maximum hard drive limitations?
This question isn't strictly Linux, but I hope you'll be kind :)
I have a Toshiba 490CDT model, which comes with a 3.8GB harddrive, and the
Toshiba docs seem to be saying that the maximum drive that can put in the
computer is 6GB.
Now I would like to upgrade my drive, and jumping to a 10GB or 20GB drive
would seem much more sensible to me at the moment than 6GB.
I am thus extremely frustrated about this alleged 6GB limit. It doesn't
make sense, seems unnecessary. I know there was some 2GB limit under DOS on
older BIOSes, and I seem to recall an 8GB in Win95 or Win98, OS driven
rather than BIOS driven. But a 6GB limit? What's that supposed to mean?
Is it really a BIOS limitation? Is there really any good reason why Toshiba
can't update the BIOS to handle larger drives ? (I've recently updated to
the latest 8.0 BIOS, but Toshiba, in their wonderfully helpful
proprietryness, neglected to provide a README explaining exactly what it was
the new BIOS fixed). I would have thought, if the drive fits inside
physically, and if the cables fit in properly, then why wouldn't it handle
10 or 20GB?
In a cynical moment I'm inclined to think they refuse to update the drive
handling as a marketing ploy to make you buy the latest model (which of
course would only force me to look at another brand altogether).
Anyway, I'm writing to ask if any of you can confirm the reality of this
kind of drive-size limitation? If it is real, can you explain why? Do I
just have to put up with it, or do I have a "right" to be cranky with
Toshiba about it?
And can anyone say what the 8.0 BIOS improved over the older 7.2 or 7.5
BIOSes?
Thanks,
Drew
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