Crashed Hard Disk - Data Recovery?

anupmathur · 11th April 2009, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirAlec

BTW the chipset that takes 120gb will definitely take 160 or even 250gb.

SirAlec, that is not correct. The 48-bit LBA problem kicks in.

ImmortalZ · 11th April 2009, 19:30

Your chipset supports LBA 48 bit. However, your motherboard needs a BIOS that supports the feature. This however, does not exist.

There is a way out for you though.

The IDE driver in Windows 2000 SP3 and Windows XP SP1 (and later) natively supports 48-bit LBA so it doesn't matter if your BIOS doesn't support it.

If you boot using a Windows XP RTM CD or a Windows 2000 SP2 CD with a 160GB HDD, when choosing the drive or partition to install Windows to, the drive is displayed as something like 131072 MB (128GB or 137 decimal gigabytes). But if you use an XP SP2 disc or 2000 SP4 CD it shows 152625MB - the correct size. You can then proceed to install and use the full capacity of the HDD.

If you wish to make a XP SP2 WinXP CD from your disc, follow The Elder Geek guide here.

EDIT : Looks like you are already running SP3. You should be all clear.
EDIT 2 : Make sure no single partition exceeds 137GB.

anupmathur · 11th April 2009, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImmortalZ

The IDE driver in Windows 2000 SP3 and Windows XP SP1 (and later) natively supports 48-bit LBA so it doesn't matter if your BIOS doesn't support it.

I'm still not sure about this. All went as expected with my Sony VAIO FRP825 Laptop and XPproSP2 got installed. New 160 GB HDD recognized and utilized.

Then, an unexpected problem! Everything was working in slow motion!
Tried everything I could find through Google. No go.
Plonked in an old 80 GB HDD into the laptop and reinstalled XPproSP2.
Everything A-OK!

ImmortalZ · 11th April 2009, 20:34

*shrug*

Plonked a 250GB HDD into a five year old Acer Aspire and it worked beautifully as long as I kept partitions below 128GB size.

P.S : You need the latest chipset drivers.

JMaruru · 11th April 2009, 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImmortalZ

EDIT : Looks like you are already running SP3. You should be all clear.
EDIT 2 : Make sure no single partition exceeds 137GB.

Yes, I would be running XP SP3 and i can ensure no single partition exceeds 137GB. Does this ensure there would be no issues henceforth ? If so, i can go in for 160GB IDE HDD.

ImmortalZ · 11th April 2009, 20:57

128GB. Was a typing mistake of mine in the earlier post.

And yes, you should be just fine. Make sure you have the latest Intel chipset drivers.

JMaruru · 11th April 2009, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImmortalZ

128GB. Was a typing mistake of mine in the earlier post.

And yes, you should be just fine. Make sure you have the latest Intel chipset drivers.

Ok. I shall keep the partitions under 128GB.

I am on intel 915GM chipset and i have the dell drivers CD which came along with the laptop and i shall be using the same, when i load the new 160GB HDD.

Hope this should be fine.

SirAlec · 11th April 2009, 22:23

there is a simple but a risky solution to this.

just upgrade the bios. can you name the model (be specific please)

JMaruru · 11th April 2009, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirAlec

there is a simple but a risky solution to this.

just upgrade the bios. can you name the model (be specific please)

I have upgraded the bios recently from version A07 to A09(couple of months back), when i faced some issues on the heat sink.

The laptop model is dell inspiron 6000 bought in states in september 2005.

ImmortalZ · 12th April 2009, 14:38

The Inspiron 6000 doesn't have a LBA48 compatible BIOS to update to.

Get the latest chipset drivers from Intel's website.

JMaruru · 12th April 2009, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImmortalZ

The Inspiron 6000 doesn't have a LBA48 compatible BIOS to update to.

Get the latest chipset drivers from Intel's website.

Does this mean, 160GB HDD is not compatible with my laptop ?

