HIGH CAPACITY DISK PATCH DEMO (PATCH145) Version 0.2 Beta 02/07/2004 Copyright (C) 2004 By Rudolph R. Loew The High Capacity Disk Patch Program patches Windows 98/98SE/ME to provide direct support for hard drives larger than 137GB without requiring a controller card or the Intel Application Accelerator which can only be used with an Intel chipset motherboard. The patch installs support for the 48-Bit addressing mode required for hard drives larger than 137GB. This patch updates the standard IDE controller (ESDI_506.PDR in the Windows SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS Directory). If you are using a controller card such as the Promise Card included with some Maxtor or Western Digital drives, this patch will not affect drives connected to the Card(s). If you have installed the Intel Application Accelerator, this driver may no longer be used and the patch is not needed and may not have any effect. This Demo version is limited to 145GB. Do not use with any hard drive containing a partition that is above or extends above 145GB. REQUIREMENTS Windows 98, 98SE or ME. BIOS support for hard drives >137GB. PATCH INSTALLATION 1. Download and UnZip the Program to a known location. 2. Open a MS-DOS Box. 3. Go to the Directory where the program is located. 4. Run PATCH145 to install the patch. UNINSTALL PATCH (See Warning Below) 1. Download and UnZip the Program to a known location (if necessary). 2. Open a MS-DOS Box. 3. Go to the Directory where the program is located. 4. Run PATCH145. 5. Type Yes to the Uninstall request to uninstall the patch. WARNING: THIS DEMO VERSION OF THE HIGH CAPACITY DISK PATCH WILL CAUSE CORRUPTION IF ANY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO WRITE DATA ABOVE IT'S 145GB LIMIT. YOU MUST PURCHASE THE FULL VERSION TO ACCESS SECTORS ABOVE 145GB. THIS PRODUCT IS A BETA VERSION AND HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECT TO EXTENSIVE TESTING. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR DATA LOSS TO OCCUR DUE TO ERRORS IN THE PATCH OR IF THE PATCHED DRIVER IS BYPASSED OR OVERWRITTEN. DO NOT USE IN CRITICAL SYSTEMS OR WHERE HUMAN SAFETY IS INVOLVED. Please E-Mail any Bug Reports to RLoew@hotmail.com. If you install a Windows update that replaces the ESDI_506.PDR file or uninstall the Patch and have Partitions defined that extend above the 137GB limit there is a possibilty of data loss anywhere on that drive. This is due to a flaw in the original version of the ESDI_506.PDR file that misinterprets sectors above the 137GB limit as being sectors below it. Since Microsoft has decided not to add large disk support to any Windows before XP, any updates are likely to have the same flaw. If in doubt, rerun the PATCH137 Program BEFORE allowing Windows to Reboot and Answer NO to the Uninstall Request if it appears. If the Computer Reboots before you can run the Program, make it boot in Safe Mode, apply the Patch and Reboot again. Installing this Patch on a Computer without BIOS Support for large drives is not recommended. The Patch is bypassed if Windows disables the Driver or if Windows is in Safe Mode. In either case, the BIOS may cause data loss if it mishandles sectors above the 137GB limit as does the Microsoft Driver. Usage with a Disk Manager is not recommended. Proper operation in Windows Mode is uncertain and may corrupt your system. Installing this Patch on Windows NT, 2000, or XP has not been tested and may corrupt your Hard Drive. If you are installing Windows on a new large Hard Drive you should not define partitions above the 137GB limit until you have completed the Windows installation and then installed the Patch. The Programs automatically examines the Computer to located the Driver File. If it cannot locate the file, it will ask you to locate the ESDI_506.PDR Driver File. It is normally located in the Windows SYSTEM/IOSUBSYS folder. A Backup file is created to allowe the patch to be uninstalled. The Backup File has the same name as the Driver File but the suffix is changed to .bak provided the FileName itself doesn't have that suffix. The Backup File is erased if the Patch is Uninstalled. RELATED PRODUCTS: RFDISK Nondestructive partitioning Program with Large Disk support and support for multiple boot and selectable partition configurations. QFORMAT Quick formatter for FAT Partitions. PARTS Partition Mapper. BIOS Large Disk Support Patches for Tyan S1590 Motherboard and others. DOS Patches to DOS 6.2 to access drives larger than 8GB. CONTACT INFORMATION: Rudolph R. Loew 506 Bieling Rd. Elmont, NY 11003 1-516-352-9078 RLoew@hotmail.com IP = conference.no-ip.org PORT = 8192 (Conference Console)