Size of hard disk question

[Adrian]

Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on a W98SE box?
When formatting a hard disk, can I simply use the format utility provided by
W98, or do I have to do special things to do with FAT etc.

Thank you,
Adrian.

 

[98 Guy]

Adrian wrote:

> Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on
> a W98SE box?

Before I post an answer, let me ask you a question.

Did you try to search for an answer to your own question, say on
google groups?

Did you point your browser to, say, www.google.com, hit the "groups"
link, then enter the following into the search box:

maximum hard drive windows 98

or

largest hard drive windows 98

then hit the "search groups" button?

I'm just curious if you even thought of doing that.

 

[Adrian]

"98 Guy" <98@Guy.com> wrote in message news:46E1F81A.949C463@Guy.com...
> Adrian wrote:
>
>> Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on
>> a W98SE box?
>
> Before I post an answer, let me ask you a question.
>
> Did you try to search for an answer to your own question, say on
> google groups?
>
> Did you point your browser to, say, www.google.com, hit the "groups"
> link, then enter the following into the search box:
>
> maximum hard drive windows 98
>
> or
>
> largest hard drive windows 98
>
> then hit the "search groups" button?
>
> I'm just curious if you even thought of doing that.

Good question, but no, I did not, because I go to the place that is most
specialized in the domain to which my question belongs. If the information
is not readily available there I would expect that there, in particular, I
might find a reference to it. I think Google is getting a bit over-hyped as
the holy source of all knowledge.

Adrian.

 

[Don Phillipson]

"Adrian" <xx@xx.xx> wrote in message
news:46e19d4a$0$24409$5fc3050@news.tiscali.nl...

> Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on a W98SE
box?
> When formatting a hard disk, can I simply use the format utility provided
by
> W98, or do I have to do special things to do with FAT etc.

Most Win98 PCs can format logical drives (IDE) up to
135 Gb. Older PCs might be limited by the BIOS
to about 40 Gb. Preformatted drives connected via
USB (i.e. not IDE) may be larger.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

 

[MEB]

"Adrian" <xx@xx.xx> wrote in message
news:46e228a2$0$24393$5fc3050@news.tiscali.nl...
| "98 Guy" <98@Guy.com> wrote in message news:46E1F81A.949C463@Guy.com...
| > Adrian wrote:
| >
| >> Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on
| >> a W98SE box?
| >
| > Before I post an answer, let me ask you a question.
| >
| > Did you try to search for an answer to your own question, say on
| > google groups?
| >
| > Did you point your browser to, say, www.google.com, hit the "groups"
| > link, then enter the following into the search box:
| >
| > maximum hard drive windows 98
| >
| > or
| >
| > largest hard drive windows 98
| >
| > then hit the "search groups" button?
| >
| > I'm just curious if you even thought of doing that.
|
| Good question, but no, I did not, because I go to the place that is most
| specialized in the domain to which my question belongs. If the information
| is not readily available there I would expect that there, in particular, I
| might find a reference to it. I think Google is getting a bit over-hyped
as
| the holy source of all knowledge.
|
| Adrian.
|

Hi Adrian, the reason 98Guy directed you to do so, is because he believes
he created the foremost authority for that information... of course Google
will turn up loads of information related to hard drive size, much of which
MAY NOT be accurate.

Depending upon your computer mother board, connection type [SATA, PATA/IDE,
SCSI, USB, firewire, etc.] you may have differing success rates.

If you wish the groups best response, please supply the group with your
intended setup/arrangement so the people can help you properly.


--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________

 

[Adrian]

"MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eGBgiXe8HHA.1900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> Hi Adrian, the reason 98Guy directed you to do so, is because he believes
> he created the foremost authority for that information... of course Google
> will turn up loads of information related to hard drive size, much of
> which
> MAY NOT be accurate.
>
> Depending upon your computer mother board, connection type [SATA,
> PATA/IDE,
> SCSI, USB, firewire, etc.] you may have differing success rates.
>
> If you wish the groups best response, please supply the group with your
> intended setup/arrangement so the people can help you properly.
> --
> MEB

"supply the group with your intended setup/arrangement" ... I am unsure what
that information would be.

