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Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

 
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Old 19-09-2004, 02:42 AM   #1
Jeff W
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Default Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?


Hi - I'm still on WIN98SE, planning up upgrade to XP-Home SP2 soon. I
bought a 160GB drive. I knew that, for WIN98SE I could format only the
lower 137GB, but I'm concerned because my BIOS (latest update) sees only
137GB. (Y2K-vintage DFI Ta-64B motherboard). I know there are many
ways around this - or I could just punt the 23GB. However, it's been
suggested (though I don't believe this) that SP2 will still be able to
see 160GB. Is this true? if so I can stop worrying about a workaround.

Thanks!
/j
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Old 19-09-2004, 02:48 AM   #2
Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers
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Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

Hi Jeff,

Regardless of the operating system, your BIOS must support 48 bit LBA. If it
doesn't, then it won't matter what is installed. Check with the manufacturer
of the motherboard to see if there is a BIOS update available.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Jeff W" <msnews@kwcpa.com> wrote in message
news:O2QMSGenEHA.2764@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Hi - I'm still on WIN98SE, planning up upgrade to XP-Home SP2 soon. I
> bought a 160GB drive. I knew that, for WIN98SE I could format only the
> lower 137GB, but I'm concerned because my BIOS (latest update) sees only
> 137GB. (Y2K-vintage DFI Ta-64B motherboard). I know there are many
> ways around this - or I could just punt the 23GB. However, it's been
> suggested (though I don't believe this) that SP2 will still be able to
> see 160GB. Is this true? if so I can stop worrying about a workaround.
>
> Thanks!
> /j



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Old 19-09-2004, 03:03 AM   #3
=?Utf-8?B?UmhvXzFy?=
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Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

WindowsXP works with large Drives it has 48 LBA, check that your bios
supports LBA 48, if it does not, a dynamic overlay may be possible to get
around the BIOS limitation,Some BIOS have a "new feature" that allows the
operating system to detect devices, ect, this may work,, I have not seen any
posts one way or the other.
Ciao(goodbye in Italian)

Rho_1r(VIP) not MVP

"Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" wrote:

> Hi Jeff,
>
> Regardless of the operating system, your BIOS must support 48 bit LBA. If it
> doesn't, then it won't matter what is installed. Check with the manufacturer
> of the motherboard to see if there is a BIOS update available.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
> www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>
> "Jeff W" <msnews@kwcpa.com> wrote in message
> news:O2QMSGenEHA.2764@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > Hi - I'm still on WIN98SE, planning up upgrade to XP-Home SP2 soon. I
> > bought a 160GB drive. I knew that, for WIN98SE I could format only the
> > lower 137GB, but I'm concerned because my BIOS (latest update) sees only
> > 137GB. (Y2K-vintage DFI Ta-64B motherboard). I know there are many
> > ways around this - or I could just punt the 23GB. However, it's been
> > suggested (though I don't believe this) that SP2 will still be able to
> > see 160GB. Is this true? if so I can stop worrying about a workaround.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > /j

>
>
>

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Old 19-09-2004, 03:15 AM   #4
=?Utf-8?B?UmhvXzFy?=
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

Theoretically, the Op sys would see the size of the HD and activate the
correct registry Key LBA 24 for HD up to 137 and LBA 48 reg key for larger
than that, or run a logic program, IF THE ELSE, -1,0,1 ect and then
associated the correct LBA for the drive size eg 0-137GB or >137GB, ect

"Rho_1r" wrote:

> WindowsXP works with large Drives it has 48 LBA, check that your bios
> supports LBA 48, if it does not, a dynamic overlay may be possible to get
> around the BIOS limitation,Some BIOS have a "new feature" that allows the
> operating system to detect devices, ect, this may work,, I have not seen any
> posts one way or the other.
> Ciao(goodbye in Italian)
>
> Rho_1r(VIP) not MVP
>
> "Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" wrote:
>
> > Hi Jeff,
> >
> > Regardless of the operating system, your BIOS must support 48 bit LBA. If it
> > doesn't, then it won't matter what is installed. Check with the manufacturer
> > of the motherboard to see if there is a BIOS update available.
> >
> > --
> > Best of Luck,
> >
> > Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> > Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
> > www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >
> > "Jeff W" <msnews@kwcpa.com> wrote in message
> > news:O2QMSGenEHA.2764@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > Hi - I'm still on WIN98SE, planning up upgrade to XP-Home SP2 soon. I
> > > bought a 160GB drive. I knew that, for WIN98SE I could format only the
> > > lower 137GB, but I'm concerned because my BIOS (latest update) sees only
> > > 137GB. (Y2K-vintage DFI Ta-64B motherboard). I know there are many
> > > ways around this - or I could just punt the 23GB. However, it's been
> > > suggested (though I don't believe this) that SP2 will still be able to
> > > see 160GB. Is this true? if so I can stop worrying about a workaround.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > > /j

> >
> >
> >

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Old 19-09-2004, 03:53 AM   #5
=?Utf-8?B?UmhvXzFy?=
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Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

Generally speaking Windows is not Linux, its preprogrammed to run with user
not putting in any instructions,ect, Linux relies on the user to install
various instructions, just a tid bit I throw in here,,,lol

"Rho_1r" wrote:

