503+ ,largest drive for JE37

From a little quick research on Google, I would say that 32GB is the largest
drive that version will support. The JE4333 BIOS supports up to 136GB.
However, you are limited by the onboard VIA IDE controller to UDMA33
throughput (and it wasn't all that fast even for a UDMA33 interface). If
you don't want to flash the BIOS, and you have a PCI slot available, you
could always install a PCI IDE controller, and besides support for larger
hard drives, you would get UDMA66, 100, or 133 compatibility as well
(depending on what controller you bought). If the add-on PCI controller
would be your preference, here is the necessary sequence: 1) Install the
PCI controller in an available slot with nothing connected to it (i.e. leave
your existing drive connected to the motherboard). Allow your OS to install
the controller. 2) Shut down the computer and move the existing hard drive
to the PCI controller. 3) Turn on the computer and go into the bios setup,
and change the Boot Sequence to one of the options which begins with SCSI
(because the BIOS recognizes your PCI controller as a SCSI controller).
Also change your Primary Master drive in the BIOS to Not Installed. Save
changes and exit the bios setup, and reboot. You should see the PCI
controller's BIOS detect the hard drive and the computer should boot
normally after that. 4) Read the instructions for the hard drive utility
furnished with your new hard drive, and install it on your existing hard
drive first if recommended. If not, go to the next step. 5) Install the
new hard drive as recommended by the drive's manufacturer (as master or
slave with the existing drive) on the PCI controller. 6) Turn on the
computer and go into bios setup, and change Boot Sequence so that the CD-ROM
drive is the boot drive. Save changes and exit, and insert the new hard
drive utility CD into the CD-ROM drive before you reboot. Follow the
instructions in the hard drive installation utility to copy your existing
drive's image to your new hard drive. 7) Once this is completed, shut off
the computer and swap the position of the drives (master/slave relationship)
if required by the installation instructions, or disconnect the old drive
and set the new drive as a single drive depending on your preference.
Turn the computer back on and go back into setup, and change the Boot
Sequence back to SCSI first. Save changes and restart, and you should now
boot from your new hard drive. Sorry, I kinda got carried away. Hope that
helps.
Robert
"AndyB" <AndyB RemoveThis @nospam.pls> wrote in message
news:cuqk6o$aum$1@ngspool-d02.news.aol.com...
 > I have the 503 + and a 20GB hard drive that is running out of room. I have
 > the 1.15JE37 BIOS and would rather not flash to a new one unless I really
 > have to. What is the largest drive this BIOS can read.
 >
 >
 > Andy
 >
 >
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