BIOS Update

I have an Asus P5A motherboard. I installed a 120GIG hard drive and it
only picks up 32GIGS. I went to the manufactures web site and they said I
need to download an update for the BIOS so it will read the 120 GIGS. Thats
fine, but I was wondering do I have to do anything else before I download
the update and install it?
Thanking you in advance, Keith.

google search for "flash bios" or "update bios" for a huge number of
responses on the proceedures, possible errors and good/bad outcomes,

the ASUS site is pretty good on instructions for their systems, try here for
details http://www.asus.com/products/mb/ezflash.htm, there is always the
possiblility of failure so backup backup backup all your data files before
proceeding.

There are also drive overlay software from the drive manufacturers site that
may allow the BIOS to use the entire drive without updating or if the update
doesnt see the full drive

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Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.pandasoftware.com/ActiveScan/
Catalog of removal tools (1) http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/n...aspx?CID=40387
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links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before use
Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters
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"Keith" wrote in message
...
| I have an Asus P5A motherboard. I installed a 120GIG hard drive and it
| only picks up 32GIGS. I went to the manufactures web site and they said I
| need to download an update for the BIOS so it will read the 120 GIGS.
Thats
| fine, but I was wondering do I have to do anything else before I download
| the update and install it?
| Thanking you in advance, Keith.
|
|

Some motherboards have a jumper that prevents flashing, you have to move it
to the alternate position for flashing. See mobo specs in manual. Some
newer motherboards have an alternate bios chip that must be set, prior to
flashing normally used onboard bios chip. This will allow recovery in case
of a botched flash. See mobo specs in manual.

Most windows oriented flashers, have heard many more nightmares with those
and inoperable motherboards as a result.
Boot files (msdos) only diskette is safest. Flash programming file website
location usually has an FAQ on what to do, and not to do during and after
the flash. Cross your fingers during any flash. Be sure your PC has a UPS
in event of power loss or brown out during flash, otherwise inop
motherboard.

And, be sure the HD you're using does not have the 32GB jumper in place if
applicable.
"Keith" wrote in message
...
I have an Asus P5A motherboard. I installed a 120GIG hard drive and it
only picks up 32GIGS. I went to the manufactures web site and they said I
need to download an update for the BIOS so it will read the 120 GIGS.
Thats
fine, but I was wondering do I have to do anything else before I download
the update and install it?
Thanking you in advance, Keith.

If you are going to Flash the BIOS, make sure you have a way to backup the current
BIOS in case something goes wrong. It may be included with the update or as a
separate download. Read all instructions very carefully.

One thing you may want to try first in the event that your BIOS already has large
disk support, is installing the patch from MS for HD's larger than 64GB.
Fdisk Does Not Recognize Full Size of Hard Disks Larger than 64 GB
http://support.microsoft.com/default...44&Product=w98


You also may want to have a read he
Windows Support for Large IDE Hard Disks
http://support.microsoft.com/default...55&Product=w98

For many articles on HD's, search the MSKB on "hard drive" without quotes or any
other wording you can think of.
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

--
Brian A.

Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

"Keith" wrote in message
...
I have an Asus P5A motherboard. I installed a 120GIG hard drive and it
only picks up 32GIGS. I went to the manufactures web site and they said I
need to download an update for the BIOS so it will read the 120 GIGS. Thats
fine, but I was wondering do I have to do anything else before I download
the update and install it?
Thanking you in advance, Keith.

"Keith" wrote in message
...
I have an Asus P5A motherboard. I installed a 120GIG hard drive
and it
only picks up 32GIGS. I went to the manufactures web site and they
said I
need to download an update for the BIOS so it will read the 120
GIGS. Thats
fine, but I was wondering do I have to do anything else before I
download
the update and install it?
Thanking you in advance, Keith.

Follow the directions on the Asus site to 'flash' your BIOS.
Don't take any shortcuts.
It is extremely important that you have the correct BIOS for your P5a
before you flash it.
The process of flashing only takes about a minute or less.
I have done it numerous times on my old Asus P2B and also on my ECS
K7S5a.
PS:
Some HDD's come with a jumper on them that limits it to 32GB.(must be
changed manually)
Make sure that this is not the case for you.

Thanks for the info, but I don't think I will take the chance to flash and
just see how long the 32Gigs last. Keith

That's a waste of a 120GB drive if you stick with it only recognizing 32GB.

Download install the patch I provided a link for and at least see if you can
partition the drive so you can use the entire drive.

--
Brian A.

Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

"Keith" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the info, but I don't think I will take the chance to flash and
just see how long the 32Gigs last. Keith

"Keith" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the info, but I don't think I will take the chance to
flash and
just see how long the 32Gigs last. Keith

Did you check to see that your new HDD was jumpered to only give
32GB?