The manual of the W98 box is dated 1997. The name of the PC is "Highscreen",
The BIOS is an "Award Modular BIOS V4 51 PG. An Energy Star Ally. Copyright
1984 - 1998. Award Software Inc. VMP 1.0B3 MSI MS-6119". The BIOS screen
says: "ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (2A69KM4A) STANDARD CMOS SETUP AWARD SOFTWARE, INC".
I am wanting to exchange the current hard drive which is about 3 GB to one
as large as possible. The documentation of the W98 Box reads something like
"the HDD has an IDE-connection". With the help of Ingeborg of this forum I
am using the W98 as a data store in a simple LAN (modem + router + cables)
together with two other boxes, an XPP and a VISTA machine.

Well, I would be interested in 98Guy's information, he might like to give me
the reference to it. Going by your response, and Don Phillipson's, it seems
I am limited to IDE and should contact the BIOS manufacturer to ascertain
the limits I should heed. Does the mother board of the PC restrict my choice
of a replacement disk to an IDE-drive or is does the BIOS? I would expect
the BIOS to do that - would you please confirm that? Any furhter directives
would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Adrian.

 

[Franc Zabkar]

On Sat, 8 Sep 2007 04:03:53 +0200, "Adrian" <xx@xx.xx> put finger to
keyboard and composed:

>"98 Guy" <98@Guy.com> wrote in message news:46E1F81A.949C463@Guy.com...
>> Adrian wrote:
>>
>>> Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on
>>> a W98SE box?
>>
>> Before I post an answer, let me ask you a question.
>>
>> Did you try to search for an answer to your own question, say on
>> google groups?
>>
>> Did you point your browser to, say, www.google.com, hit the "groups"
>> link, then enter the following into the search box:
>>
>> maximum hard drive windows 98
>>
>> or
>>
>> largest hard drive windows 98
>>
>> then hit the "search groups" button?
>>
>> I'm just curious if you even thought of doing that.
>
>Good question, but no, I did not, because I go to the place that is most
>specialized in the domain to which my question belongs. If the information
>is not readily available there I would expect that there, in particular, I
>might find a reference to it. I think Google is getting a bit over-hyped as
>the holy source of all knowledge.
>
>Adrian.

I wouldn't use google.com, either, at least not for this question.

I'd try Google Groups instead:
http://tinyurl.com/2n6fjd
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...ft.public.win98.gen_discussion&Submit3=Search

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[Brian A.]

"Adrian" <xx@xx.xx> wrote in message news:46e25ac0$0$24400$5fc3050@news.tiscali.nl...
> "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:eGBgiXe8HHA.1900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>
>> Hi Adrian, the reason 98Guy directed you to do so, is because he believes
>> he created the foremost authority for that information... of course Google
>> will turn up loads of information related to hard drive size, much of which
>> MAY NOT be accurate.
>>
>> Depending upon your computer mother board, connection type [SATA, PATA/IDE,
>> SCSI, USB, firewire, etc.] you may have differing success rates.
>>
>> If you wish the groups best response, please supply the group with your
>> intended setup/arrangement so the people can help you properly.
>> --
>> MEB
>
> "supply the group with your intended setup/arrangement" ... I am unsure what that
> information would be.
>
> The manual of the W98 box is dated 1997. The name of the PC is "Highscreen", The
> BIOS is an "Award Modular BIOS V4 51 PG. An Energy Star Ally. Copyright 1984 -
> 1998. Award Software Inc. VMP 1.0B3 MSI MS-6119". The BIOS screen says: "ROM
> PCI/ISA BIOS (2A69KM4A) STANDARD CMOS SETUP AWARD SOFTWARE, INC". I am wanting to
> exchange the current hard drive which is about 3 GB to one as large as possible.
> The documentation of the W98 Box reads something like "the HDD has an
> IDE-connection". With the help of Ingeborg of this forum I am using the W98 as a
> data store in a simple LAN (modem + router + cables) together with two other boxes,
> an XPP and a VISTA machine.
>
> Well, I would be interested in 98Guy's information, he might like to give me the
> reference to it. Going by your response, and Don Phillipson's, it seems I am
> limited to IDE and should contact the BIOS manufacturer to ascertain the limits I
> should heed. Does the mother board of the PC restrict my choice of a replacement
> disk to an IDE-drive or is does the BIOS? I would expect the BIOS to do that -
> would you please confirm that? Any furhter directives would be greatly appreciated.

