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Subject:
From:
Joan Rapier <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 22 Apr 1999 07:35:36 -0700
Content-Type:
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Topic: Breaking the 8GB barrier on a PC Compatible whose BIOS does not
recognize beyond 8GB


Are you using an overlay?  If so which one?


[J Rapier]
Yes, I think I will use the overlay provided by the hard drive manufacturer
- IBM.  IBM provides a DDO (dynamic drive overlay) called IBM Disk Manager
version 9.47.  I will follow the overlay w/ an install of Windows98 OS.

One of my concerns about using this is the client maintaining an awareness
that he cannot boot his system using a regular Windows98 boot disk - that
he must use the boot disk created by the DDO manufacturer.  I just ran into
this w/ another system.  A client not only didn't have a boot disk (for an
old 486 - it couldn't see past 500MB and was running a 1GB HD) but he had
no idea that an overlay was used (and certainly did not have the overlay
software).  I got lucky and was able to get in and copy off the contents of
his hard drive in the midst of failing HD and FD controllers.

Another concern I have w/ using a DDO is that the drive can *only* be read
in the system it was formatted in.  If the system the drive was formatted
in dies, that drive would be inaccessible from another computer.  One could
not take out the drive from the failed system and install in another
non-identical system in order to retrieve data.  I don't like that at all.
 Too risky.

If I've misinterpreted this predicament, please, do correct me list
members.  This is how I see it right now, though and why I'm reticent to
use a DDO.

Joan Rapier
[log in to unmask]

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