Topic: BIOS Update

[WhiteDevil]

Hiya -
Ive been looking for a BIOS update for my system so it can take my new hard drive, ive been on the Gigabyte website but i cant find anything...

Manufacturer: Gigabyte
Model: Intel 440LX AGP-PCI BIOS for Pentium 2 Processor
Revision: v.1.12 (unsure of this)

i would appreciate if someone would help me look  

Adam

[Simon]

All I would say Adam, is be very careful, and absolutely certain you have the right one, before trying to upgrade your BIOS.  A mistake could well cost you a new Motherboard.  Ask Serenity.  

[Dack]

Problem here is you don't actually say what motherboard you have as Gigabyte produced 8 boards using the LX chipset.
http://uk.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_Intel+440LX.htm

The usual way of telling is noting down the bios string that appears at the bottom of the screen during bootup. This can then be checked over at wims bios page.

Alternatively checking the motherboard for the model number

[WhiteDevil]

Cant NTFS support 80GB drives anyway? I thought it was only FAT32 that didnt..

[Sandra]

I think that you are confusing XP with the BIOS WD.
XP can format a drive as part of its installation procedure in either FAT 32 or NTFS but has a 32 gig limit if it is done in FAT 32.
If the BIOS cant detect the full size of the drive then it wont allow XP to format the extra no matter which file system it is going to use  

Post the chipset number that you told me last night WD, I forgot which it was, then someone (Dack) may be able to find the right BIOS update for you  

[WhiteDevil]

SiSoftware Sandra gave me this:

System Mainboard
Manufacturer : Giga-Byte
MP Support : No
Model : Intel 440LX AGP-PCI BIOS for Pentium(R)II Processor V.1.12
BIOS ID : 05/29/98-i440LX-W977-2A69JG0FC-00
System Chipset : Intel 440LX/EX Chipset

[Dack]

According to Wimsbios.com the motherboard is then a:
Gigabyte GA-686LX3

And the bios files are located at:
http://uk.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_GA-686LX3.htm

However the latest Bios on there is 22nd December 1999 and makes mention of support for 40G drive. You may still have a problem even after updating but it's got to be worth a try.

[WhiteDevil]

ok, have just downloaded it, ill give it a go...

[Simon]

Ever so slightly worrying that we haven't heard from WD since 7:10 this evening!  

[Dack]

It wasn't me - you can't prove anything.

(Now where are those self destructing postings)

 

He really should have got back on by now though shouldn't he.....

[Sandra]

I think hes ok, he was chatting on MSN to me last night and as it would only give him 40 gig  support I think hes decided to leave it with the 32 gig limiter on until he can get a board that supports the full 80 gig