Need a quick answer - please?

[CyberTech]

I need to install a Western Digital 60GB HDD into a system that's about 18 months old. I believe it has the Intel ZX chipset. Sorry I don't have the mainboard make and model at the moment.

Is this computer likely to accept the 60GB HDD without overlay software?

If I need to use the overlay softare, what should I be setting the HDD geometry settings to?

Thanks in advance.

[Sowulo]

Set your MB Hard Drive settings to AUTO and if Fdisk doesn't see the entire disk then use the overlay driver.

[condor]

before using any overly driver (I hate those) try to use some Motherboard I.D utils:
http://www.windrivers.com/identity/mboard/index.htm
http://www.hwinfo.com
http://www.ping.be/bios

when you know the model and manufecturer get the latest bios for your board ..

[CyberTech]

Thanks for the replies guys.

The reason I asked the question is because last week I got caught out trying to install a 40GB HDD on an old Asus mobo with an LX chipset. I thought I may have to use the overlay software (cringe).

But when I set the BIOS settings to AUTO the computer just froze on startup. Like it was trying to detect the drive but couldn't. It wouldn't recognise the drive as anything!? The drive works fine in another system.

What should I set the BIOS HDD settings to in this case?

[Sowulo]

If the BIOS update doesn't help then just set the drive to type 1. If you need to use the Overlay, it doesn't really matter what the BIOS is set to but if AUTO freezes then by all means, try any physical setting...

[condor]

Again it's me hating ovely programs

if your HDD is UDMA66/100 and you're installing on a board that doesn't support this you may want to get a util (from the HDD support site..) to set the drive to UDMA33 mode..

I know maxtor, quantum, IDM and seagate have them...

But the first thing to do is a BIOS upgrade..

[Ruslan]

Originally posted by CyberTech:
Thanks for the replies guys.

The reason I asked the question is because last week I got caught out trying to install a 40GB HDD on an old Asus mobo with an LX chipset. I thought I may have to use the overlay software (cringe).

But when I set the BIOS settings to AUTO the computer just froze on startup. Like it was trying to detect the drive but couldn't. It wouldn't recognise the drive as anything!? The drive works fine in another system.

What should I set the BIOS HDD settings to in this case?

Friend of mine had same problem trying to install 40Gb WD in Acorp BX motherboard PC.
And even latest BIOS update didn't help.
Drive only freezed on autodetect and all...
Tried to check that drive in few different
old system LX-BX with no avail...
Some old system (even with latest BIOS) still have 32Gb BIOS limitation (Gigabyte,for example).
In new system (Duron) that drive worked
well,though. Interesting thing,though,but same IBM model has some extra jumpers soldered into board (whereas WD(based on IBM) don't have these jumpers soldered).These jumpers allows to solve that problem - that drive will be recognized ... as two 20Gb dvives installed as master and slave simultaneously.And all works well without any overlays (only latest BIOS update is required).

So,I would check manufacturer's site for latest BIOS first and ask them that question to be sure...