The 4550 model with BIOS version A04 or later will support hard drives larger than 137 gigs. Starting with that version A04, UDMA support for 48-bit LBA hard drives larger than 137GB was added to the BIOS code. In order for the operating system to support such a large hard drive you must be using Windows XP with at least SP1 installed or Windows 2000 with SP4. Just a note though if you need a BIOS upgrade.... with the 4550 don't upgrade the BIOS to version A08 if you have a firewire card installed. That BIOS version along with that hardware will cause a resource conflict in Windows. Version A06 will work Ok.
If the controller card isn't supporting the large hard drive then check the manufacturer's web site for a firmware update. I know with the Promise card there are some shipped where UDMA support for 48-bit LBA hard drives wasn't enabled. The firmware update will correct that.
I have the same problem with my HD, this is a Maxtor 160Gb, I've done the upgrade of the bios, A08: doesn't work, A06: doesn't work...My dimension is with Windows XP SP1...What is the problem, what can i do?
Is the BIOS not seeing the correct size of the hard drive or the operating system? If it is the BIOS then make sure it is properly jumpered for Cable Select and mounted properly on the ribbon cable. Then try clearing the NVRAM using the procedure I've listed below. If you have the drive connected to a ATA Controller card and it isn't seeing the correct size then make sure the card supports large hard drives. Older ATA Controller cards didn't offer large drive support.
If the operating system is not seeing the correct size of the drive then there was an error in the way the drive was partitioned - formatted. Try using Windows XP Disk Management software to setup the drive. The link here is for a Microsoft Knowledge Base article on how to use Disk Management.
Clearing the NVRAM.....
Reboot system and enter the BIOS Setup by pressing F2.
Well, the bios is seeing the correct size of each HD...The config is
- 1 HD with the OS : 80 Go
- 1 HD (the maxtor, which doesn't work) : 160 Go, both on the same ribbon cable
- 1 HD: 80 Go on the same ribbon cable with the CD Reader (i'm french, i'm not sure to understand what it is, but i think it's the cable which links the motherboard and the HD or the CD readers)
With the disk management, i've understood that about 27 Go of the HD was not allocated...I don't really know why...How can i intregate these 27 Go in the other partition without a format ?
I would use the Disk Management software to repartition and reformat the new 160 drive. That should then allow you to use to full capacity of the drive.
Majestic
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January 19th, 2005 09:00
tededface
2 Posts
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January 19th, 2005 11:00
Hello
I have the same problem with my HD, this is a Maxtor 160Gb, I've done the upgrade of the bios, A08: doesn't work, A06: doesn't work...My dimension is with Windows XP SP1...What is the problem, what can i do?
Thx
boris
Majestic
9.4K Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 13:00
tedeface
Is the BIOS not seeing the correct size of the hard drive or the operating system? If it is the BIOS then make sure it is properly jumpered for Cable Select and mounted properly on the ribbon cable. Then try clearing the NVRAM using the procedure I've listed below. If you have the drive connected to a ATA Controller card and it isn't seeing the correct size then make sure the card supports large hard drives. Older ATA Controller cards didn't offer large drive support.
If the operating system is not seeing the correct size of the drive then there was an error in the way the drive was partitioned - formatted. Try using Windows XP Disk Management software to setup the drive. The link here is for a Microsoft Knowledge Base article on how to use Disk Management.
Clearing the NVRAM.....
Message Edited by Majestic on 01-19-2005 09:40 AM
tededface
2 Posts
0
January 19th, 2005 15:00
Well, the bios is seeing the correct size of each HD...The config is
- 1 HD with the OS : 80 Go
- 1 HD (the maxtor, which doesn't work) : 160 Go, both on the same ribbon cable
- 1 HD: 80 Go on the same ribbon cable with the CD Reader (i'm french, i'm not sure to understand what it is, but i think it's the cable which links the motherboard and the HD or the CD readers)
With the disk management, i've understood that about 27 Go of the HD was not allocated...I don't really know why...How can i intregate these 27 Go in the other partition without a format ?
Majestic
9.4K Posts
0
January 20th, 2005 13:00