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View Full Version : 40gb Hd = 5.9 Gb????


Conscript
July 6th, 2003, 13:35
I'm having problems with my hard drive. After formatting it only shows 5.9 GB (this is a 40GB WD hard drive). It also won't boot any operating system except Windows 98 first edition. After installing XP or 2000 or 98se or anything else it simply freezes at the bios (about the time when its supposed to start the OS). Any ideas?
Daniel
July 6th, 2003, 14:30
Did you format it NTFS or FAT?
CareBear
July 6th, 2003, 16:38
is it partitioned (divided into smaller pieces)? Try exiting to DOS from Win98 and run fdisk and look at the list of partitions (option 4?).
Conscript
July 7th, 2003, 02:22
It was NTFS. I Fdisk it back to 40GB, no format, but Windows installation re-formats it to 5.9 GB with whatever format that windows uses (NTFS, FAT32, etc.).

And of course it NEVER boots. It freezes. So they only way I can access DOS to run diagnostics and stuff like fdisk is through a boot disk. Total Oddness.
Rick
July 7th, 2003, 08:37
Older machines can't recognise a hard disk larger than 6 GB... A limitation of the BIOS.
The workaround is to install EZ-BIOS which should have come with the HD or you might be able to download it from the Maxtor web site
Robert
July 7th, 2003, 09:42
Originally posted by Rick
Older machines can't recognise a hard disk larger than 6 GB... A limitation of the BIOS.
The workaround is to install EZ-BIOS which should have come with the HD or you might be able to download it from the Maxtor web site

EZ-Bios.. ewww

The workaround is to flash his bios to the lastest version.
Rick
July 7th, 2003, 14:10
Originally posted by Robert


The workaround is to flash his bios to the lastest version.

That only works if there is an available update... Not many older boards are supported by their respective manufacturers anymore. Their primary interest is in selling you a new motherboard.

By the way... I've had EZ-BIOS in several legacy systems with large HD's... Never a bit of trouble.
notnamed
July 7th, 2003, 15:27
EZ-BIOS....uuurrrgghh...I don't think I ever got by CDROM drive to boot again. Peice of crap. Flash your BIOS if at all possible.
trenzterra
July 8th, 2003, 09:44
Reformatting could be good.
northwind
July 8th, 2003, 10:00
FAT I believe is the only format where it cannot exceed 6GB.

If its FAT32 or NTFS you shouldn't really have a problem.
Also check to see if it was partitioned.
unix
July 8th, 2003, 12:48
flashing your bios is very dangerous so do it at a last resort.. E-Z bios worked for me...
Robert
July 8th, 2003, 13:15
Originally posted by unix
flashing your bios is very dangerous so do it at a last resort.. E-Z bios worked for me...

Very Dangerous? I think you took it to the extreme.

Flashing your bios requires someone to be very careful and patient.

E-Z Bios.. ewww ugh i hate E-Z Bios.

Is this a new hard drive?
Bruce
July 8th, 2003, 13:21
Originally posted by unix
flashing your bios is very dangerous so do it at a last resort.. Just don't do it during a thunderstorm... it'd really suck if you lost power while flashing your BIOS.

//edit

Strange quote issue... um, yeah...
Dean
July 9th, 2003, 05:58
Check that the jumpers are in the currect positions