WIN98 HD Issue

Hi there.

I have windows installed on an older HD.

I have a new one, and wanted to install a fresh copy of WIN98 on it. The HD is a Maxtor Diamond and it says 30GB on it.

I tried to test it and put it as a 2nd drive. In windows it shows that the drive only has a capacity of 8GB?? I did a format and same thing?

BTW, this new drive was on another PC. It is no longer used, so I took it out and wanted to use it as another drive on my own PC.

 

It's probably a BIOS limitation on your system, you can look for an updated BIOS or use disk management software (Dynamic Drive Overlay) to circumvent the limit.

It may be worth checking the drive as well there may be a jumper setting to cap the limit at 8Gb.

Have a look here for Maxblast if you need to use the disk managment route.

 

Okay, so I got it working.

I have an issue though.

When I try to create a Primary Partion, it won't let me choose the file size. EG. How much that partion can hold.

It by default assigns it 8MB and then allows me to create extended or additional partions to which ever size I want them to be.

I'm trying to create one huge primary partion if possible.

 

Probably a requirement of the DDO, I wouldn't worry about it, compared to 30GB, 8MB is tiny. 30GB is approx 30,000 Mb.

 

Well it assigns the 8MB primary area as C:

Unless there is a way I can assign the Extended partion as C: ??

 

Harry, you'll have to bear with me... It's been a while since I've done this

How exactly are you partitioning the drive? Using FDisk or Maxblast?

 

Hey wildfire.

I'm using FDisk in Dos.

 

Are you sure it's 8Mb and not 8Gb fdisk is offering?

 

It's 8MB.

I also tried putting the WIN98 folder on that partion and that's when I noticed it's size.

I also noted, this drive was used with a novell system on an earlier PC.

 

Ok, Does Maxblast offer a partioning facility?

My memory's failing here (and I'm really hoping I don't need to drag out an antique to help ) but IIRC 98 versions of FDISK did have problems with large hard drives but I thought up to 32GB was ok. Can you try other partitioning software?

 

If a drive overlay is installed on the drive, you need to partition and format the drive with the maxblast software. If you use a plain dos disk to fdisk and format the drive, the drive overlay software is not loaded and you get the problem that you have. The dos disk will only see what the BIOS is reporting, which will be incorrect information.
http://www.softwarepatch.com/utilities/maxblast.html
The above page has a download that will make a bootable maxblast CD.

 

one explanation is here :

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=225822

even if they say it applies to win2000... the same 8Mb problem appears on:
Xp/w2003/Vista/Win7 ...

indeed, i don`t remember on w98

if you still can`t manage to remove it try using a (bootable) Partition Magic

also, keep in mind that Fat16 has a very small size limitation ...2 Gb ; Fat32 - 4 GB ( and this 2 are the only accepted by win98 )

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/bios/sizeGB2-c.html

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463

good luck

 

Iullius,

Your input is welcome and I'm sure you can teach me a thing or two but FAT32 can support far greater than 4Gb, in fact the link you posted suggested 8TB. I agree Win98 has other limitations a 2TB is indicated in this knowledge base

I've alway felt safe using anything less than 32GB with 98 but have never heard of the 4Gb limit you suggest.

Edit: Perhaps it's filesize and not partition size you're thinking off?

 

you are right wildfire...a file

don`t know where i was thinking

 

Well. My windows 98 isn't loading properly now on my old drive. All my files are intact, but some of the windows files have problems.

Anyways, I noticed the problem.

It seems like the PRIMARY Partion on the new disk created a 8MB FAT16 format..
However, when I create the EXTENDED partion on the new disk, it created the 30GB FAT32 format. The drive its self is 30GB.

I'm going to see if I can make a boot cd for maxblast or Partition Magic, and run it on the PC.

Hopefully this will fix stuff up.

 

I assume the MaxBlast will be usable via DOS? or bootable from DOS?

The issue I have now is my Windows isn't functioning properly. I few files are corrupt I think, so it dies on me.

This is STILL using the old HD.
I believe as stated earlier, it has some kind of overlay running and only created a 8MB Partion.

Also, if I were to install win98 on my old drive OVER the current windows installed, would it repair it or overwrite it all?

My old drive has 2 partions and I have nothing of real value on C:
The D: portion has some files, but nothing major.
If I were to reinstall windows temporally on C: is what I'm thinking of doing.

 

use this 2 tools to diagnost your HDD

Maxtor PowerMax 4.23
Seagate Seatools ( as Seagate is the owner of Maxtor company now )
if they found errors, you should go with the HDD to service

if not use a Hiren Boot, which contains 3-5 partition programs ( pqmagic /acronis.... are the most used )

 

Mark was right in his previous post. When you install a drive overlay like Maxblast, you have to let the drive overlay load before you boot from the floppy unless you boot from a Maxblast boot disk. You can boot from one of them and use it to format the drive. It will see all of the space available on the drive.

I had a computer a long time ago with Maxblast on it. If you want to use a regular Win98 boot disk to partition and format the drive, you have to let the overlay load before booting from the floppy in order for fdisk to see the entire drive. You do this by booting the computer without the floppy in it. As the computer boots, if you watch closely, you'll see a line that says something like press x (x is whatever key it tells you to press, don't remember what it is) to boot from a floppy disk. Press that key and it'll prompt you to put in a floppy and press any key to continue. When you do that, it'll boot from the floppy and you'll then have access to the entire drive with fdisk.

If you aren't too far into this yet, I'd suggest starting over from the beginning and doing it that way. I think you'll be happier with the results.

 

To bypass the problem, install ide to pci card, connect second HD to it and the problem should be corrected. Any current vintage card will have a BIOS that will allow installation of large capacity HD
Henry

 

I'll try that out.

I assume that means I should ONLY have one boot device.

Eg. Boot from floppy selected in BIOS and the 2nd boot device set to NONE.

The new HD I'm using was in another PC before, I did format it etc.., but I know if it boots the drive, it runs some odd messages.

I'll try your method and see if it works.
It saves me the hassle of getting and burning a partian program.