Need help with older computer / large hard drive compatibility! 1

[jimandbobbi]

I am trying to put a 20 gig HDD (Fujitsu) in an old Packard Bell computer. The BIOS is only recognizing it as an 8 gig. I tried to do a couple BIOS update/upgrades (AMIBIOS), only to get SAME message from BOTH attempts, "BIOS not found, FIle not found, Unable to continue".

The current HDD is a Seagate 1 gig. Processor is Pentium, Socket 5, 120 Mhz. I have been running Windows 98SE on it with no problems but am needing more storage space for what I am using the computer for. I have also tried a Maxtor 13.6 gig HDD that is formatted, partitioned, and has Win 98SE installed and I get the same recognition of only 8 gig and I am unable to access the drive.

I tried doing a format and partition but it would only recognize 8 gig, so I stopped being slightly afraid that I would mess up this NEW 20 gig HDD.

Now, after letting it sit overnight slightly frustrated, when I power up the computer, I can hear everything running as usual, but I have no monitor. The monitor works fine on a different system, AND I have tried 2 other monitors on this one with the same results.

I have been thinking about upgrading the MB to a Socket 7, 233 Mhz, would this help out my situation, or is this a LOST CAUSE?

Any ideas, advice, or criticism would be greatly appreciated, have only been dealing with computers for a few years now and have never ran into a problem like this.

Thanks Jim

 

[wolluf]

Jim,

You've just hit one of the mobo limits (528MB, 2.1GB, 8GB, 32GB, 128GB are ones I've heard of). You could buy a controller card (goes in PCI slot) or you could use overlay software (available from drive manufacturer's website) to get round the 8GB limit - though overlay software often causes problems later on. Or, your socket 7, 233mhz (is that fastest processor it will run?) mobo might recognise the 20GB (as a guide, bioses which are dated after September 1997 can usually recognise drives > 8GB - you can usually see the date of your bios on the POST screen (weith string of identifying characters) as the machine boots.

 

[jimandbobbi]

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I have a controller card sitting around here somewhere that I will try. I am not sure if I understand your advice about 'overlay software', but if it may cause a problem later down the line, I am not too sure if I want to understand it. (LOL!)

I am not sure if the Socket 7 will go higher than 233 Mhz as I have not yet acquired it from the person I am purchasing it from. They aren't sure either, but it is a new MoBo with a 233 processor made specifically for Packard Bell that is still sealed in an OEM box.

Now, if anyone can get me turned on to what is going on with the monitor problem, maybe I can get this thing licked! By the way, I did try to use a video card that was working just fine in another system but with the same results - system powers up but no monitor.

 

[wolluf]

Presumably its the graphics card/onboard graphics which is problem rather than the monitor. Are you running it with or without the 20GB drive?

 

[ceh4702]

I would not spend any money on a packard Bell. Cheaper to buy something newer like a PIII/Celeorn or a P4/AMD computer.

How do you know the monitor is not bad?

Did you try another monitor from a friend? If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[jmatt]

Even if the brand is different , you may find what you wan't to know here .

http://igloo.its.unimelb.edu.au/Webmail/tips/msg00392.html

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/localcopy/R.Peel/cs250/63001.html

http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/bioslmt.html

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213802,00.html

http://www.spcug.org/reviews/bl0107.htm

http://www.muhri.net/skipstone/