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SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
Before using the new hard drive, you need to configure your system
BIOS (CMOS Setup program) and partition and format the hard
drive.
CMOS Setup
The computer system provides an initial setup utility (CMOS Setup)
that allows you to tell the system what type of hardware you are
using. You access CMOS Setup with a series of keystrokes or run it
from a disk or CD-ROM. CMOS setup procedures vary from system
to system. Follow the setup instructions in your computer system
manual.
To configure your system for LBA mode:
1. Enter your CMOS Setup program (sometimes called the Setup
program). Refer to your system manual for instructions.
Important: If you are installing the 2.5 GB or larger drive and are not
able to access your CMOS Setup, refer to the 2.5 GB or Larger Hard
Drives section on page 5.
2. Select an auto config drive type. The full capacity of your drive
should display. See Table 1 for the full capacity of your drive in
CMOS.
Note: Western Digital defines a decimal megabyte as 1,000,000 (10
6
)
bytes. CMOS defines a binary megabyte as 1,048,576 (2
20
) bytes.
This is why different utilities report different hard drive capacities.
3. Enable options such as LBA or Translation Mode. If you don’t have
either options, you need to upgrade the BIOS or install EZ-Drive.
See Troubleshooting for a list of BIOS sources and phone numbers.
Partitioning and Formatting
Your Western Digital hard drive has been low-level formatted at the
factory. The hard drive is ready to set up and is defect-free. You must
partition and high-level format the hard drive so it can accept files.
There are two ways to format and partition the hard drive.
1. Use the EZ-Drive software that you received with the hard drive.
2. Use the DOS utilities FDISK and FORMAT.
We recommend using EZ-Drive. It is a safe, fast, and an easy way to
partition and format the hard drive. See the section Using EZ-Drive
Software for instructions.
For instructions on using FDISK and FORMAT, see your DOS user
manual.
Note: DOS has a 2.1 GB partition limit. If you have a 2.5 GB or larger
hard drive, you must create at least two partitions to access the full
capacity.
EZ-Drive 8.x Software Overview
EZ-Drive 8.x software is included with the Western Digital hard
drive to help you:
Partition and format your new hard drive.
Overcome the 528 MB barrier.
Overcome the 2.1 GB barrier.
If you did not receive the EZ-Drive software, you can download it
from our web site at www.wdc.com.
Partition and Format: If your system supports the full capacity of
the hard drive, EZ-Drive will only partition and format the hard
drive. It does not install code on your boot sector.
528 MB Barrier: Most computer systems built before August 1994
do not support hard drives larger than 528 MB, unless the BIOS is
updated or third-party software such as EZ-Drive is installed.
2.1 GB Barrier: Some computer systems built before early 1996 do
not support hard drives with more than 4095 cylinders (hard drives
larger than 2.1 GB), unless the BIOS is updated or third-party
software such as EZ-Drive is installed.
EZ-Drive Help Files: To access EZ-Drive help files on the
installation disk, select Installation Help from the EZ-Drive main
menu.
DRIVE AC2540 AC2635 AC2700 AC2850 AC21000 AC31000 AC11200 AC21200 AC31200 AC21600
Capacity (MB) 540.8 639.9 730.8 853.6 1083.8 1083.8 1281.9 1281.9 1281.9 1624.6
CMOS (MB) 515 610 696 814 1033 1033 1222 1222 1222 1549
CHKDSK (MB) 540.8 639.9 730.8 853.6 1083.8 1083.8 1281.9 1281.9 1281.9 1624.6
DRIVE AC31600 AC22000 AC22100 AC32100 AC22500 AC32500 AC33100 AC33200 AC34000
Capacity (MB) 1624.6 2000.3 2111.8 2111.8 2559.8 2559.8 3166.7 3249.3 4000.7
CMOS (MB) 1549 1907 2035 2035 2441 2441 3020 3098 3815
CHKDSK (MB) 1624.6 2000.3 2111.8 2111.8 2559.8 2559.8 3166.7 3249.3 4000.7
Table 1. CMOS and CHKDSK Megabytes
Tips:
If your CMOS setup does not have an auto config drive type,
try selecting Type 01. Then install EZ-Drive.
If your system does not have auto config or Type 01 drive
types, try user defined and enter 1023x16x63 for the drive
parameters. Then install EZ-Drive.
79-850078-001 S0210 9-97
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