Version 1.1 is now available.

2006-07-13 15:19 Finished driver analysis, initial announcement
2006-07-14 10:43 Working on inserting new code
2006-07-15 09:56 First successful build
2006-07-15 22:03 Major change of plan
2006-07-20 18:10 Version 1.0 released
2006-07-21 04:51 Begin work on WinME version
2006-07-21 05:50 Finish WinME version
2006-07-21 06:22 Begin work on 4.10.2225
2006-07-21 06:37 Version 1.1 (4.10.2225) released
2006-07-22 07:34 Win98FE version (4.10.2001) released
2006-07-23 08:51 Win98FE version (4.10.2186) released
2006-07-29 20:05 Win98SE version (4.10.2226) released - only for replacing an existing v4.10.2226 file
2006-08-02 17:57 Win95 OSR2+ version (4.00.1111) released
2006-08-04 20:27 Win95 OSR2+ version (4.00.1119) released

For those that don't know, this is an attempt to implement 48-bit LBA support into Windows 98se's default IDE driver, enabling the use of hard drives in excess of 128Gb. This is not just another variant of Loew's "High Capacity Disk Patch" because

1] It's completely free (and of course, has no guarantee)
2] Addressing to 2048Gb is possible (limit of FAT32)
3] A large portion of driver code has been rewritten and optimised
4] LBA-48 commands implemented in separate routines instead of "patched into" existing 28-bit's code
5] Slightly increased performance over Loew's patch due to [4]

If Enable48BitLBA has worked for you, please post a link to a validation image containing the following:

1. Properties page of a drive filled past 137Gb
2. Information dialog, the results of a successful scandisk on the drive
3. System Properties -> Device Manager -> (your IDE controller) Properties -> Driver -> Driver File Details (must show ESDI_506.PDR being used)
Also specify your hardware (in particular, mobo chipset and HDD specs).

This will help to confirm that it works.

Reference: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=46752

I am not responsible for any damage caused by the use of these drivers.

This post has been edited by LLXX: Aug 4 2006, 03:29 AM

Congratulations + thanks for the driver.
Mr. R. Loew is not going to be happy his $10 "shareware" driver now has better freeware competition.

I can't test it either, all my drives are < or = to 120 GB.

Question:
Which ESDI_506.PDR version did you use, 4.10.2225 or 4.10.2226 ?
Best to use 4.10.2225 because this is the most compatible and up to date.

Suggestion:
No matter which version you used, file version should be changed to reflect the update and to install properly over any other older version that might exist in %windir%\system\iosubsys .
Your new driver should have 4.10.2227 [1 notch above the newest one by M$].

FYI:
I have created an iexpress installer with backup [original file (if any) renamed to ESDI_506.ORI], uninstall + restore [original file (if any) restored from ESDI_506.ORI back to ESDI_506.PDR] Control Panel Add/Remove Programs capabilities.
I took the liberty and changed file version to 4.10.2227 using XVI32 [freeware hex editor]:
http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delphi/free...xvi32/xvi32.htm
I also took the liberty and added the links to your 2 forums into the README.TXT:
README.TXT opens for reading whenever one installs the driver.

Posted here:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#9SU
and here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46581

* Unofficial Windows 98 SE > 137 GB Hard Disk IDE Driver ESDI_506.PDR 4.10.2227 Fix:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=78592
Direct download [80 KB, English]:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/48BITLBA.EXE

Keep up the good work.

As stated above, this is based on 4.10.2222. If you think it's necessary, I'll patch the newer versions as well.
I don't know if you've noticed, but I already changed the version information slightly - it now reads "ESDI Virtual Device (Version 4.0b)" instead of just 4.0. However, according to your suggested versioning, I think the following may be appropriate:

4.10.2222 -> 4.10.2227
4.10.2223 -> 4.10.2228
4.10.2224 -> 4.10.2229
4.10.2225 -> 4.10.2230
4.10.2226 -> 4.10.2231
Thanks, I'll do the patching and leave the packaging up to you

I know I'm probably too late here but I think it would be better to change the version numbers like this...

4.10.2222 -> 4.10.2232
4.10.2223 -> 4.10.2233
4.10.2224 -> 4.10.2234
4.10.2225 -> 4.10.2235
4.10.2226 -> 4.10.2236

Two reasons:

1) there might actually be a 2227 or higher build in the wild that we don't know about so jumping by 10 leaves a gap for safety.
2) the last digit stays the same so you can easily tell what the original version was

Just for reference, there's a wiki page on microsoft version numbering...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Version_Number

I've searched the internets, there is no official ESDI_506.PDR version 4.10.2227. That version number is currently used for the fixed 4.10.2222. Fixed version of 4.10.2225 will be 4.10.2230. Adding 5 to the version number isn't that confusing...

BTW I've also fixed 4.10.2001 (Windows 98FE). I haven't found 4.10.2186 yet.

(Someone may want to provide more information on First Edition versioning so an appropriate scheme for the new files can be implemented.)

This post has been edited by LLXX: Jul 21 2006, 02:34 PM