QUESTION

Here's my system:

• Acer Acros Model 4130
• Intel 486/SX 25 MHz Desktop
• 16 MB RAM
• 130 MB hard drive
• CD-ROM drive
• SoundBlaster 16 soundcard
• 14.4 Kbps modem
• 14" monitor
• Windows 3.X

I would like to upgrade my hard drive. What do I need to consider and how big of a hard drive can I upgrade to?

--Tom Mastrangelo

ANSWER

Many older computers are limited by their BIOS for hard drive size. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about upgrading hard drives, so here’s some pointers:

1. Upgrade to the newest BIOS available for your computer/motherboard.
2. Expect problems.
3. For older machines, you will have to use BIOS translation software. Most hard drives ship with this software, and it is also downloadable from all major hard drive manufacturers
4. DOS, Windows 3.x, and earlier Win95 installs are limited to 2 GB partitions. This means that you have to split large drives up into a bunch of sections of 2 GB or less. Win98, Windows NT, and Win95 revision B support larger partitions, so it’s nicer to use one of these operating systems with large hard drives.
5. Ideally, you should always check with your computer/motherboard manufacturer and make sure that your motherboard supports hard drives larger than 540 MB.
6. The two sticking points for hard drive size are: 540 MB and 2 GB. Sometimes you can make a 2 GB drive work on a system, but a 2.5 or 3 GB drive just won’t work. I’d recommend 2 GB hard drives for older systems, if you want to avoid getting over the second hurdle. The first hurdle is making your computer recognize more than 540 MB.