You can use any currently available IDE hard drive, providing you have the latest BIOS version, with BIOS version A04, support for 48-bit LBA for hard drives larger than 137gb was added and have XP SP-1, or higher.
I'm planning to use an a optioned Gx260 as a file server, and I plan to run Ubuntu Linux. Would the aforementioned adapters and bridges be compatible with the system if I used SATA-II hard drives? And how many drives can the motherboard support?
It wont support drives larger than 137 gigs until you upgrade the bios.
You wont get more than UDMA 133 speed from the motherboard.
If you plan on using more than 1 sata drive you could also use the startech controller that plugs into the IDE connection on the motherboard for 2 drives. I haven't used more than 1 of these on any given system.
The entire reason to not use PATA IDE drives is that they are so old and not forward compatable.
This file contains a compressed (or zipped) set of files. Download the file to a folder on your hard drive, and then run (double-click) it to unzip the set of files. Follow the instructions to create a set of floppy diskettes, and then use the diskettes to complete the installation.
This file contains a compressed (or zipped) set of files. Download the file to a folder on your hard drive, and then run (double-click) it to unzip the set of files. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
This file format consists of a BIOS executable file. To use it, download the file and copy it to a DOS-bootable diskette. With the diskette in the floppy drive, reboot the system and run the program.
Download Type:
HTTP
File Size:
368KB
Installation Instructions
Floppy Format
Creating the disk:
This procedure requires one blank, formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk. Label the disk BIOS.
Click Download now from the Download and install section, to begin. The File Download window appears.
Click Save this program to disk.
In the Save in: section, click the down arrow and click to select Desktop as the location then click Save.
When the file download is complete, click Close button. Close all open windows.
Double-click the down loaded file GX260A09.EXE on your Desktop. If the Security Warning window appears, click Yes.
Click the Setup button. A black MS-DOS window appears.
Press the key.
Insert a formatted floppy disk in the floppy disk drive and press the key.
Press the key to begin copying files. The message End of the disk set appears.
Press the key.
Click the Start button,
Click the Run button.
Type a: in the Open box and click OK. A list of files on the floppy disk appears.
Close all open windows and leave the disk in the floppy drive.
If you are creating this disk on another computer, remove the disk. Then insert it into the system that needs the BIOS flashed, and resume the procedure.
Non-Packaged Format
Creating the disk:
This procedure requires one blank, formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk. Label the disk BIOS.
Click Download now from the Download and install section, to begin. The File Download window appears.
Click Save this program to disk.
In the Save in: section, click the down arrow and click to select Desktop as the location then click Save.
When the file download is complete, click Close button. Close all open windows.
Insert a blank, bootable, formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk.
Right-click the downloaded file, point to Send Tothen click to select 3 1/2 Floppy (a), and skip to the section Flashing the BIOS below.
Changing the system BIOS may result in unintended side affects, such as incompatibility of the new BIOS with installed hardware. If problems arise after a BIOS change, it may be necessary to return the system to the original version of the BIOS.
If you are flashing the BIOS on a portable computer, be sure that the AC adapter is plugged in and the computer is not operating on battery power.
Ensure that the Flash BIOS disk is inserted into the floppy disk drive.
Click the Start button, click Shut Down, click Restart, then click OK.
The computer will restart
and boot to the floppy disk.
NOTE:
If the flash BIOS
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This is an optional process and is not required for the downloading and installation of device drivers from this site.
HenryLynn
1 Message
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November 5th, 2009 09:00
shesagordie
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46K Posts
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November 5th, 2009 12:00
treborl56
You can use any currently available IDE hard drive, providing you have the latest BIOS version, with BIOS version A04, support for 48-bit LBA for hard drives larger than 137gb was added and have XP SP-1, or higher.
Bev.
rdunnill
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November 5th, 2009 13:00
If you can get a SATA card in there, you should be able to use at least a 1tb.
flybee
1 Message
1
November 29th, 2010 02:00
If this is still of any use to someone, i've used a "Startech pata2sata3 bi directional SATA IDE converter adapter",
works with a 1Tb sata drive and the GX260 , and boots scientific linux.
http://www.dabs.com/products/startech-com-sata-ide-adapter-converter-6LCP.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product+search
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
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November 29th, 2010 04:00
Its soo old you shouldnt be getting hozed paying for tiny IDE Drives.
up to 2 terabytes is fine but it will only be available in SATA.
The Good news is that you can buy a SATA to IDE Bridge to solve this.
Only Issue is the Drive settings.
Dells come with drives set Cable Select.
You will need to reset all drives including CDROM to MASTER/Slave Configuration due to
the SATA Bridges not having a Cable Select position.
You cannot mix cable select with master/slave it will not like that and will say it doesnt see any drives.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0317195
mrxu54321
2 Posts
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October 26th, 2012 05:00
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
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October 26th, 2012 10:00
It wont support drives larger than 137 gigs until you upgrade the bios.
You wont get more than UDMA 133 speed from the motherboard.
If you plan on using more than 1 sata drive you could also use the startech controller that plugs into the IDE connection on the motherboard for 2 drives. I haven't used more than 1 of these on any given system.
The entire reason to not use PATA IDE drives is that they are so old and not forward compatable.
mrxu54321
2 Posts
0
October 26th, 2012 12:00
How does one update the BIOS?
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
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October 27th, 2012 04:00
Download the file and run in windows or put on dos floppy disk and run.
The File Download window appears.
Close all open windows.
If the Security Warning window appears, click Yes.
A black MS-DOS window appears.
The message End of the disk set appears.
the Open box and click OK.
A list of files on the floppy disk appears.
Skip to the section Flashing the BIOS below.
If you are creating this disk on another computer, remove the disk. Then insert it into the system that needs the BIOS flashed, and resume the procedure.
The File Download window appears.
Close all open windows.
below.
Flashing the BIOS
the AC adapter is plugged in and the computer is not operating on battery
power.
drive.
Restart, then click OK.
Checksum
This is an optional process and is not required for the downloading and installation of device drivers from this site.
By downloading, you accept the terms of the Dell Software License Agreement.