I tried to format my new WD40 HDD but my DOS v6.0 detected only few hundred MB on the HDD. When I use another PC, the HDD was detected 39GB. What could be the problem here, is it because of outdated DOS? How to upgrade them? Or any other setting to be done? By the way, I'm using this(first mentioned) PC for another Sygate 20GB HDD and it's OK.

dos 6 only recognises a max of 2 gig partitions with its fat16 file system.

Some old BIOS's only recognized 504 MB.

Correction, my current BIOS version is v4.51PG and P&P BIOS extension v1.0A. Both from Award Software. I suspected that need to upgrade them, how is it done? TQ for your reply.

Check out http://www.wimsbios.com/, which contains a great amount of info on flashing and where to get updates. One thing with the 4.51PG Award, a friend tried updating his (Ocean MB), and he accidently tried putting the 2mb flash into his 1 mb chip (maybe it was 512kb original, and he tried a 1mb flash? Can't remember right off hand). Computer was down until he purchased a new chip. Be careful. As for the limit on BIOS recongizing only a portion of the HD, it seems strange that it will read a 20gb drive, but not the 40. Usually the limit is either 500mb (as stated above) or 2gb (also as stated above), although some OS's will not recongize partitions over certain sizes.

Try the Drive Orverlay utility (It should have come with your hard disk - or you can download it from your HDD Manufacturer's web site). It overcomes your machine's BIOS limitations. As stated earlier, if you want to use 16-bit DOS (6.22 or earlier) you will need to create FAT16 partitions; they are limited to 2GB in size. I would make them smaller, because larger FAT16 partitions (greater than 500 MB) make inefficient use of hard drive space. -Doug