new hardrive

[carlos471]

hi,i have a P-200mhz-mmx system and wanted to install 40gig hardrive in it.The guy at the computer store said i couldn't do that because my motherboard would only recognize about 500megs.My motherboard is a AB-PX5.The reason i'm adding another drive is because my second drive(d)is telling me that it has some bad clusters.Should i just go ahead and get another motherboard that will support these big hardrives?

[sleddog]

I'm guessing, bit I would think that a P200-vintage motherboard should support up to an 8gb harddrive. Consult your motherboard manual for this. Check with the motherboard manufacturer (website - support section) to see if there is a BIOS upgrade available that will allow larger harddrives. If a BIOS upgrade isn't available you could get a new 10gb drive (5400rpm are pretty cheap now). It might only be recognized as 8gb, but what the heck.

If you want to upgrade you're really looking at more than just the motherboard. You'll also need a new CPU and maybe new memory. The memory depends on what type your current board is using. SIMM's are the older type; new boards use DIMM's. If you're currently using SIMM's then you need to purchase new memory.


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[Paleo Pete]

I agree, I don't think I've ever seen a board that supports 200MHz CPU that won't handle 8.4GB drives. The 504MB limit was usually on 486 or earlier boards. Even if you can find a BIOS update that will allow larger than 8GB on that board it will probably only support up to 30GB.

If it were me and I wanted to keep the existing machine running, I'd go for a pair of 8GB drives. Sleddogg is correct, if you want to go to a board that will support larger drives you'll have to upgrade more than the board.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[carlos471]

Hi
Thanks for the response Sleddod and Paleo Pete.I did find a bios update that will allow for hard drives larger than 10gigs.Now i'm scared to do the flash bios update because i never did it before and might blow my computer up{hehehe}.I read the instuctions on how to do it,but there's something that bothers me with it.The instructions i read state that i run AWDFLASH {space}then type the update name.The update name is suppose to have the {.bin}at the end.The file i downloaded from Abit is this-pax58n.exe.If i double click on it it creates another file-px5_8n.bin.So you see,i know i have to do it right the first time and don't know which file to put in as the update.Do i do it like this-AWDFLASH PAX58N.exe,or do i use the file that PAX58n.exe created,which is PX5_8n.bin?Here is some info that might help.
Bios id:2A59IA1BC
Bios date: 09/04/97
Bios signon:09/04/97-I430TX-W83977-2A59IA1BC-5U
BIOS TYPE:AWARD MODULAR BIOS V4.51PG
SUPER I/O: WINBOND 977F/AF REV 0 FOUND AT PORT 3F0H
CHIPSET:INTEL TIRTON 430TX REV 1
OEM SIGNON: GREEN PCI/ISA SYSTEM

I use the BIOS Wizard to come up with these results.

[Paleo Pete]

You'll need the name of the file the executable created. px5_8n.bin is the one you posted, make sure it's EXACTLY correct.

The best and most precise flashing instructions I've been able to find are at the Soyo motherboard site. Flash Instructions (http://www.soyousa.com/upgrade.html). These instructions are for Award flash, which is the same no matter what brand the motherboard is. Print out the page, and use it as a step by step guide when you try it.

The flash program will give you a chance to save your old BIOS, DO IT. Rename it something like px5_old.bin and you can use it as a replacement if necessary. It should fit on the same floppy disk.

DO NOT turn off the computer until you get a successful BIOS upgrade. If you turn it off, you just made a paperweight. Leave it running for a week if you have to, until you get a successful BIOS upgrade.

According to the instructions you quoted, you would type awdflash_px5_8n.bin using a space behind awdflash instead of the underscore I used. Either way should work, I think the difference might be typing the filename too may skip the first screen of the install process, not sure. Check the link I posted, see how close it is to the instructions you got, and maybe you can post the instructions here so we can take a look and see what the difference looks like. As long as it gives you the chance to save your old BIOS you're in good shape.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[DirtyBird]

I had the same problem as far as uprading goes, I wanted to get a faster processor. I find out I need a new motherboard, and then that I need a new graphics card to take advantage of a faster processor, and then that I need new RAM to use on the new Motherboard...and it just gets worse and worse. So now I've decided to get an AMD Duron 800 based new system from Envision Computer Solutions. They are at www.envisioncs.com (http://www.envisioncs.com) They got some really good things said about them at www.resellerratings.com. (http://www.resellerratings.com.) enough links for you? Anyway...I'd just get a new computer...
Just so's ya know...I have a PII 266 MHz, pity me! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

[carlos471]

Hi
ok,i finally got the cojones to do the bios update,Pete Paleo.It all went great.I bought a 15gig Maxtor hard drive and installed it.Man,Maxtor sure makes it easy to do the installation.All i had to do was just plug it in and answer a few questions and that was it.My motherboard now recognizes 14.2 gigs.Hey,that's fine with me.Thanks

[CrAcK{:)hEaD]

Just Remember that if you boot from a floppy without initializing the update, your computer will only recognize 8 GB. Maxtor has a program that allows you to create a boot disk so that it will recognize the update and so you will not have any probs if you ever have to use a boot disk. I recommend making a boot disk from Maxtor instead of just Win98 or Win95.
I ran into that problem when I upgraded mine... Just thought you may want to know.

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CrAcK{:)hEaD