Gigabyte GA-8IEML-T and 200 GB hard drive

[mrlg]

I'm trying to help someone with a Gigabyte GA-8IEML-T
motherboard. He bought a new 200 GB hard drive and
can only get the computer to detect 137 GB of it.

Does anyone know how to tell if the Gigabyte GA-8IEML-T
is able to support full use of 200 GB hard drives?

Motherboard's website is here
http://tw.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Products/Products_GA-8IEML-T.htm

 

[Paul Murphy]

I'm trying to help someone with a Gigabyte GA-8IEML-T
motherboard. He bought a new 200 GB hard drive and
can only get the computer to detect 137 GB of it.

Does anyone know how to tell if the Gigabyte GA-8IEML-T
is able to support full use of 200 GB hard drives?

Motherboard's website is here
http://tw.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Products/Products_GA-8IEML-T.htm

As long as the version of windows used (assuming its not Linux) is capable
of being installed on a partition larger than 137 GB, there should be no
problem installing that HDD. You'll want to ensure Intel Application
Accelerator is installed and the latest service pack for the OS. Note that
if your friend has Windows XP Prior to SP1, it would be a good idea to make
an SP2 CD and install using that, otherwise the OS wont partition the drive
larger than 137 GB. Have a look at this website for relevant info:
http://www.48bitlba.com/

Paul

 

[mrlg]

As long as the version of windows used (assuming its not Linux) is capable
of being installed on a partition larger than 137 GB, there should be no
problem installing that HDD. You'll want to ensure Intel Application
Accelerator is installed and the latest service pack for the OS. Note that
if your friend has Windows XP Prior to SP1, it would be a good idea to make
an SP2 CD and install using that, otherwise the OS wont partition the drive
larger than 137 GB. Have a look at this website for relevant info:
http://www.48bitlba.com/

Paul

Thank you for the link. I'll check it out.

He is using Windows XP, but not SP2.
The Belarc Advisor displayed his OS info as:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Build 2600

He followed suggestions from
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013

and has downloaded and installed Q331958_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe
which updated his ATAPI drivers so they show as
atapi.sys 24/10/2002 5.1.2600.1152

I was wondering if he might need a BIOS update. The
information he gave me is
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG, 08/03/2004
SMBIOS Version 2.3

He may have installed updates individually
instead of using the SP's. But I'm not sure if there is an
individual update that would enable the 48-bit LBA or whether
it was only released as part of a service pack.

 

[DaveW]

The motherboard as purchased from the vendor CANNOT recognize 200GB in a
harddrive. You'd have to see if Gigabyte has a BIOS upgrade that would fix
that on their website.

 

[theyak]

Thank you for the link. I'll check it out.

He is using Windows XP, but not SP2.
The Belarc Advisor displayed his OS info as:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Build 2600

He followed suggestions from
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013

and has downloaded and installed Q331958_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe
which updated his ATAPI drivers so they show as
atapi.sys 24/10/2002 5.1.2600.1152

I was wondering if he might need a BIOS update. The
information he gave me is
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG, 08/03/2004
SMBIOS Version 2.3

He may have installed updates individually
instead of using the SP's. But I'm not sure if there is an
individual update that would enable the 48-bit LBA or whether
it was only released as part of a service pack.

It was in service pack 1. But yea, he needs a bios update and both
service packs.

 

[kony]

Thank you for the link. I'll check it out.

He is using Windows XP, but not SP2.
The Belarc Advisor displayed his OS info as:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Build 2600

He followed suggestions from
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013

and has downloaded and installed Q331958_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe
which updated his ATAPI drivers so they show as
atapi.sys 24/10/2002 5.1.2600.1152

Note on that page you linked, it reads "You must have
Windows XP SP1 installed"

I was wondering if he might need a BIOS update. The
information he gave me is
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG, 08/03/2004
SMBIOS Version 2.3

He may have installed updates individually
instead of using the SP's. But I'm not sure if there is an
individual update that would enable the 48-bit LBA or whether
it was only released as part of a service pack.

He needs to install SP1. The board should, almost certainly
does support the drive capacity already, only the operating
system needs this change.

 

[Paul Murphy]

Perhaps the motherboard may not provide full 48 bit LBA support and accurate
large drive detection in BIOS - but that's not needed. The notes in the BIOS
download page for this motherboard compared with the date on the BIOS
information provided tend to indicate the newest version is already
installed (a date in 2004) and only the last BIOS flash is dated 2004 (the
rest are 2002 so I say the OP needn't worry about the BIOS. A Quick test for
the OP is to see what size the BIOS detects the drive as.Given that XP SP1
onwards will correctly detect the full drive size on machines with most
Intel chipsets of this era, irrespective of whether the BIOS detects the
full size means BIOS changes are needed anyway - its all explained at the 48
bit LBA website I provided a URL for in my previous post.

The problem is simply that the OS isn't up to date enough as no SP was built
into the CD. Unfortunately, updating the OS after its installed is a problem
because the OP will only be able to make the additional space into another
partition and not merge it into the existing one.

Paul

 

[Paul Murphy]

He needs to install SP1. The board should, almost certainly
does support the drive capacity already, only the operating
system needs this change.

I agree that the OS needs updating but if SP1 (or 2) is installed on this
machine after the OS is already on the HDD, it wont allow the primary boot
partition to be the full drive capacity i.e. C:\ will remain at 128 GB (or
thereabouts) and another partition must be created to use the remaining
space. A better way to do it is to make a CDROM for Windows XP which
incorporates SP2 in accordance with these instructions here:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

As long as the OP has the ability to follow those instructions and perform a
clean install using the resulting CD, the machine should default to having a
C drive of 200 GB (or thereabouts).

Paul