According to the information you provided the installed motherboard is an MSI
MS-6119:
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=332&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&cat3_no=109

It's an old Slot1 board and has no SATA support, you will have to purchase/use an
PATA drive.
It supports UDMA33, there is a BIOS update 6/14/1999 that includes detection of
UDMA66.
For hard drives larger than 65GB there is a BIOS update 8/21/2000.

Before updating the BIOS make sure the updates are valid for your motherboard.
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=1&prod_no=332

For large hard drive issues with FDISK:
Windows Support for Large IDE Hard Disks
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126855/en-us

Fdisk Does Not Recognize Full Size of Hard Disks Larger than 64 GB
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us263044

The Fdisk.exe utility may not be able to create a hard disk partition that is larger
than 128 GB
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us327202

Fdisk.exe Unable to Partition Drives Larger Than 512 Gigabytes
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us280737


--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[dadiOH]

Adrian wrote:

> Well, I would be interested in 98Guy's information, he might like
> to give me the reference to it.

He did in his first response.
_____________

> Does the
> mother board of the PC restrict my choice of a replacement disk to
> an IDE-drive or is does the BIOS?

Where does the BIOS live?

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Ingeborg]

On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:49:19 +0200, Brian A. <gonefish'n@afarawaylake>
wrote:


>
> According to the information you provided the installed motherboard is
> an MSI MS-6119:
> http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=332&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&cat3_no=109
>
> It's an old Slot1 board and has no SATA support, you will have to
> purchase/use an PATA drive.
> It supports UDMA33, there is a BIOS update 6/14/1999 that includes
> detection of UDMA66.
> For hard drives larger than 65GB there is a BIOS update 8/21/2000.
>
> Before updating the BIOS make sure the updates are valid for your
> motherboard.
> http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=1&prod_no=332
>
> For large hard drive issues with FDISK:
> Windows Support for Large IDE Hard Disks
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126855/en-us
>
> Fdisk Does Not Recognize Full Size of Hard Disks Larger than 64 GB
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us263044
>
> The Fdisk.exe utility may not be able to create a hard disk partition
> that is larger than 128 GB
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us327202

Wow, that's a dangerous one! It tells you how to create a partition
bigger than 128GiB,
without warning that W98 will screw it.

> Fdisk.exe Unable to Partition Drives Larger Than 512 Gigabytes
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us280737

I miss one very important problem here, the LBA28 issue. This mobo will
not support LBA48, and so it cannot handle IDE disks bigger than 128GiB.
<http://www.48bitlba.com/win98.htm>

Three ways to solve this:
1) Use a PCI-IDE card using it's own BIOS and W98 drivers.
2) Use an USB 2 card (make sure that W98SE drivers are available) and use
an external closure. (make sure ... drivers)
Downside is that unless you're using 2.5" drives which can be powered from
the USB, the disks will not be switched off with the computer, and so use
more electricity.
3) Use a SCSI card with SCSI disks. Downside are the costs of the SCSI
disks.

 

[Adrian]

