Abstract: A data storage system includes a disc drive accessing system for accessing an entire storage capacity of a disk. The disk drive to be accessed is identified and address parameters for the disk are read from the disk by a host computer under instructions from a program in a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) extension memory located on an adapter connected between the host computer and the disk drive. The address parameters read from the disk are used by the host computer to access each and every address location on the disk drive. The BIOS extension memory is activated by the BIOS memory upon power-up of the host computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are used to adapt a disk drive accessing system to access a maximum storage capacity of at least one disk drive. A Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) memory extension is carried by an adapter. The disk drive to be accessed is identified and address parameters for the disk drive are determined based on instructions in the BIOS extension. The address parameters correspond to the maximum storage capacity of the disk drive. The address parameters are determined by the disk drive accessing system and are suitable for being used by the accessing system in accessing the maximum storage capacity of the disk drive. The disk drive is then configured for being accessed using the address parameters.

Abstract: A disk drive is configured for use in a data storage system of the type having a computer coupled to the disk drive for storing data on storage media in the disk drive and for retrieving data from the storage media in the disk drive. The storage media has a physical capacity. A plurality of first logical drive address parameters are received from the computer. Second drive address parameters are determined based on the first logical drive address parameters and the physical storage capacity of the storage media. The disk drive is controlled as a function of the first and second logical drive address parameters.