> Theoretically, the Op sys would see the size of the HD and activate the
> correct registry Key LBA 24 for HD up to 137 and LBA 48 reg key for larger
> than that, or run a logic program, IF THE ELSE, -1,0,1 ect and then
> associated the correct LBA for the drive size eg 0-137GB or >137GB, ect
>
> "Rho_1r" wrote:
>
> > WindowsXP works with large Drives it has 48 LBA, check that your bios
> > supports LBA 48, if it does not, a dynamic overlay may be possible to get
> > around the BIOS limitation,Some BIOS have a "new feature" that allows the
> > operating system to detect devices, ect, this may work,, I have not seen any
> > posts one way or the other.
> > Ciao(goodbye in Italian)
> >
> > Rho_1r(VIP) not MVP
> >
> > "Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Jeff,
> > >
> > > Regardless of the operating system, your BIOS must support 48 bit LBA. If it
> > > doesn't, then it won't matter what is installed. Check with the manufacturer
> > > of the motherboard to see if there is a BIOS update available.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Best of Luck,
> > >
> > > Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> > > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> > > Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
> > > www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > > Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> > >
> > > "Jeff W" <msnews@kwcpa.com> wrote in message
> > > news:O2QMSGenEHA.2764@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > > Hi - I'm still on WIN98SE, planning up upgrade to XP-Home SP2 soon. I
> > > > bought a 160GB drive. I knew that, for WIN98SE I could format only the
> > > > lower 137GB, but I'm concerned because my BIOS (latest update) sees only
> > > > 137GB. (Y2K-vintage DFI Ta-64B motherboard). I know there are many
> > > > ways around this - or I could just punt the 23GB. However, it's been
> > > > suggested (though I don't believe this) that SP2 will still be able to
> > > > see 160GB. Is this true? if so I can stop worrying about a workaround.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks!
> > > > /j
> > >
> > >
> > >

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Old 19-09-2004, 05:20 PM   #6
Jeff W
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Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

no updates available. someone pointed me to esupport.com who will
supposedly generate a custom update but I'm skeptical


Rick "Nutcase" Rogers wrote:

>Hi Jeff,
>
>Regardless of the operating system, your BIOS must support 48 bit LBA. If it
>doesn't, then it won't matter what is installed. Check with the manufacturer
>of the motherboard to see if there is a BIOS update available.
>
>
>

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Old 19-09-2004, 05:20 PM   #7
Jeff W
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Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

I thought introducing DDO brought it's own problem baggage

Rho_1r wrote:

>WindowsXP works with large Drives it has 48 LBA, check that your bios
>supports LBA 48, if it does not, a dynamic overlay may be possible to get
>around the BIOS limitation,Some BIOS have a "new feature" that allows the
>operating system to detect devices, ect, this may work,, I have not seen any
>posts one way or the other.
> Ciao(goodbye in Italian)
>
>
>
>

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Old 20-09-2004, 08:38 AM   #8
Andy
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Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

1. If you want the XP setup program to see past 137GB on the hard
drive, the XP installation CD must incorporate SP1 or SP2. This is
irrespective of the BIOS supporting 28-bit or 48-bit LBA.

2. The only time the BIOS is used to access the hard drive is during
the bootup process. Once the OS is running, the BIOS is not used to
access the hard drive. This means that a 28-bit LBA BIOS will not
prevent Windows XP with SP1 or SP2 from accessing past 137GB on a hard
drive.

On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 20:42:45 -0400, Jeff W <msnews@kwcpa.com> wrote:

>Hi - I'm still on WIN98SE, planning up upgrade to XP-Home SP2 soon. I
>bought a 160GB drive. I knew that, for WIN98SE I could format only the
>lower 137GB, but I'm concerned because my BIOS (latest update) sees only
>137GB. (Y2K-vintage DFI Ta-64B motherboard). I know there are many
>ways around this - or I could just punt the 23GB. However, it's been
>suggested (though I don't believe this) that SP2 will still be able to
>see 160GB. Is this true? if so I can stop worrying about a workaround.
>
>Thanks!
>/j


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Old 20-09-2004, 03:24 PM   #9
Sharon F
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Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:20:45 -0400, Jeff W wrote:

> I thought introducing DDO brought it's own problem baggage


It's possible and many folks avoid it for that reason. Daily operations
aren't too bad but recovery and repair situations can become complicated.
Since hard drive sizes have increased so rapidly, I've seen many new drives
with an added jumper setting that limits the size of the hard drive that
BIOS will "see."

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows XP Shell/User
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Old 21-09-2004, 07:20 PM   #10
Jeff W
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Default Re: Will XP-Home SP2 get around 137GB -BIOS- limitation?

Microsoft disagrees...

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...kb;en-us;303013

Andy wrote:

>1. If you want the XP setup program to see past 137GB on the hard
>drive, the XP installation CD must incorporate SP1 or SP2. This is
>irrespective of the BIOS supporting 28-bit or 48-bit LBA.
>
>2. The only time the BIOS is used to access the hard drive is during
>the bootup process. Once the OS is running, the BIOS is not used to
>access the hard drive. This means that a 28-bit LBA BIOS will not
>prevent Windows XP with SP1 or SP2 from accessing past 137GB on a hard
>drive.
>
>

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