HD w/EZ-Bios headache! Yeah, even us "old pros" need help now & then.....HELP!

[OuTpaTienT]

I trying to fix/rebuild my cousin's computer. Everything has gone just fine till I got to the HD. It's a Maxtor 7GB (approx) and it's seems to have something called "EZ-bios" hardwired in it's circutry. And it doesn't let the HD boot the system like any other freakin' HD would do.

I've formatted this thing every which way from Sunday with no luck. Doesn't matter if it's Windoze, DOS, FAT16, FAT32, partitioned into smaller drives or made just one big C: drive, NOTHING will get rid of this "EZ-bios" ****.

Upon boot, the system does not reconize the disk as bootable. But if I boot from floppy, then I can see the C:\ drive, no problem. If I then attempt to install Windoze, it begins then gives me the error "SU00013 not a DOS bootable drive, cannot continue. Install will abort" or something close to that.

Anyone know about this bs? Is this a "Maxtor thing"? My 6.8GB Maxtor doesn't have anything like this. Is there special propriety software I have to use to format/boot this drive? (somehow I sense this is the case)

[Lacy]

It sounds like the maxblast disk has been corrupted? The Lord and Master had the same problem. Have you tried to put the maxtor disk back in and reboot and goto advanced options and disable ez-bios? Please note you may need ez-bios for that system to run properly, and I've only noticed this with the maxtor hd's. If this doesn't work you may need to go to the maxtor site and d/l an updated version of max blaster to get rid of the ez-bios.(The system bios may have cylinder limitations) On the large sheet maxtor sends it also tells you if you have boot problems you may have to change the jumper settings on the hd. Refer back to the maxtor jumper specifications where it states "system hangs during boot". If you don't have a copy of it please email me or dagrizz@juno.com or go to maxtor web site and d/l them. I have a maxtor hd i use as a slave and never had a problem I will never buy another maxtor hd. It was not stated in any papers I received from Maxtor, but if your hd needs to be replaced beware it will not be with a new one, but with a refurbished one.

[This message has been edited by Lacy (edited 06-13-2000).]

[socalgal]

It sounds similar Western Digital's EZ-Drive (now called DataLifeguard Tools), where it's defined as

"code that installs on the boot sector of the hard drive if your system BIOS does not support the full capacity of your hard drive. EZ-BIOS helps your system overcome the 8.4 GB, 2.1 GB, and 528 MB barriers."

If it's like EZ-Drive, it can be tricky, if not difficult (taking a couple of tries) to uninstall.

If you have an EZ-Bios boot disk, it should contain the uninstall procedure. Maybe an fdisk /mbr will work, I don't remember. Someone else here will.

I suppose there would be info at Maxtor's site. This is the info on EZ-Drive/Bios on the WD site http://www.westerndigital.com/products/manuals/ezdrive1.htm

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 06-13-2000).]

[ctaylor]

SOCALGAL is right.

Running "FDISK /MBR" will erase the "EZ-BIOS" software from your master boot record.

I don't know how to reinstall it with a Maxtor drive, but with the Western-Digital drives you boot to a DOS prompt and run the following:

DLGEZ /MBR (for the Data Lifeguard Software) or

EZ /MBR (for the EZ Drive software)

The question is whether your Cousin's system requires EZ-BIOS to overcome the 2 Gig HDD limitation.

[tonym]

You can also dump EZ Bios altogether if you use the Maxtor drive as a slave with a Seagate master and use the "Drive Wizard" software. The software will ignore the fact that it's a Maxtor drive because it found the Seagate!

EZ Bios was written by Satan! I had a basketload of problems with it...it is inconsistent and prone to becoming corrupted. So I jettisoned it.

My question is: if this is a 7GB drive, it must support LBA, right? If so, you can bypass the EZB thing and be done with it. UNLESS, your cousin's mobo doesn't support LBA.

Lacy, FYI...I've seen the refurbishing process for HDDs at several companies...they basically gut the drive and start with new everything except for the case and the main PCB. Occasionally, they get a drive that someone has tortured and somehow erased the on drive BIOS...those they check the ops clock and replace the BIOS. It gets a burn-in and out it goes, good as new! I have and had several refurb drives and found them to be reliable. Even the one that got the drop test (onto the hardwood floor in my office)! Still working!!

Tony

[This message has been edited by tonym (edited 06-13-2000).]

[Dave_H]

Here is a thread with some good info on removing a drive overlay. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/003537.html
Dave

[jad1097]

Go to the link that Dave gave and do what is explained there.

Also you will need to change the jumpers on the drive if you replaced the mobo.


Now if it needs ezBIOS then you can not boot to a floppy before ezbios loads. I think you will need to hold down the F4 key when ezbios starts to boot. Then you will have a choice of either booting to C: or booting to floppy from here you will install the OS with a boot disk like normal but remember ezbios must load first. http://www.maxtor.com/maxblast/


Tony that is not quite true about the LBA with some of the older BIOS. http://www.maxtor.com/technology/q&a/30004.htmlQ0

[jad1097]

I had an RMA with Maxtor and they sent me a new drive.

[tonym]

Lacy,

None taken!!!!!

Tony

[OuTpaTienT]

THANKS everyone! Guess I know what I'll be doing tonight.

[Lacy]

TonyM,

I have nothing against refurbs. I only have a gripe against them cuz they didn't specify in any papers that is what they would send to replace new hd's that go bad. The Lord and Master had to have 3 replaced and each one they sent was bad. Like I said, I've used one for 4 years and have had no problems with it, but because they weren't honest about replacements I choose not to deal with them anymore.

The Maxtor web site has an upgraded program that is supposed to erase the ez-bios, but we have found it does not always work. I also agree with you on using it as a slave. Kevin has had nothing but major problems with ez-bios when used as a Master. Since he's changed it over to a slave there's been no problem.

No offense was meant Tony on refurbs. I was only speaking on my dealings with the Maxtor company.