"Brian A." <gonefish'n@afarawaylake> wrote in message
news:O54OuXg8HHA.4612@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Adrian" <xx@xx.xx> wrote in message
> news:46e25ac0$0$24400$5fc3050@news.tiscali.nl...
>> "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:eGBgiXe8HHA.1900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>> Hi Adrian, the reason 98Guy directed you to do so, is because he
>>> believes
>>> he created the foremost authority for that information... of course
>>> Google
>>> will turn up loads of information related to hard drive size, much of
>>> which
>>> MAY NOT be accurate.
>>>
>>> Depending upon your computer mother board, connection type [SATA,
>>> PATA/IDE,
>>> SCSI, USB, firewire, etc.] you may have differing success rates.
>>>
>>> If you wish the groups best response, please supply the group with your
>>> intended setup/arrangement so the people can help you properly.
>>> --
>>> MEB
>>
>> "supply the group with your intended setup/arrangement" ... I am unsure
>> what that information would be.
>>
>> The manual of the W98 box is dated 1997. The name of the PC is
>> "Highscreen", The BIOS is an "Award Modular BIOS V4 51 PG. An Energy Star
>> Ally. Copyright 1984 - 1998. Award Software Inc. VMP 1.0B3 MSI MS-6119".
>> The BIOS screen says: "ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (2A69KM4A) STANDARD CMOS SETUP
>> AWARD SOFTWARE, INC". I am wanting to exchange the current hard drive
>> which is about 3 GB to one as large as possible. The documentation of the
>> W98 Box reads something like "the HDD has an IDE-connection". With the
>> help of Ingeborg of this forum I am using the W98 as a data store in a
>> simple LAN (modem + router + cables) together with two other boxes, an
>> XPP and a VISTA machine.
>>
>> Well, I would be interested in 98Guy's information, he might like to give
>> me the reference to it. Going by your response, and Don Phillipson's, it
>> seems I am limited to IDE and should contact the BIOS manufacturer to
>> ascertain the limits I should heed. Does the mother board of the PC
>> restrict my choice of a replacement disk to an IDE-drive or is does the
>> BIOS? I would expect the BIOS to do that - would you please confirm that?
>> Any furhter directives would be greatly appreciated.
>
> According to the information you provided the installed motherboard is an
> MSI MS-6119:
> http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=332&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&cat3_no=109
>
> It's an old Slot1 board and has no SATA support, you will have to
> purchase/use an PATA drive.
> It supports UDMA33, there is a BIOS update 6/14/1999 that includes
> detection of UDMA66.
> For hard drives larger than 65GB there is a BIOS update 8/21/2000.
>
> Before updating the BIOS make sure the updates are valid for your
> motherboard.
> http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=1&prod_no=332
>
> For large hard drive issues with FDISK:
> Windows Support for Large IDE Hard Disks
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126855/en-us
>
> Fdisk Does Not Recognize Full Size of Hard Disks Larger than 64 GB
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us263044
>
> The Fdisk.exe utility may not be able to create a hard disk partition that
> is larger than 128 GB
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us327202
>
> Fdisk.exe Unable to Partition Drives Larger Than 512 Gigabytes
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us280737
>
>
> --
>
> Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
> Conflicts start where information lacks.
> http://basconotw.mvps.org/
>
> Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>
>

Brian,

This is brilliant. Thank you very much.

Adrian.

 

[Adrian]

"Don Phillipson" <d.phillipsonSPAMBLOCK@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:eDkfUXe8HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> "Adrian" <xx@xx.xx> wrote in message
> news:46e19d4a$0$24409$5fc3050@news.tiscali.nl...
>
>> Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on a W98SE
> box?
>> When formatting a hard disk, can I simply use the format utility provided
> by
>> W98, or do I have to do special things to do with FAT etc.
>
> Most Win98 PCs can format logical drives (IDE) up to
> 135 Gb. Older PCs might be limited by the BIOS
> to about 40 Gb. Preformatted drives connected via
> USB (i.e. not IDE) may be larger.
>
> --
> Don Phillipson
> Carlsbad Springs
> (Ottawa, Canada)
>
>

Don, Thank you very much. Adrian

 

[Adrian]

"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message
news:dvs4e3lt0kvsev02pcib1kcrfftfcjjptp@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 8 Sep 2007 04:03:53 +0200, "Adrian" <xx@xx.xx> put finger to
> keyboard and composed:
>
>>"98 Guy" <98@Guy.com> wrote in message news:46E1F81A.949C463@Guy.com...
>>> Adrian wrote:
>>>
>>>> Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on
>>>> a W98SE box?
>>>
>>> Before I post an answer, let me ask you a question.
>>>
>>> Did you try to search for an answer to your own question, say on
>>> google groups?
>>>
>>> Did you point your browser to, say, www.google.com, hit the "groups"
>>> link, then enter the following into the search box:
>>>
>>> maximum hard drive windows 98
>>>
>>> or
>>>
>>> largest hard drive windows 98
>>>
>>> then hit the "search groups" button?
>>>
>>> I'm just curious if you even thought of doing that.
>>
>>Good question, but no, I did not, because I go to the place that is most
>>specialized in the domain to which my question belongs. If the information
>>is not readily available there I would expect that there, in particular, I
>>might find a reference to it. I think Google is getting a bit over-hyped
>>as
>>the holy source of all knowledge.
>>
>>Adrian.
>
> I wouldn't use google.com, either, at least not for this question.
>
> I'd try Google Groups instead:
> http://tinyurl.com/2n6fjd
> http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...ft.public.win98.gen_discussion&Submit3=Search
>
> - Franc Zabkar
> --
> Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

