Maximum HDD on 386

Original Message

Name: joseph_biosoft
Date: May 15, 2004 at 07:28:45 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386
OS: 3.11 WFWW
CPU/Ram: 66 Mhz/ 4MB

Comment:

I have an old 386 PC. I am getting it back to work. It's original 80MB hard drive is nearly nothing. Can anybody tell me the largest hard drive that would work on a 386 pc so that I could search for a used one.
Thanks for reading my message.
Joe

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Response Number 1

Name: wizard-fred
Date: May 15, 2004 at 09:23:43 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

The first BIOS size barrier is 540MB.
80MB is enough for DOS and Win3.1 and Office. Many machines of that era had only 40MB.

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Response Number 2

Name: jboy
Date: May 15, 2004 at 09:23:57 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

Probably around 500Mb or so - not too easy to find anymore.
A drive overlay would be needed for a larger drive - also keep in mind that older versions of DOS could only work with partitions no greater than about 2Gb.
Some overlay links & info here

Bleat at me no longer.

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Response Number 3

Name: SkipCox
Date: May 15, 2004 at 20:58:25 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

I tossed a 850Mb in my 386/33 with C/H/S and DOS used it as ~500Mb. The limit on the old BIOS, if memory serves, is 528Mb.
I have drive overlay software from most or all manufacturers but just didn't bother with it.
Skip

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Response Number 4

Name: vwchappy
Date: May 20, 2004 at 06:25:52 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

I have some older hard drives available if you are interested, freshly formatted and ready to go. Let me know if you are interested w/ a price.
Thanks
Tim

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Response Number 5

Name: IBMWarpster99
Date: May 21, 2004 at 20:28:07 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

use a disk manager program like ontrack to make the BIOS support the whole thing.

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installing 98 on 386 4 GB HD on 386...only recognizes 427MB mouse on 386 HDD/FDD controller failure RUNNING WINDOWS 3.1 ON 386	win 95 on a 386 Music on 386 Internet Explorer on a 386 3.1 to 95 on 386 yes 386 Ethernet Car on 386????

Response Number 6

Name: El-Trucha
Date: May 23, 2004 at 08:05:31 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

Will that actually make my 486 BIOS support a 40 GB hard drive??? (I tought of doing that once...)
El-Trucha

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Response Number 7

Name: joseph_biosoft
Date: May 24, 2004 at 06:40:29 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

Sorry Tim I was late reading your post. I really would like to get one of those hard drives if they are still available. Please contact me via e-mail or tell me where you live.
Joe
josephdaniel@link.net

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Response Number 8

Name: El-Trucha
Date: May 24, 2004 at 07:03:37 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

I just realized I got some old HDD's too!!
They're REALLY old...most of them are 40-80 MB, some are 200 and something MB and I have two 1 GB ones...
El-Trucha

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Response Number 9

Name: wizard-fred
Date: May 24, 2004 at 07:13:30 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

El-Trucha
We have a hard drive that weights more than 150 pounds CDC Hawk 10MB 14 inch platters.
Or something more modern Miniscribe 1012 for CP/M 5.5 inch full height 10MB. These are older than you.

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Response Number 10

Name: El-Trucha
Date: May 24, 2004 at 11:27:57 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

Ohh...haha!! that's really old!!!
El-Trucha

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Response Number 11

Name: joseph_biosoft
Date: May 26, 2004 at 13:03:33 Pacific
Subject: Maximum HDD on 386

Reply: (edit)

It's really very good to know so. Then how can I get one?
and for how much?

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