Size limit for new hard drive?
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Thread: Size limit for new hard drive?

  1. #1
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    Size limit for new hard drive?

    I have Win 98 SE with one 13.6 GB HDD (two partitions) and want to add a 40 GB drive (one partition). Is there a size limit to hard drives in Win 98 SE? Will I be able to use all the 40 GB. Someone told me that I could be limited to 32 GB

    Thanks

  2. #2
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    You're more likely to be limited by the system's BIOS capabilities. Most all BIOS have a limitation as to how large of a hard drive they can support.

    There are ways around a BIOS limitation:

    Use an add-on ATA controller card

    Update the BIOS

    Use of the manufacturer's drive-overlay program (not a real good option - a failure of this software can be catastrophic).

    Win98 can support a 40GB hard drive with no problems.

  3. #3
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    Re: Size limit for new hard drive?

    Originally posted by BernardP
    I have Win 98 SE with one 13.6 GB HDD (two partitions) and want to add a 40 GB drive (one partition). Is there a size limit to hard drives in Win 98 SE? Will I be able to use all the 40 GB. Someone told me that I could be limited to 32 GB

    Thanks
    There is a size limit for Win98SE, but you're not even close to approaching it. I use a 120GB HDD and all I had to do was update the BIOS for the MB.
    Sorry, I don't know the actual limit.
    Go to your MB mfg site or the PC Makers site and look there.
    As Cliffh says, even if your MB can't handle it (very unlikely) there are ways around it.

  4. #4
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    Thanks,

    I will try it first without flashing the BIOS, as this operation looks a bit scary. If it ain't broken...

  5. #5
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    I will try it first without flashing the BIOS, as this operation looks a bit scary. If it ain't broken...
    BernardP, good quote. Things can go unbelievably wrong
    with one small slip in the flash process. Sometimes it is
    absolutely necessary but 'If it ain't broken...'
    Also get a 7200rpm drive. World of difference from 5400rpm.
    10,000rpm if SCSI. Just FYI.
    Good luck.

  6. #6
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    Originally posted by BernardP
    Thanks,

    I will try it first without flashing the BIOS, as this operation looks a bit scary. If it ain't broken...
    Smart move.

  7. #7
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    The drive I am looking at is Hitachi/IBM 7200 RPM 40GB for 75$C, about 55$US. Excellent price in my local market.

  8. #8
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    Cluster size and slack space may or may not be an issue for you, but you may want to check this thread out:
    http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...ht=slack+space

    Personally, i would set it up with at least 2 partitions for efficiency...
    Stupid question? No such thing!
    Virtual Dr. to the rescue!
    Just ask. Bookmark your post for easy reference.
    ==================================

  9. #9
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    Re: Size limit for new hard drive?

    Originally posted by BernardP
    I have Win 98 SE with one 13.6 GB HDD (two partitions) and want to add a 40 GB drive (one partition). Is there a size limit to hard drives in Win 98 SE? Will I be able to use all the 40 GB. Someone told me that I could be limited to 32 GB

    Thanks
    If you do not have the 32GB limit in your bios then the limit is 127GB or as advertised 137GB.
    But you can use something like this Promise Ultra133 TX2 which has the ability to fool your onboard Bios into seeing and using 137,000,000GB. But you will hit windows 2TB limit first. By the way, that card will let you add four (4) more ide devices.

  10. #10
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    Thanks for the added tips and links. Went to buy the drive after work...and the store had run out of them. Will be looking elsewhere tomorrow. Meanwhile, I am looking at this thread to keep learning

  11. #11
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    I have a Tyan Tomcat 4 with and 80gb drive using Windows 95. So I haven't reached its limit yet. Of course this is only 20gb partitions. However, Windows 98 and below cannot partition over 64gb. You have to use a third party utility such as Partition Magic or Ranish Partition Manager, which I used.

    As to the flashing, I had a Tyan Tomcat 3 which had no problem with my WD 40gb drive (using EZ-BIOS) until I upgraded the BIOS to get USB capability. Then I had to use "alternative Jumper settings" as well as the EZ-BIOS to use that drive.

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  12. #12
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    By the way, the fdisk in this WinMe bootdisk has the the upgraded fdisk that works with hdd over 64GB. Copied it out, then added it to my 98SE bootdisk. Works like a charm on my 120GB.

    Also, Fdisk Does Not Recognize Full Size of Hard Disks Larger than 64 GB FIX

  13. #13
    DrMDJ is offline Virtual PC Specialist!!!
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    Win95 and an 80 gig drive? Even partitioned (no matter what was used to partition it) that can't be: Windows 95 Does Not Support Hard Disks Larger Than 32 GB
    Please remember to post back whether your problem is resolved or
    not, so that others may gain from the knowledge.

  14. #14
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    Even partitioned (no matter what was used to partition it) that can't be:
    I have a 2gb FAT16 Primary partition. I can access this at DOS. The rest are FAT32 of 20gb, 20 gb, 20gb, and 6gb. This drive is on the second IDE and has the "Alternate Jumpers" set.

    That article may explain why I cannot make it boot. I have a 540mb drive as the Primary Master, which is what I boot with. Originally I had EZ-BIOS installed on the boot drive and controlling the 80gb. However, I now have it running without EZ-BIOS. At DOS I can only access the FAT16 partition. But when Windows is running I have access to all of the drives.

    That may also explain the same problem I had with the 40gb drive in my Tyan Tomcat 3 which would not boot unless the 40gb drive was slaved. I have always divided my drives up so I have never tried a full 40gb partition.

    So while Windows 95 is accessing my full 80gb drive, I can't say there are no problems.

    Thanks for the info DrMDJ. I'm glad I put my two cents in. I have always wondered why I couldn't boot. That just may be the reason.

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  15. #15
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    This is amusing! From the Microsoft Technote "Windows 95 Does Not Support Hard Disks Larger Than 32 GB":
    The changes required to support media larger than 32 GB in Windows 95 would require architectural changes that cannot be supported on these platforms.
    If you have messed with Windows 3.x on a FAT32 or tried to set up Dual Boot to DOS 6.x on a Windows 95b machine, you got the same kind of garbage. Using OSR2FIX, a 3 character "addition" is removed from the IO.SYS which microsoft added to prevent Windows 3.x from running on a FAT32. It can run from a FAT32 drive.

    After writing my previous post, I did a SYS of a Windows 98se boot disk to the 80gb drive. Windows 95 will operate on Windows 98 boot files. I then booted from the 80gb drive to DOS and then into Windows 95. So much for "architectural changes that cannot be supported on these platforms". It apparently is just Microsoft pushing its later operating systems.

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