http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ How-To Geek Forums Topic: intermittent access to new large laptop hard drive - LBA issue? en Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:01:57 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-36668 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:17:49 +0000 raphoenix 36668@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>richardhula,</p> <p>Well let's look at the problem this way.</p> <p>On other machines with different HDs and Bioes, folks setup dual and even triple boot systems with three and four partitions everyday with few problems. That makes me inclined to AGREE with you that there is something inherently incompatible with your particular HW that may always plague you.</p> <p>Don't know for what purpose you use the laptop, so the solution to the problem is really up to you and your confort level with the machine.</p> <p>I don't believe I would ever trust the laptop with valuable data. It acts a bit too "squirrelly" for my peace of mind. Just an opinion with no real input to help you out.</p> <p>Regards,<br /> Rick P. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-36555 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:08:42 +0000 richardhula 36555@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Further thoughts:</p> <p>I have noticed that when trying to install XP or Vista with this drive, no partitions are recognised if the third partition (above 131GB logical) is present after booting from installation CD. I have to delete the third partition, leaving space above first 131GB unallocated, in order that the first two partitions are seen by installation.</p> <p>This leads me to believe the problem is a low level one not directly associated to Windows. I have upgraded to the latest BIOS which tests as 48bit LBA enabled. I wonder if any options in XP boot.ini file might help.</p> <p>Incidentally when booted under XP, I can then re-instate the third partition/drive &#38; use it after cycling through standby. I can only boot successfully to Vista (Home Premium) though if the third partition is not present (unallocated space).</p> <p>Richard </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-36103 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:36:48 +0000 raphoenix 36103@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>richardhula</p> <p>Yes, those S1, S2, S3, etc. standards have always been implemented by each hardware manufacturer in a bit of a "flaky" different way. Also, MS's software for performing the standards is not quite bug free either. The combination of all the variables makes the issue hard to diagnose.</p> <p>Also there may be a HD initialization and spin-up timing issue along with the above not to mention the large HD is pulling more power however, that shouldn't effect not seeing part of the capacity of the the drive.</p> <p>Just don't know but still thinking about the problem.</p> <p>Regards.<br /> Rick P. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-36017 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:56:50 +0000 richardhula 36017@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Thanks for interest Rick. </p> <p>I have heard of others suffering intermittent access to new hard drive, but no solution.</p> <p>My only thoughts now are that standby takes power off hard drive, when it's powered up again problem is gone. Maybe working back from the cure would be be answer??</p> <p>Richard </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-35979 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:42:17 +0000 raphoenix 35979@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>richardhula,</p> <p>I see you posted the question on MS Technet and there was no response.</p> <p>You have indeed found an issue which is hard to diagnose.</p> <p>Considering the reproducibility of the problem, I can't determine if it is a HW or SW issue either.</p> <p>I'm going to keep researching the issue out of my own curiosity (so keep monitoring this thread). Maybe one of the other members have run up against the same situation and will also jump in.</p> <p>Regards,<br /> Rick P. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-35963 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:15:18 +0000 richardhula 35963@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Have already tried creating EnableBigLba registry value set to 1 - it makes no difference to problem.</p> <p>As I understand it the issue mentioned in above link was relevant to XP pre SP1, I have XP SP3.</p> <p>Thanks for suggestion anyway Rick </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-35877 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:21:24 +0000 raphoenix 35877@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>richardhula,</p> <p>Go to link below.</p> <p>Ensure Registry Key is set to (1).</p> <p>Disregard all the other MS "stuff" in the article.</p> <p><a href='http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303013'>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303013</a></p> <p>Regards,<br /> Rick P. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-35077 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:13:52 +0000 richardhula 35077@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Thanks for suggestion. Re-installed latest driver version 6.3.0.1007 for Intel 855GME chipset on my machine. Many newer drivers already present reported, which I didn't replace - no change after re-boot:<br /> Max cylinders 16709 = 137.1GB</p> <p>After cycling through standby:<br /> Max cylinders 30401 = 250.1GB</p> <p>This problem is 100% reproducable.</p> <p>Richard </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-35006 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:18:03 +0000 Budohorseman 35006@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>You may want to try reinstalling the chipset drivers for your motherboard (specifically the south bridge if you have the option). </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-34990 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:04:38 +0000 richardhula 34990@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Thanks for suggestions JadeEmperor. Yes I did upgrade BIOS whilst trying to resove this problem although I don't think it helped this issue. HDInfo tool shows that BIOS is 48bit LBA enabled. In any case why would it work at all if not.</p> <p>Yes new drive is new, previous one fitted two years ago, after original Toshiba failed, was also WD although I'm sure that's not an issue.</p> <p>Have found that hibernating also causes machine to revert to post boot condition, i.e. drive shows up as 131GB only &#38; third partition not accessible. Cycling through standby gets everthing working again - weird!</p> <p>Richard </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-34844 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:33:56 +0000 JadeEmperor 34844@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>i'm not familiar with Acer but:</p> <p>1. is the hard disk newer than the laptop? if so, even though the BIOS supports 48bitLBA, have you tried upgrading the BIOS?<br /> 2. you mentioned "Recently fitted a larger WD2500BEVE 250GB IDE hard drive" so i assume the previous hard disk was a WD too?</p> <p>i had compatibility issues with a Fujitsu-Siemens PC (not laptop) and some hard drive brands before so i'm thinking like this.</p> <p>my 2cents. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/intermittent-access-to-new-large-laptop-hard-drive-lba-issue#post-34829 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:10:07 +0000 richardhula 34829@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Recently fitted a larger WD2500BEVE 250GB IDE hard drive to my Acer TravelMate 8006LMi laptop running XP Pro + SP3.</p> <p>The drive was partitioned into three under NTFS. Initially after re-boot only the first 131GB (first two partitions) is seen, suggesting 48bit LBA issue (this size is right on the older 24-bit LBA limit). After putting machine into &#38; out of standby, if I check again using any hard drive info tool, the full size of hard drive is shown &#38; I can access the third partition normally, i.e. the partition table is read &#38; accepted. </p> <p>In fact to get the drive working within my machine I had initially to format &#38; load system files across from my old drive using only the first 131GB, with the remaining space left unallocated, otherwise the drive would not mount.</p> <p>All tests I run including using HDInfo from 48bitlba.com website indicate that BIOS, drivers &#38; system all have 48bit LBA enabled. I thoroughly checked the drive before installing whilst in USB caddy, including the full Western Digital diagnostic taking nearly three hours. No errors found so I don't suspect drive itself, especially as the intermittent problem only reproduces after boot &#38; then clears after using standby.</p> <p>Any suggestions?</p> <p>Regards - Richard Wood </p>