BIOS doesn't see my max HD capacity . Any help?

[harlan_pepper]

I bought a new Maxtor 200GB hard drive for backup storage. I'm aware of the issue where some systems won't recognize HDs bigger than 137GB. Though XP SP 1 and above is supposed to rectify this problem, it appears I have a motherboard/BIOS issue. (I have XP SP 2 and a Tyan Trinity i845 s2090.)

Here's the deal. In my CMOS settings, my HD capacity shows as 136GB, but in Windows' My Computer the HD has a capacity of 189GB (which is apparently standard for 200GB drives).

Maxtor tech support says that the fact that my BIOS doesn't show the right amount could be problematic. I looked into a flash update for my BIOS, but I'm feeling too timid to do that and I don't want to shell out the $ for someone else to do it (nor for a new ATA/133 card).

I really don't care if the numbers don't match, as long as I get the max that I can. (BTW, I tested this by copying data to the new drive and I actually do get the full 189GB, at least for now, which is my concern) I just don't want to boot up one day and realize that I lost 50 gigs of data because of the BIOS quirk.

So, is it a problem that these numbers don't match?
Could it be that Windows has the safe number and that the BIOS is ok with the actual capacity, but just can't/won't present the actual number?

Thanks for any help.

 

[o1die]

I would be careful flashing the bios too. If windows is showing the correct amount, you shouldn't be concerned about the bios reading. Try downloading sisoft sandra. It will give you the specs for your hardrive while running windows. You can also start over and split your drive into more than one partition using maxblast or the windows cd, but I don't believe that's necessary.

 

[Xrock]

I'm with o1die. If Window see it, then you are fine. This remind of promise ATX card I have and it would not recognize a 250Gig hard drive. Window only recognize half of it. I have to partition the hard drive in half and set the hard drive to slave instead of master. If set to master it would not load to Windows for unknown reason.

I have an Abit Motherboard, so flashing the BIOS is easy. I just have to download their software and it automatically update the BIOS via the internet. A lot of new motherboard has same type of software. I even flash the BIOS to my 2 CD-R and 2 DVD-R. If there anything I could flash on my computer, I would do it, but then again it is just me.

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[endyen]

I'm feeling old. I remember when you had to reformat a hdd when you moved it from one mobo to another. Now, of course, bios can tell exactly how a drive has been used, and can deal with it. Since your bios cant really tell, it gets a little scary.
Most mobo makers now have an on-line bios update utility. If Tyan does, and you have ADSL or DSL, go that route. It is safe.

 

[harlan_pepper]

Thanks for the advice. I feel better about not flashing. I'll probably get a new PC w/in a year or so and hopefully it will have an upgrade friendly mobo. I couldn't find an online update utility at Tyan's site. Oh well.