BIOS Updates forum

Hi to everyone.
I've got a Epox EP-61BXA-m and i'm trying to put to work a 40gb Seagate with it.
The HD is detected always in slave, whatever be the position of the jumper. I already upgraded the BIOS with the file provided in the EPOX website, but the problem persists.
If someone have a patched bios, please let me know.
Here is some information from Bios Agent:



Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.23
BIOS Date: 09/21/00
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG
BIOS ID: 09/21/2000-i440BX/ZX-977-2A69KPABC
OEM Sign-On: 09/20/2000 For i440BX/ZX AGPset
Chipset: Intel 440BX/ZX rev 2
Superio: Winbond 977TF rev 0 found at port 3F0h
OS: WinXP
CPU: Pentium II 350 Mhz MAX: 400 Mhz
BIOS ROM In Socket: Yes
BIOS ROM Size: 256K

blue=motherboard
gray=master
black=slave

UDMA cables are keyed these days.

I know that...
I haven't messed with the cable, it's bios limitation/bug

It's not.

BIOS ID string: 09/21/2000-i440BX/ZX-977-2A69KPABC-00
BIOS OEM string: 09/20/2000 For i440BX/ZX AGPset
INT13h Extensions...Present: new-style
=> BIOS already supports HDDs over 32GB!
Searching for size calculation routine...Not found
Searching for SETUP size calculation routine...Not found
Searching for XGroup Block...Found at 0
Searching for end of last block...Found at 72720
Decompressing XGroup Block...Decompressed 16571 bytes into 23978 bytes
Searching for size calculation routine...is already OK
Searching for SETUP size calculation routine...is already OK
BIOS already supports HDDs over 32GB & 64GB - Nothing to do!

The hdd capacity is detected, the problem is that i can't put it to work as master/single. The BIOS detect him always as single, and other devices installed ( another HDD or a CD-ROM) are ingnored (undetected).
Anyway, thx for help. I'll stay with my SCSI hdd instead...

correction: "the BIOS detect him always as slave"

Check HDD jumper table printed onto the HDD surface - it seems Seagate starts to use some special Single settings WD uses,too

For a single, primary master hard drive, connect the drive to the end of an ATA66/100/133 cable or to the middle of a ATA33 cable. If you can determine default jumpering, this would be the preferable setting. If not, I would use cable select, if fails jumper as master.

Also try disconnecting other devices from the primary channel to see if this will permit the HDD to work as master. If they do, it may be the configuration of the intended slave drive that is the problem and not the Seagate drive.