Need new BIOS-UBERGEEK help

need updated BIOS - UBERGEEKS /3l3t -Please help

Need BIOS update/upgrade for Compaq Armada 7350MT laptop.
Current bios (by compaq) won't allow installation of HD > 8GB.
[they want U to 'buy up' to a new computer]. Want to install HD bigger than 20GB. The compatable harddrive(s) ARE manufactured. The problem is getting a BIOS to support it. Anyone know of a workaround??/ BIOS source??
Drowning in data

 

Need new/upgraded bios for compaq Armada 7350MT. Want to install HD>8GB. Compaq won't sell a bios larger than 8GB. HD's >20GB ARE made for this computer.
Any BIOs sources ?? known workarounds??
Drowning in data

 

Ummmmmm, huh? To start with BIOS' aren't measured in Gigabytes, they are designated by 'versions'. I assume that you are wanting to install a hard drive that is larger than 8Gb. In that case I don't see where a BIOS upgrade would be benificial for you. If for some reason you are limited by the BIOS, which I have never heard of, then you need to go to the website of your motherboard manufacturer (which isn't Compaq) and see if they have a link for a BIOS flash. If you don't know how to flash your BIOS, or if you don't even know what I'm talking about then you shouldn't even consider it. Honestly, the BIOS version is most likely not your culprit although you have not stated what problem you are having other than looking for a BIOS upgrage. If you would care to elaborate a bit more on your problem then we will try to help you.

 

For those of us that can remember “Blake’s Seven”, “Knight Rider” and other crappy TV shows; the thought of having a 25MHz CPU or lower is a fond memory. Yes, I am talking about the slightly aged Intel 486. OMG, do I feel old!

Regarding BIOS limitations; it wasn’t unusual for this generation of computer to be restricted on the size of their hard drives. Like the good old DOS OS, who could possibly want to have a hard drive larger than 2GB? After all, DOS was a whopping 3 floppy disks and Windows either came on 6 or 8, depending on the version (Windows 3.1 or 3.11 WfWG).

But enough of this nostalgia, I’m not exactly helping here. I can see that the “Armada 7350MT” is a rather old beast and was first produced in 1997. So what did you get for your $5249.

166 MHz Pentium Processor with MMX
2.1 GB SMART Hard Drive
32 MB EDO DRAM
12.1-inch CTFT 800 X 600
33.6 Kbps Telephony Modem
Li-Ion Battery

SO, with the combined age and specification of this system, I’m honestly not surprised that the BIOS has this limitation on HDD size. Although some desktop models of this age did indeed receive BIOS updates, it would be highly unusual for a laptop, as they weren’t deemed to by user upgradeable. Therefore, I’m sorry to report that the chances of Compaq releasing a BIOS update now, 6 years later, is remote to say the least.

 

I agree with sercher and thanks for the trip down memory lane!!

Most laptops are not designed to be upgraded.
Yes there may be "compatible" drives, but I highly doubt it will work.
What about an external firewire or usb drive as a slave....

Of course you would need a PCMCIA card for that to work
(and yes, I am sure the initials are wrong for the card, but you get my drift)

 

hey rag,

no need to cross post.

 

You may have luck emailing or calling the hard drive manufacturer for a BIOS patch. I would not install it without their express direction.
BIOS patching of the logo or other minor options is fine for the average hacker, but putting in larger hard drive support could prove difficult. Also, Compaq is very Microsoft like in its consequences for being different.

 

As searcher mentioned, yeah your BIOS version can limit the size of harddrive access. I believe you could install a 10gig or 20gig, but you would only be able to access up to 8, or at least your BIOS would only see 8.

You can do this with laptops, indeed i did that with my winbook last summer when i grabbed an internal 40gig. I needed to flash my BIOS to the newer version to use the harddrive. My laptop is 4 years old.

There is one problem, though. Not all motherboards have flashable BIOS. I don't recall when BIOS flashing was made possible, and i'm sure there are different dates for desktops and laptops (maybe someone here could enlighten us). For a computer that is 6 years old and a laptop, it may very well be likely that your motherboard doesn't have the proper wiring for BIOS flashing. I'm pretty certain I can't flash the BIOS in my old 486 - but maybe i'm wrong, in which case I would love to do that.

Anyway, I would find out the model and maker of your motherboard and BIOS first. You can find a really good article on identifying your motherboard here

hope that helps you.
o Draith

 

Thanks for the info everyone.
Have found a way to do it. )) Added a 30GB HD to system as slave drive after installing a third party BIOS 'overlay' /patch. Everything now works fine. I have a unpartitioned/ fully accessable 30GB HD for data storage.
If anyone wants to do the same just e-mail me & I'll be glad to help.

 

overlays are notorious for screwing things up.. fyi. I always recommend against them when possible.

 

Is external storage an option using usb?

 

If the BIOS doesn't even support > 8GB drives, USB probably hadn't been invented yet. He's lucky if he has PCMCIA.

Out of curisoty, why are you trying to upgrade a laptop? They're notoriously impossible, and you'll probably destroy the machine in the process. Nobody fixes them in-house because everything is proprietary.