Re: Big HD-Small BIOS Problem. Need to edit registry in unbootable sy

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Linux kernels have their own disk drivers, they don't rely on the BIOS for 48-bit addressing, that is why it can see and use the whole drive but Windows cannot. If there are no BIOS updates available for your board then you will have to use a PCI controller card for the drive. These controller cards have their own BIOS and they will permit Windows to use the whole drive, just make sure that the controller card is compatible with Linux.

John

akbrian wrote:

I'm having a problem with a Linux/Windows 2000 Professional SP2 multi-boot installation on a large hard drive (500g) on a Gateway Pentium 4 computer with an old (2001) bios. The bios sees only ~137g. No newer bios is available.

These were the installation steps;

1) Created small (300m) first primary partition for Linux /boot.
2) Created large (100g) Second primary partition for Windows 2000.
3) Installed Windows 2000, and install all updates.
4) ** This step was missed** The Windows registry should have been edited as described here; http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305098
but it was not :(
5) Partitioned the remainder of the harddrive during the Linux installation, with the Linux partitions being on logical partitions between 100g and 250g, and the last primary partition on the remainder of the harddrive (250g-500g) as a shared NTSF data partition. Linux does not seem to use bios to determine harddrive size.
6) I'm using grub as a bootloader.
7) Linux works fine, and boots to Windows boot screen fine.
8) Windows 2000 locks up hard early in the boot process, even if the F8 safe mode is chosen.

What options do I have to repair this Windows installation? If I reinstall Windows 2000, I know from experience that I will have to delete any partitions above 137g first, which I would prefer not to do, if at all possible. Can I edit the registry manually from outside of Windows with a text editor, in order to add the missing key as described in the Microsoft link I listed above? Would installing XP over 2000 fix the problem, or does it still use bios to determine hard drive size? I would prefer not to buy/install vista, because the purpose of the Windows installation is to run already purchased software written for 2000/XP.

Thanks in advance for any help.
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