[SOLVED] old pc, large hd, no auto detect

pdelange · 11-01-2009, 06:11 AM

In the old IDE world, you were able to enter your HD's info in the bios even if it wasn't auto-detected.

Can I still do this for a large SATA drive in my older HP (which does not auto-detect it)?

**raptor_pa** · 11-01-2009, 07:30 AM

Unfortunately no, the CHS values are virtual CHS counts now. There is a distinct possibility the BIOS will not be able to recognize drive larger than 127 GB on older BIOS. What is the motherboard model, or the system model number if a name brand system. To address drives larger than 127GB the BIOS must be able to support 48bit LBA addressing, which a lot of older BIOS did not. You could check for a BIOS update and see if it added 48 bit support.

pdelange · 11-01-2009, 08:29 AM

Thank you - I understood most of that - there is an existing 200 gig sata drive that is recognized - is that significant? The unrecognized,new sata drive is 1 terabyte.

opps, per your request it's a hp m1170n. There is a bios update, but it makes *no* reference to support for larger drives & I'd rather not risk it unless there's a good chance it'll fix my issue.

**raptor_pa** · 11-01-2009, 08:39 AM

If there are sata ports, then the other possibility is the MoBo only supports SATA1 drives, your 1TB is most likely Set to SATA2 Speeds. Depending on the brand and model of the drive , there will either be a jumper on the drive near the ports to set the speed back to SATA1 or the manufacturer will have a software download to set the speed to SATA1 (SATA150).

pdelange · 11-02-2009, 04:18 AM

Thanks, I have not done this *yet* however, I should point out - the cable I bought to connect this drive is a sata to esata cable - given your response this may be significant.

I used to know everything, but now I'm 45.

**raptor_pa** · 11-02-2009, 04:48 AM

What is the model # of the original drive? And whya sata to esata rather than just going direct to a sata port? Bear with me, I'm 52 LOL....

pdelange · 11-02-2009, 06:08 AM

lol, ok, here are the details;

hard drive I'm trying to connect is an external MyBook 1TB, case markings are;
WD P/N: WD10000H1CS-00
500SA
R/N H3C

The MoBo is a ASUS PTGD1-LA, HP/Compaq name: Puffer-UL8E if that is meaningful. Spec are here;
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...product=432780

If by model # of the original drive you mean the existing 200 gig sata internal, I am not sure but I will take the case off & look if needed.

Why sata to esata - well - that's what the young salesman told me I needed ;-) I used to know everything but that was when IDE cables were popular. I guessing it's because the drive is external, but I really don't know. The cable itself fits nicely on the MoBo, (plugged into SATA2, existing internal is plugged into SATA1), and also fits well into the MyBook external. Mildly dicey where it exits the case, but not a big deal.

Both HP & WD (MyBook maker) tech support are hopeless, dumber then me. Even if you are unable to help, I already appreciate your attention.

**raptor_pa** · 11-02-2009, 07:26 AM

Have you tried the drive with the USB interface? I have heard some issues with WD drives and eSATA cables as far as fit. Understand why eSATA now, - didn't realize at first it was an external drive. I would try the USB interface and see if the drive is recognized there.

pdelange · 11-02-2009, 11:28 AM

Yes, the drive works well on USB, I am actually currently using via FireWire & have for some time.

I just upgraded my computer to record HDTV - I was hoping to increase the speed of the drive for increased bandwidth.

**raptor_pa** · 11-02-2009, 01:44 PM

I'd be willing to bet you are seeing the 'cable doesn't quite fit well enough to make a connection' error. Some people have reported trimming back the plastic a tad to get a more reliable esata connection, but that is one I can't vouch for.

pdelange · 11-02-2009, 01:59 PM

I will jiggle it around a bit. Is that on the MoBo end - or the ext drive end?

pdelange · 11-02-2009, 02:05 PM

hmm....it appears to the ext drive end I think. The plastic does "stop" the plug. I will cut some off.

pdelange · 11-04-2009, 06:38 PM

THANK YOU.

You were correct sir. Quite impressive the way you resolved my issue whereas the paid staff both WD and HP could not. Especially considering it was how the plug fit when you could not see the plug!

If there is a way for me to add "SOLVED" to the subject line as I see on some of the other threads feel free to let me know.

The hard drive light in the front of the pc is blinking now - i suppose that's because the drive is now connected via sata - before when it was connected by firewire the hard drive light wouldn't have "known" to blink.

**grimx133** · 11-04-2009, 06:50 PM

Use "thread tools" at the top of the thread and you can mark it solved there.

11-01-2009, 06:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
pdelange Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 OS: XP MCE 2005	[SOLVED] old pc, large hd, no auto detect In the old IDE world, you were able to enter your HD's info in the bios even if it wasn't auto-detected. Can I still do this for a large SATA drive in my older HP (which does not auto-detect it)?

