Closed IDE Hard Drive @ 500MB or less.

[jvdbossc]

For large hard disks on any old dos computer you declare the largest supported size in bios, format a primary disk within those limits and add a large extended with logical ones over that limit.

So bios will support to boot dos system and then something else will need to support the larger size

It is really strange since I have an Amstrad an identical one without the game part build in and with a fake 486 it even autodetects 4 gig cf cards...

It is supported trough windows 98 dos or for old dos that has problems there used to be utils that took care. If you start with an util like that it is loaded before dos so you need to install it before you start fdisk.

 

[ptp170]

I've been having this exact problem with an Amstrad 286. All later drives which i had in my collection wouldn't play ball properly with the system even when I manually entered in the no of cylinders as 1024. A 256 Mb CF card also gave errors when setting up MSDOS. The way forward was to use a 540 mb harddrive that was from the era and limit it to 1024 and it works perfectly!

I'm sure it has something to do with PIO modes on later drives not being 100% compatible with the earlier technology.

A warning though, if you are typing in the CHS manually into the bios then you MUST do the same if you plug the drive into a later machine (say if your transferring/copying things). i mistakenly let the BIOS autodetect the hardrive when I plugged it into my main home PC and things started to get a bit messy when I filled the drive up to near capacity....it was only at that point I'd realised what I'd done

 

[tokyoracer]

I think there is ways of capping hard drives but like you say there's risks involved and you can mess up the whole install with very little effort. Ideally I would just rather get a smaller older drive rather then go through the finicky process of trying to cap it via software.

 

[Zetr0]

@Tokyo

If I am not mistaken this has 16bit ISA, as such I can send you a 16Bit ISA SCSI Card, this will handle a lot more than 504mb

 

[tokyoracer]

@Tokyo

If I am not mistaken this has 16bit ISA, as such I can send you a 16Bit ISA SCSI Card, this will handle a lot more than 504mb

Thanks for the offer Z but the only (valuable!) ISA slot I have spare is going to be a network card.

 

[Captain_Hat]

If that doesn't go through then I can take a look though our below-spec kit, there's a good chance we'll have something for you.

[EDIT] On a cursory search we might not- smallest I could find was a 600Mb Western Digital. Will keep looking.

 

[tokyoracer]

If that doesn't go through then I can take a look though our below-spec kit, there's a good chance we'll have something for you.

[EDIT] On a cursory search we might not- smallest I could find was a 600Mb Western Digital. Will keep looking.

Thanks for going to the effort. I eagerly await to hear if you find anything.

 

[scrappysphinx]

@Tokyo, have you tried using a small CF card, 256mb or 512mb maybe, and IDE-CF adapter?
Might be worth a shot

 

[tokyoracer]

@Tokyo, have you tried using a small CF card, 256mb or 512mb maybe, and IDE-CF adapter?
Might be worth a shot

Andy suggested the same. I'd try it but id need to get either a 3.5in to 2.5in IDE or a 3.5in converter. Plus I only have 32, 512mb and 1gb cards so chances are the best I'd have to settle with is 256. After spending some cash on that and even that might not work I might aswell get an old IDE that people are almost willing to give away. Not only that it seems more fitting to stick to making it as original as possible (only upgrading with period parts).

 

[robinsonb5]

Not only that it seems more fitting to stick to making it as original as possible (only upgrading with period parts).

The old 214mb Seagate I was talking about seems to be in working order, but having fired it up tonight i have to say it sounds like a sawmill!

If you're interested despite the low capacity and noisy bearings then the drive and 1st class post would be £5.

 

[tokyoracer]

Not only that it seems more fitting to stick to making it as original as possible (only upgrading with period parts).

The old 214mb Seagate I was talking about seems to be in working order, but having fired it up tonight i have to say it sounds like a sawmill!

If you're interested despite the low capacity and noisy bearings then the drive and 1st class post would be £5.

I don't mind a bit of noise but if it's really that bad then I will have to pass. There's only so much I can bare from old drives! >.<

 

[tokyoracer]

Turns out that it's really noisy. I have surprised myself how difficult it is to find old IDE's. I guess many got thrown out or just failed. :sigh:

 

[davideo]

If you're still after one I'll have a look in my boxes tonight.

Dave G

 

[tokyoracer]

If you're still after one I'll have a look in my boxes tonight.

Dave G

Yup still eager to fine one of these apparently rocking horse you know what hard drives.

 

[davideo]

If you're still after one I'll have a look in my boxes tonight.

Dave G

Yup still eager to fine one of these apparently rocking horse you know what hard drives.

I'll let you know later tonight if a find pile of horse poo

Dave G

 

[tokyoracer]

I'll let you know later tonight if a find pile of horse poo

Dave G

Cheers buddy.

 

[rkauer]

I have an extra 512Mb old IDE (spare to the one hooked in the A2000's GVP 3001). But surely you'll not like the price of postage.

Free otherwise.

 

[davideo]

I've mucked out the stable and come up with one (possibly two) HDs.

Quantum Maverick @ 270MB

or

Seagate ST3600A @ 540MB Which is slightly larger than you wanted

I can stick these in my 4000 tomorrow and see If I can hear myself if you want?

Dave G

 

[tokyoracer]

I have an extra 512Mb old IDE (spare to the one hooked in the A2000's GVP 3001). But surely you'll not like the price of postage.

Free otherwise.

Thanks RK but not only postage, it's just that little bit too large.

I've mucked out the stable and come up with one (possibly two) HDs.

Quantum Maverick @ 270MB

or

Seagate ST3600A @ 540MB Which is slightly larger than you wanted

I can stick these in my 4000 tomorrow and see If I can hear myself if you want?

Dave G

That Quantum will do mate, would have been nice if it where large but beggars can't be choosers. Let me know how you get on (noise and stability wise).

 

[davideo]

That Quantum will do mate, would have been nice if it where large but beggars can't be choosers. Let me know how you get on (noise and stability wise).

Quantum tested and appears to be A ok.

See PM.

Dave G