Franc, I shall follow up your leads, thank you. Adrian.

 

[Adrian]

"dadiOH" <dadiOH@guesswhere.com> wrote in message
news:uhGEmag8HHA.5360@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Adrian wrote:
>
>> Well, I would be interested in 98Guy's information, he might like
>> to give me the reference to it.
>
> He did in his first response.
> _____________
>
>> Does the
>> mother board of the PC restrict my choice of a replacement disk to
>> an IDE-drive or is does the BIOS?
>
> Where does the BIOS live?
>
On the mother board I guess
Adrian.

 

[Adrian]

"Ingeborg" <a@b.invalid> wrote in message
newsp.tyb13lpukpmw55@naaikamer...
On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:49:19 +0200, Brian A. <gonefish'n@afarawaylake>
wrote:


>
> According to the information you provided the installed motherboard is
> an MSI MS-6119:
> http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=332&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&cat3_no=109
>
> It's an old Slot1 board and has no SATA support, you will have to
> purchase/use an PATA drive.
> It supports UDMA33, there is a BIOS update 6/14/1999 that includes
> detection of UDMA66.
> For hard drives larger than 65GB there is a BIOS update 8/21/2000.
>
> Before updating the BIOS make sure the updates are valid for your
> motherboard.
> http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=1&prod_no=332
>
> For large hard drive issues with FDISK:
> Windows Support for Large IDE Hard Disks
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126855/en-us
>
> Fdisk Does Not Recognize Full Size of Hard Disks Larger than 64 GB
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us263044
>
> The Fdisk.exe utility may not be able to create a hard disk partition
> that is larger than 128 GB
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us327202

Wow, that's a dangerous one! It tells you how to create a partition
bigger than 128GiB,
without warning that W98 will screw it.

> Fdisk.exe Unable to Partition Drives Larger Than 512 Gigabytes
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kben-us280737

I miss one very important problem here, the LBA28 issue. This mobo will
not support LBA48, and so it cannot handle IDE disks bigger than 128GiB.
<http://www.48bitlba.com/win98.htm>

Three ways to solve this:
1) Use a PCI-IDE card using it's own BIOS and W98 drivers.
2) Use an USB 2 card (make sure that W98SE drivers are available) and use
an external closure. (make sure ... drivers)
Downside is that unless you're using 2.5" drives which can be powered from
the USB, the disks will not be switched off with the computer, and so use
more electricity.
3) Use a SCSI card with SCSI disks. Downside are the costs of the SCSI
disks.
---------------
Wouw! Thanks again Ingeborg.
Re 1) The motherboard has a ide-controller, so your option would mean adding
a card = new interface to a hdd with a BIOS and its own drivers, so the
current parameters of the W98 box would not be relevant - is that it? But
that would not be purchasable - am I misunderstanding?

Adrian

 

[dadiOH]

Adrian wrote:

> Wouw! Thanks again Ingeborg.
> Re 1) The motherboard has a ide-controller, so your option would
> mean adding a card = new interface to a hdd with a BIOS and its own
> drivers, so the current parameters of the W98 box would not be
> relevant - is that it? But that would not be purchasable - am I
> misunderstanding?

