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300PL with a 160GB HDD?
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:50 pm
by joester
Trying to upgrade my son's 300PL, and not doing well....
It has 1GB RAM, and a 40GB HDD, but we want to add a 160GB as a slave. The BIOS doesn't recognize the HDD.
Does anyone know if/where there might be a patch for the BIOS or a mystery setting I haven't found to make the HDD useable?
Thanks.
Joe
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 4:23 pm
by pianowizard
It's from the same generation as my old Gateway E-3200 desktop, which could use a 200GB Maxtor HDD just fine, so I think the 160GB drive should work on your 300PL.
Try using "Cable Select" for both drives, instead of "Master" and "Slave". If that doesn't work, see if you have the latest BIOS.
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:18 pm
by joester
I actually have 4 of these things, and we're making one for him.
My intent was to use the 160 as a solo master, but the computer ID's the HDD as only 137GB. Now I'm trying to install a 40GB as master and add the 160GB as a slave.
Either way, as soon as I can get it up and running I'll update the BIOS and cross my fingers.
Joe
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:47 pm
by pianowizard
joester wrote:My intent was to use the 160 as a solo master, but the computer ID's the HDD as only 137GB.
What operating system are you using? Win XP SP2 should be able to overcome that 137GB barrier.
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:30 pm
by joester
The plan is XP SP2, but as of yet, the first one I tried building (none have OS's) simply refused to load XP by popping a BSOD indicating a bad or infected drive was attached.
I found it didn't matter which drive I hooked up... Motherboard issue or a setting I missed in the BIOS.
Starting on 300PL #2 now.... With spare parts!
Joe
Update at...Oh crap! 5am!
2nd one recognized the HDD as 33GB. Installed a 20GB as master, then load, configure, ect... Updated BIOS, Still only 33GB...
Remembered the "fake out" jumper for "older systems" I tried while working with the first one. Took it out and VIOLA!
Tomorrow I move the 160 into the master slot and load, configure, ect.
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:34 pm
by leoblob
I'm pretty sure it's not an OS issue. An updated BIOS will likely not fix it either.
Go to Western Digital's site and download EZ-Drive (it's free). Run it, you can run any size drive with any OS or BIOS version; master, slave, it won't matter.
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:23 pm
by losmeme
Or, partition the 160GB drive into two 80GB drives, this also will overcome the 137GB limitation of the BIOs.