ImmortalZ · 12th April 2009, 16:14

I was replying to SirAlec. If you had a BIOS to update to, you wouldn't have the partition size limitation or the requirement for WinXP SP2 or better. You can plonk the 160GB in and use it without any problems as long as your OS is the above and you adhere to the partition size limitations.

SirAlec · 13th April 2009, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMaruru

Does this mean, 160GB HDD is not compatible with my laptop ?

exactly! just went through various forums that i contribute to. Sorry! you have to stick to 120 or lesser hdd.

as this model will not have any updates.

anupmathur · 13th April 2009, 07:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirAlec

exactly! just went through various forums that i contribute to. Sorry! you have to stick to 120 or lesser hdd.

as this model will not have any updates.

Exactly what I encountered with my old Sony!
This is what I had posted earlier:

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

All went as expected with my Sony VAIO FRP825 Laptop and XPproSP2 got installed. New 160 GB HDD recognized and fully utilized.

Then, an unexpected problem! Everything was working in slow motion!

ImmortalZ · 13th April 2009, 08:54

Well fine. I guess my laptop has a magic elf in it just making the 250GB HDD work fine without a LBA48 bit addressing compatible BIOS.

I'll say this for the last time. You can use whatever size HDD in your laptop without the BIOS support as long as you have a WinXP SP2 or later OS and partition sizes less than 128GB.

11th April 2009, 19:30	#122
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	Your chipset supports LBA 48 bit. However, your motherboard needs a BIOS that supports the feature. This however, does not exist. There is a way out for you though. The IDE driver in Windows 2000 SP3 and Windows XP SP1 (and later) natively supports 48-bit LBA so it doesn't matter if your BIOS doesn't support it. If you boot using a Windows XP RTM CD or a Windows 2000 SP2 CD with a 160GB HDD, when choosing the drive or partition to install Windows to, the drive is displayed as something like 131072 MB (128GB or 137 decimal gigabytes). But if you use an XP SP2 disc or 2000 SP4 CD it shows 152625MB - the correct size. You can then proceed to install and use the full capacity of the HDD. If you wish to make a XP SP2 WinXP CD from your disc, follow The Elder Geek guide here. EDIT : Looks like you are already running SP3. You should be all clear. EDIT 2 : Make sure no single partition exceeds 137GB. Last edited by ImmortalZ : 11th April 2009 at 19:39.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 20:34	#124
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	shrug Plonked a 250GB HDD into a five year old Acer Aspire and it worked beautifully as long as I kept partitions below 128GB size. P.S : You need the latest chipset drivers. Last edited by ImmortalZ : 11th April 2009 at 20:35.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 20:57	#126
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	128GB. Was a typing mistake of mine in the earlier post. And yes, you should be just fine. Make sure you have the latest Intel chipset drivers.
	() Thanks

11th April 2009, 22:23	#128
SirAlec Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: zxc Posts: 3,393 Thanked: 726 Times	there is a simple but a risky solution to this. just upgrade the bios. can you name the model (be specific please)
	() Thanks

12th April 2009, 14:38	#130
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	The Inspiron 6000 doesn't have a LBA48 compatible BIOS to update to. Get the latest chipset drivers from Intel's website.
	() Thanks

12th April 2009, 16:14	#132
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	I was replying to SirAlec. If you had a BIOS to update to, you wouldn't have the partition size limitation or the requirement for WinXP SP2 or better. You can plonk the 160GB in and use it without any problems as long as your OS is the above and you adhere to the partition size limitations.
	() Thanks

13th April 2009, 08:54	#135
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	Well fine. I guess my laptop has a magic elf in it just making the 250GB HDD work fine without a LBA48 bit addressing compatible BIOS. I'll say this for the last time. You can use whatever size HDD in your laptop without the BIOS support as long as you have a WinXP SP2 or later OS and partition sizes less than 128GB.
	() Thanks