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320 GB: 05/14/2001-VT694X-MED 2001

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:33 pm
by pipo
Hi,

I've bought a 320 gb harddisk but the BIOS doesn't seem to recognize it properly (it's not the right size).
It seems I need 48 bit LBA support..... whoops.

I have a MD 2001 with bios revision 1008.

Would it help to install the bios revision 1009?
I can't find information ANYWHERE about the changes in this bios version.

I have a bad feeling it won't help, but who knows...
I probably can't use this harddisk at all right? :(

Thanks in advance.

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:25 pm
by KURIAKI

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:40 pm
by pipo
Thx, I found that link too :)
But there's no info about the changes in that file...
If the bios is from from 2001, any chance it could support this harddisk?
I'm not just going to upgrade to find out... cuz everything else works fine with my current bios.

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 7:26 pm
by pipo
I have installed the disk with Data Lifeguard Tools from Western Digital.

It seems to work but I can probably only use the first 137GB.

Do I need a controllor card or is there a software solution? Please, does anyone know if installing the 1009 Bios will be of any use? THX

Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 9:54 pm
by edwin
137GB is the final limit for the bios of that generation. Get a controller card with bios.

Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 7:55 pm
by cp
yes, 137GB is the final limit for the BIOS...but keep in mind that most (if not all) modern operating systems (linux, windows 2k/xp) would query the drive through the ide bus itself rather than asking the (flaky) bios.
To cut it short: even if the bios does detect a smaller size you're able to use the full capacity with a modern os.
just for your information, btw.