Yes you are. There are many PCI IDE cards available, generally < $30.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pci+ide+card


--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Adrian]

"dadiOH" <dadiOH@guesswhere.com> wrote in message
news:%23AoEfEi8HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Adrian wrote:
>
>> Wouw! Thanks again Ingeborg.
>> Re 1) The motherboard has a ide-controller, so your option would
>> mean adding a card = new interface to a hdd with a BIOS and its own
>> drivers, so the current parameters of the W98 box would not be
>> relevant - is that it? But that would not be purchasable - am I
>> misunderstanding?
>
> Yes you are. There are many PCI IDE cards available, generally < $30.
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pci+ide+card
>
>
> --
>
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
>
>
DadiOH, I went to the local computer parts shop and was told that no way can
I install a hdd > 40 Gig on a W98 box simply because the OS couldn't handle
it, even if I installed a PCI-IDE card. (What about drivers though?) And
drives < 40 Gig are no longer sold. I thought this supported a different
story, but was told it didn't.
http://www.zone6400.com/manual/files/Install_IDE_card.html

Adrian.

 

[98 Guy]

Adrian wrote:

> >> Are there any limits to the size of the hard disk I can run on
> >> a W98SE box?
> >
> > Did you try to search for an answer to your own question, say on
> > google groups?
>
> Good question, but no, I did not

You didn't do your own search first, or you didn't think of doing your
own search first?

> because I go to the place that is most specialized in the
> domain to which my question belongs.

Is that the reason you came up with after not doing your own search,
or before?

With regard to your question, do you not think that your question has
already come up a number of times over the past few years, and that
some of us might get tired of seeing it and posting the same answer?

> I think Google is getting a bit over-hyped as the holy source
> of all knowledge.

I don't want to call you ignorant, but the google-groups search is a
way to search usenet for old posts. Google doesn't own or operate
usenet, but they do offer one of the few ways to perform a search on
their own comprehensive collection of usenet posts.

You seem to be trying to justify your reasons for not first performing
a search for your answer before posting the question. It would have
been better for you to just say that you're too dis-interested (or
lazy) to have done that, or to have gone back and looked at a few
months worth of postings to this newsgroup.

 

[Adrian]

"98 Guy" <98@Guy.com> wrote in message news:46E2C793.2E587CF@Guy.com...

> With regard to your question, do you not think that your question has
> already come up a number of times over the past few years,

The thought hadn't occurred to me.

> and that
> some of us might get tired of seeing it and posting the same answer?

Then don't.

Adrian.

 

[dadiOH]

Adrian wrote:
> "dadiOH" <dadiOH@guesswhere.com> wrote in message
> news:%23AoEfEi8HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Adrian wrote:
>>
>>> Wouw! Thanks again Ingeborg.
>>> Re 1) The motherboard has a ide-controller, so your option would
>>> mean adding a card = new interface to a hdd with a BIOS and its
>>> own drivers, so the current parameters of the W98 box would not be
>>> relevant - is that it? But that would not be purchasable - am I
>>> misunderstanding?
>>
>> Yes you are. There are many PCI IDE cards available, generally <
>> $30. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pci+ide+card

> DadiOH, I went to the local computer parts shop and was told that
> no way can I install a hdd > 40 Gig on a W98 box simply because the
> OS couldn't handle it, even if I installed a PCI-IDE card. (What
> about drivers though?) And drives < 40 Gig are no longer sold.

They are either lying or misinformed. Or stupid. Or all three.

Win98 SE DOES have a limit - around 128 GB IIRC. A "driver" is just a
program that does low level stuff and with which users don't normally
interact...programs to access hardware, etc. There is nothing magical
about them and the cards come with software. They are easy to
install...put the card in a free slot on the motherboard and follow
the written instructions. They give you two channels which means
they'll handle four drives.

I have four physical hard drives on my Win 98SE machine...
#1. 76.3 GB (80 GB)
#2. 112 GB (120 GB)
#3. 153 GB (160 GB)
#4. 9.6 GB (10 GB)

#1 is on the primary mobo channel (CD & DVD drives on the other)

#2 & #3 are are each masters on separate channels on an add on card.

#4 is a slave on one of the add on card channels. It is never used
except to once in a blue moon to back up the primary drive from my
wife's machine.

I have zero problems.

You have no problem using a larger drive - up to 128 +- GB - with
Win98SE on a mobo channel. You *might* have a problem because your
BIOS is old. BIOS can be updated. I do not know if an add in card
would overcome a BIOS drive size limitation but I suspect it would.

--

dadiOH
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