Large HD problem

You should have READ the instructions that came with the drive.  Many IDE controllers on older systems like yours are LIMITED to 137GB of disk space.  Many believe that this is a Windows limitation but in fact Windows has no such limit.  It's an IDE controller HARDWARE limit.

No getting about this other than to get a PCI IDE controller that does not have this limitation.  Many of these drives come packaged with such a controller but if not, you can acquire one inexpensively.

See:

http://www.promise.com/product/product_detail_eng.asp?productId=97&familyId=3

for a really nice one.  Others are available also in the US$50-$100 range.

If you're looking for a low-end one without the Serial ATA capability (which you don't need today) see:

http://www.promise.com/product/product_detail_eng.asp?productId=11&familyId=3 

No instructions (or anything else) came with the HD and my motherboard instructions don't mention any limitations.

Sorry.... It doesn't change reality...  That is still your issue and the fix is the same.

Background information:

http://www.idg.net/spc_637416_3553_1-1941.html

No instructions (or anything else) came with the HD and my motherboard instructions don't mention any limitations.

You said that once already!  Repeating the same thing is really annoying and makes you look silly!

Yeah it was silly, I hit refresh when I got an email notification. Forgetting that my last action was to submit the comment, not to just look up the thread.

Anyway, returning the HD would be impractical ..

Can I safely use it was a 137GB HD?

Is it practical to upgrade my controller? What kind of cost is on this?

Yes, you can safely use it as it is and waste a significant portion of your drive.

I already posted links to PCI IDE controllers that will solve this.  Yes, it's practical.

Panimu,

Try this:

After installing that new HD, let the BIOS AUTO-DETECT it twice (just to make sure) then reboot with a bootable floppy disk.

If not, upgrade your BIOS or purchase a flash card from http://www.firmware.com/. =)

Once again, this is NOT A BIOS problem nor can it be solved with a BIOS update.

This is an ATA/IDE controller limitation and only a newer controller that supports 48-bit addressing can go beyond 137GB.

Don't risk trashing your sytsem on a BIOS update that CANNOT HELP!

I beg your pardon jhance, I forgot you already linked.

If I install that card how does it work? Do I disable my current IDE channels on my mobo?

Or does it work along side those?

You could try installing Maxtors EZ-BIOS.
I had to load this when I got a 60GB drive and my Motherboard would only see 33GB

You need NOT disable your existing IDE controllers unless you want to.  But most cards have 2 IDE connectors so unless you have so many IDE devices that you can't connect them all, there is little  point in using the onboard connectors.

Once again, the advice being given by "pseudo-experts" is INCORRECT.  This is NOT A BIOS PROBLEM!

Sorry jhance but I'm confused by your 9:12am post.

If I install this card, I would have assumed it replaces my IDE channels on my motherboard and I would disable them.

No, an add-on PCI IDE card DOES NOT disable your existing IDE controller.  You MAY NOT NEED it any longer but you can have both the old and new in place.

But can both be active?

Please forgive how ignorant I'm being, but my mind is set in the old AT mold. 2 IDE channels, max 4 drives.

With this card what are my new capabilities?

2 IDE channels, MAX 4 drives.
4 IDE channels, MAX 8 drives.

Heh, but I thought the max number of IDE channels was 2.

If you could have 4, why do no motherboards come with 4?

try updating your bios...just kidding i was trying to annoy
jhance....lol
get the controller card...
bios will not fix it
waffle

The 128GB barrier is due to 28 bit LBA limit. Bios update will make any IDE controller work with the 48 bit address in PIO mode. There may be hardware limitations in the DMA mode.
Add on controllers usually have on board bios.
The on board chipset IDE controller can be enabled or disabled in setup.
Hope this helps.

To be honest public, not really. I, like most posting here I think, want practical solutions not just the explanation. :p

I ordered a card last week, when it's in working jhance gets the answer, most likely.

Well disable dma in bios, and update your bios to support the 48 bit ide addressing. Your drive will work fine. PIO 4  is not much slower than dma modes.
If you really need the speed, get the latest Promise tech controller board.

HD now up and working, thanks.