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Linux and BIOS/HDD size limitations
http://forum.linhes.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7150		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  nickread [ Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Linux and BIOS/HDD size limitations
Hi all

I've had R5A22 running a couple of weeks, and generally everything's been great. The biggest problems I had were getting the remote and SAMBA working. However, I have only 20GB disk, and so even with transcoding down to mpeg4, its cramping my style slightly :wink:

Therefore I'd like to replace the disk with a larger one (its a small form factor PC with space for only one HDD). My problem is this - according to HP, my PC (HP VL400 PIII 866MHz) has a BIOS limitation of 137GB for a hard disk. Now in the HP forums, I've seen cases of users who have bypassed this limit (under Windows) by using Intel Acceleration Application (which replaces Windows disk drivers I think) and Maxtor 'Big Disk Enabling' software to work around the BIOS limit. Obviously this is all Windows specific, so my question is - does Linux have the smarts built-in to work around this BIOS limitation? I read somewhere that 'Big Disk Enabling' software conflicts with Lilo/Grub?

I'd like to get the biggest single-platter HDD I can (to reduce noise/heat output) and 160GB seems to be the biggest available - but if I have to work within the BIOS limit then I'll stick to 120GB.

Finally - what do peole think of the latest Seagate 7200.9 drives for KnoppMyth? Quiet/cool or otherwise?

TIA
Nick
Author:  tjc [ Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Linux and BIOS/HDD size limitations
nickread wrote:
Finally - what do peole think of the latest Seagate 7200.9 drives for KnoppMyth? Quiet/cool or otherwise?

Nope. Seagate seems to have lost their way on this. The 7200.8 drives are OK, but according to recent reviews the .9 generation seem to have backslid considerably.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article283-page1.html
http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200510/ST3500641AS_1.html

The WD3200JD may actually be a better choice. Some of these apparently have an ugly whiny/ringing noise component, but mostly they seem to be the cooler & quieter choice for the moment. See these reviews of the WD2500JD at SPCR and WD3200JD at StorageReview.com
Author:  kebe [ Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
If you have an empty PCI slot, your best bet would be to pick up a controller card that supports the larger drives.

Most of the cards are supported in Linux, but you should check first. (I think that most of the Promise cards are)

Since you are also looking to get a hard drive, you could get an SATA card and drive for mass storage (smaller cables, better air flow) and use your existing drive as the boot drive.
Author:  nickread [ Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
An update for those of us still working off older hardware...

I took the plunge and got myself a new 200GB PATA Seagate drive (7200.7 on special :) ) and it seems to be working fine. The BIOS only sees it as a 137GB drive, but Linux reports 200GB and there were no problems partitioning and installing using an autoinstall under R5B7. Now I just have to redo all those tweaks I applied to the first install :wink:
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