I did update my BIOS to A09 before I installed Window XP PRO. When I format my 10 G to NTFS it only allowed me to 9.2GB. I checked my Setup screen BIOS reads A09.
The 9.2gb reading for a 10gb drive is about right. Harddrive MFRs use a gigabyte of 1 billion bytes, and Windows perceives a gigabyte of 1.0737 billion bytes. If you put in a 40gb also, it will be perceived as about 38gb by DOS and Windows
I read on some other thread, that you need to call Dell to get HD password once you upgrade your hard drive. Does everyone have to do that? Why Dell need to put password on the system?
When you set a Harddrive password on a Dell laptop, it is set both on an EEprom Password Chip and the Harddrive. If you remove the protected Harddrive without clearing the Password first while it is still installed, the part on the EEprom Chip still remains and that is why these folks are being asked for a Password on a new drive. The mfrs. do NOTset passwords on their new drives. Short of getting help from Dell Support, I know of no way to clear that "hangover"
If I understand the problem, regardless of what HDD You put into Your system You will be ask for a password, correct? Well then I guess You could clear this takening the BIOS battery out or trying to fiend a tool to clear the HDD password from Seagate.
The Password is NOT from Seagate, it is a "hangover" from a previous Password Protected Harddrive that was previously installed by a user, and removed without clearing it. It also still exists on the EEprom Password Chip. If Dell can not or will not help you, the board is scrap. Disconnecting the CMOS Batterty will have not the slightest effect on clearing this problem, nor is there any magic tool to clear it either.
Will it help if you format the old hard drive first prior to replace it with a new one? Pre-owned L400 I got didn't even come with Window. It just had DOS. So I format the hard drive to NTSF first then install my window XP-Pro. I am looking to get a larger hard drive 20-40 GB. Will I have the same "password hangover" problem? I think I checked my CMOS setup I didn't see any hard drive password. Could you delete hard drive passwork from CMOS setup screen?
No, that will not help. If the old harddrive is still operational, if you install it and have the Password, and can clear it from BIOS, that will do it. Generally, if you set a Harddrive password on a Dell laptop, and the Harddrive dies with it set, your only hope to recover your M'board is Dell support. If you buy a used motherboard that previously was used with a Password protected Harddrive that died, you have no way to restore it to normal ops.
leduke30
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April 13th, 2005 20:00
blkoai
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April 26th, 2005 02:00
leduke30
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April 26th, 2005 04:00
seviwa
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April 26th, 2005 07:00
Upgrade Your L400 BIOS to ver A09.
I did upgrade my L400 with a 40 GB HDD and it works fine.
blkoai
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April 26th, 2005 14:00
leduke30
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April 26th, 2005 15:00
blkoai
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April 26th, 2005 19:00
seviwa
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April 26th, 2005 19:00
This is correct. Nothing is wrong with Your HD. My new 40 GB HD reads about 37,2. The explanation for this can You read at the link below:
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_harddrive&message.id=31159
seviwa
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blkoai
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leduke30
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April 27th, 2005 16:00
seviwa
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April 27th, 2005 17:00
leduke30
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April 27th, 2005 17:00
The Password is NOT from Seagate, it is a "hangover" from a previous Password Protected Harddrive that was previously installed by a user, and removed without clearing it. It also still exists on the EEprom Password Chip. If Dell can not or will not help you, the board is scrap. Disconnecting the CMOS Batterty will have not the slightest effect on clearing this problem, nor is there any magic tool to clear it either.
blkoai
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April 27th, 2005 18:00
leduke30
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April 27th, 2005 19:00