll see 40GB
no effect
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 3:39 am
by BoogieMan
I have a cylinder limitation jumper on the harddisk. it doesnt have an effect in both positions
(
further information found
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 4:04 am
by BoogieMan
the maxtor knowledge base reports that the Award v.51PG BIOS (i have this) has a known 32GB limitation which cannot be handled by the Cylinder Limitation Jumper and/or the MaxBlast Plus software (EZ-Bios).
Maxtor says that the only solution is an Ultra Ata Pci card or a Mainboard Bios upgrade.
Does anybody know whether RedFox did something to solve this problem?
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 8:51 am
by edwin
Download the bios they have listed for your board and flash that one. It seems to have support for larger harddisks.
already installed the redfox bios
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 9:29 am
by BoogieMan
Yes, i have already installed the bios from the RedFox website. Version 1.4, starting logo is the red fox. I had already installed another 1.4 version, starting with the epa logo. No effect for the 40gb support
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 11:03 am
by Rainbow
If the BIOS detects 32GB but does not hang, it can be either one of the weird BIOSes or the HDD is bad. Try another HDD.
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 5:07 pm
by ajzchips
@Rainbow... when we're faced with a BIOS release that has very weird support for >32GB and >64GB (especially true with late 1999 BIOS releases, like this one), which will disable your utility's patch function because it already detects large HDD support, wouldn't it probably work to try to patch an earlier BIOS release, which doesn't include "weird" large HDD support?
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 8:52 pm
by Rainbow
It will probably work - now find a BIOS which is older but not too old
The BETA collection contains this:
07/03/1998-ALADDIN5-2A5KKF9AC-00
(2a5kkf9a) EVALUATION ROM - NOT FOR SALE
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 9:12 pm
by ajzchips
That BETA might be a bit too old, and perhaps lack support for the later Cyrix cpus and possibly the K6-2 (cxt) and K6-3. Surely lacking K6-2+/3+ support.
Anyway, I'll try to find VER:1.3.... wish me luck.
@BoogieMan, BTW, what version did you originally have?
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 10:34 pm
by edwin
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 10:35 pm
by edwin
Bingo:
Searching for Main Block...Found at 0
Searching for end of last block...Found at 105476
Decompressing Main Block...Decompressed 74007 bytes into 131072 bytes
BIOS ID string: 03/08/1999-ALADDIN5-2A5KKF9AC-00
BIOS OEM string: FOR AGP-ALI PCI/ISA/AGP MODE VER:1.3
INT13h Extensions...Present: new-style
New-style code found at 3824
=> 32GB bug patched successfully
Searching for size calculation routine...Not found
Searching for SETUP size calculation routine...Not found
Searching for XGroup Block...Found at 74009
Searching for end of last block...Found at 105476
Decompressing XGroup Block...Decompressed 22187 bytes into 31907 bytes
Searching for size calculation routine...Found at 2310
Searching for free space...Found at 31907
Patching code at 2309
Searching for SETUP size calculation routine...Found at 27140
Replacing Main Block...Compressed into 74007 bytes...Move not needed
Replacing XGroup Block...Compressed into 22225 bytes...Moved blocks by 38 bytes
Updating checksum...Located at 114686...Updated OK
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 10:37 pm
by edwin
Patched bios sent