11-01-2009, 07:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,934 OS: XP	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect Unfortunately no, the CHS values are virtual CHS counts now. There is a distinct possibility the BIOS will not be able to recognize drive larger than 127 GB on older BIOS. What is the motherboard model, or the system model number if a name brand system. To address drives larger than 127GB the BIOS must be able to support 48bit LBA addressing, which a lot of older BIOS did not. You could check for a BIOS update and see if it added 48 bit support. __________________

11-01-2009, 08:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
pdelange Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 OS: XP MCE 2005	Thank you - I understood most of that - there is an existing 200 gig sata drive that is recognized - is that significant? The unrecognized,new sata drive is 1 terabyte. opps, per your request it's a hp m1170n. There is a bios update, but it makes no reference to support for larger drives & I'd rather not risk it unless there's a good chance it'll fix my issue. Last edited by dai; 11-01-2009 at 08:40 AM.

11-01-2009, 08:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,934 OS: XP	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect If there are sata ports, then the other possibility is the MoBo only supports SATA1 drives, your 1TB is most likely Set to SATA2 Speeds. Depending on the brand and model of the drive , there will either be a jumper on the drive near the ports to set the speed back to SATA1 or the manufacturer will have a software download to set the speed to SATA1 (SATA150). __________________

11-02-2009, 04:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
pdelange Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 OS: XP MCE 2005	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect Thanks, I have not done this yet however, I should point out - the cable I bought to connect this drive is a sata to esata cable - given your response this may be significant. I used to know everything, but now I'm 45.

11-02-2009, 04:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,934 OS: XP	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect What is the model # of the original drive? And whya sata to esata rather than just going direct to a sata port? Bear with me, I'm 52 LOL.... __________________

11-02-2009, 06:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
pdelange Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 OS: XP MCE 2005	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect lol, ok, here are the details; hard drive I'm trying to connect is an external MyBook 1TB, case markings are; WD P/N: WD10000H1CS-00 500SA R/N H3C The MoBo is a ASUS PTGD1-LA, HP/Compaq name: Puffer-UL8E if that is meaningful. Spec are here; http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...product=432780 If by model # of the original drive you mean the existing 200 gig sata internal, I am not sure but I will take the case off & look if needed. Why sata to esata - well - that's what the young salesman told me I needed ;-) I used to know everything but that was when IDE cables were popular. I guessing it's because the drive is external, but I really don't know. The cable itself fits nicely on the MoBo, (plugged into SATA2, existing internal is plugged into SATA1), and also fits well into the MyBook external. Mildly dicey where it exits the case, but not a big deal. Both HP & WD (MyBook maker) tech support are hopeless, dumber then me. Even if you are unable to help, I already appreciate your attention. Last edited by pdelange; 11-02-2009 at 06:10 AM.

11-02-2009, 07:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,934 OS: XP	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect Have you tried the drive with the USB interface? I have heard some issues with WD drives and eSATA cables as far as fit. Understand why eSATA now, - didn't realize at first it was an external drive. I would try the USB interface and see if the drive is recognized there. __________________

11-02-2009, 11:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
pdelange Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 OS: XP MCE 2005	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect Yes, the drive works well on USB, I am actually currently using via FireWire & have for some time. I just upgraded my computer to record HDTV - I was hoping to increase the speed of the drive for increased bandwidth.

11-02-2009, 01:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,934 OS: XP	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect I'd be willing to bet you are seeing the 'cable doesn't quite fit well enough to make a connection' error. Some people have reported trimming back the plastic a tad to get a more reliable esata connection, but that is one I can't vouch for. __________________

11-02-2009, 01:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
pdelange Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 OS: XP MCE 2005	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect I will jiggle it around a bit. Is that on the MoBo end - or the ext drive end?

11-02-2009, 02:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
pdelange Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 OS: XP MCE 2005	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect hmm....it appears to the ext drive end I think. The plastic does "stop" the plug. I will cut some off.

11-04-2009, 06:38 PM	#13 (permalink)
pdelange Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 OS: XP MCE 2005	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect THANK YOU. You were correct sir. Quite impressive the way you resolved my issue whereas the paid staff both WD and HP could not. Especially considering it was how the plug fit when you could not see the plug! If there is a way for me to add "SOLVED" to the subject line as I see on some of the other threads feel free to let me know. The hard drive light in the front of the pc is blinking now - i suppose that's because the drive is now connected via sata - before when it was connected by firewire the hard drive light wouldn't have "known" to blink. Last edited by pdelange; 11-04-2009 at 06:58 PM.

11-04-2009, 06:50 PM	#14 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,168 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: old pc, large hd, no auto detect Use "thread tools" at the top of the thread and you can mark it solved there. __________________