How to Overcome BIOS Hard Drive Size Limits with Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip
Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip: What Is It and How to Use It
If you are looking for a reliable and easy-to-use tool to partition and format your hard drive, you might have come across Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip. This is a file that contains a bootable version of Ontrack Disk Manager, a popular disk management software that can help you overcome various BIOS hard drive size limits. In this article, we will explain what Ontrack Disk Manager is, what Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip is, how to create a bootable ISO from it, and how to use it to partition and format your hard drive.
ontrack disk manager 9.57 boot iso.zip
What Is Ontrack Disk Manager
A brief introduction to Ontrack Disk Manager and its features
Ontrack Disk Manager is a BIOS overlay and partitioning tool that was developed by Ontrack Computer Systems, a company that specialized in data recovery and disk utilities. It was commonly bundled with hard drives from various manufacturers, such as IBM, Seagate, Western Digital, Maxtor, etc.
Ontrack Disk Manager can help you overcome some of the limitations that your BIOS may have when dealing with large hard drives. For example, some older BIOS versions may not be able to recognize or access hard drives larger than 8 GB, 32 GB, or 137 GB. Ontrack Disk Manager can bypass these restrictions by installing a small program on the first sector of your hard drive, which acts as an intermediary between your BIOS and your operating system.
Ontrack Disk Manager can also help you partition and format your hard drive in various ways. You can use it to create, delete, resize, move, copy, hide, or unhide partitions on your hard drive. You can also use it to check the file system for errors, run a surface test, wipe partitions with various data sanitization methods, restore the drive's MBR (Master Boot Record), install a Windows 3.1 32-bit disk access driver, etc.
The benefits of using Ontrack Disk Manager for hard drive partitioning and formatting
There are several benefits of using Ontrack Disk Manager for hard drive partitioning and formatting. Some of them are:
It can help you make full use of your hard drive's capacity, regardless of your BIOS limitations.
It can help you optimize your hard drive's performance by aligning your partitions properly.
It can help you protect your data by hiding or wiping sensitive partitions.
It can help you troubleshoot your hard drive by repairing or restoring its MBR or file system.
It can help you install or dual-boot different operating systems on your hard drive.
What Is Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip
A description of the file and its contents
Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip is a file that contains a bootable version of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57, which is the latest version of the software as of June 2023. The file size is about 1.44 MB, which is the same as a standard floppy disk.
The file contains the following files and folders:
File/Folder Name
Description
BOOT.CAT
A file that contains information about the bootable ISO image.
BOOT.IMA
A file that contains the bootable floppy disk image of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57.
DM.EXE
A file that contains the executable program of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57.
DM.HLP
A file that contains the help file of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57.
DM.INI
A file that contains the configuration settings of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57.
DMINSTAL.DAT
A file that contains the installation data of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57.
DMINSTAL.EXE
A file that contains the installation program of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57.
README.TXT
A file that contains the readme text of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57.
SETUP.BAT
A file that contains the setup batch script of Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57.
The compatibility and requirements of the file
The file is compatible with most Windows operating systems, such as Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, etc. However, some newer operating systems may have issues with running Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57, especially if they use UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) instead of BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).
The file requires a CD-ROM drive or a USB flash drive to create a bootable ISO image from it. It also requires a hard drive that supports IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics), SATA (Serial ATA), or SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) interfaces.
How to Create a Bootable ISO from Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip
The tools and steps needed to create a bootable ISO file from the zip file
To create a bootable ISO file from Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip, you will need the following tools:
A zip extractor program, such as WinZip, WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc.
An ISO creator program, such as ImgBurn, PowerISO, UltraISO, etc.
A blank CD-ROM or a USB flash drive with at least 2 GB of free space.
A CD-ROM burner or a USB flash drive creator program, such as Rufus, UNetbootin, Etcher, etc.
The steps to create a bootable ISO file from Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip are as follows:
Download Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip from a reliable source and save it to your computer.
Extract the zip file to a folder on your computer using your zip extractor program.
Open your ISO creator program and select the option to create an ISO image from files and folders.
Select the folder that contains the extracted files and folders from Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip as the source.
Select a location and a name for the output ISO image file and click on the option to create it.
Wait for the process to finish and verify that the ISO image file is created successfully.
Burn the ISO image file to a blank CD-ROM or write it to a USB flash drive using your CD-ROM burner or USB flash drive creator program.
Eject the CD-ROM or USB flash drive and label it as "Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso".
You have successfully created a bootable ISO from Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip.
How to Use Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip to Partition and Format a Hard Drive
The instructions and precautions for using the bootable ISO file to access Ontrack Disk Manager
To use Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip to partition and format a hard drive, you will need to boot your computer from the CD-ROM or USB flash drive that contains the bootable ISO file. The instructions and precautions for doing so are as follows:
Make sure that your computer is turned off and that the hard drive that you want to partition and format is connected to your computer.
Insert the CD-ROM or USB flash drive that contains the bootable ISO file into your computer's CD-ROM drive or USB port.
Turn on your computer and press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS setup menu. The key may vary depending on your computer's manufacturer and model, but it is usually one of the following: F1, F2, F10, F12, Del, Esc, etc.
In the BIOS setup menu, navigate to the boot order or boot priority section and change it so that the CD-ROM or USB flash drive is the first boot device. Save the changes and exit the BIOS setup menu.
Your computer will restart and boot from the CD-ROM or USB flash drive. You will see a message that says "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" or "Press any key to boot from USB". Press any key to continue.
You will see a menu that gives you two options: "Start Ontrack Disk Manager" or "Start Windows". Choose the first option by pressing Enter.
You will see a warning message that says "Ontrack Disk Manager modifies your hard disk. Before using Ontrack Disk Manager, make sure you have backed up all important data on your hard disk." Press Enter to continue.
You will see another warning message that says "Ontrack Disk Manager may not be compatible with some newer operating systems. If you are using Windows XP or later, you should use the built-in disk management tools instead of Ontrack Disk Manager." Press Enter to continue.
You will see a license agreement that says "Ontrack Disk Manager is licensed software. You must accept this license agreement before using Ontrack Disk Manager." Read the license agreement and press Y to accept it or N to reject it.
If you press Y, you will enter Ontrack Disk Manager's main menu. If you press N, you will exit Ontrack Disk Manager and return to the previous menu.
Before using Ontrack Disk Manager, you should be aware of some precautions:
Ontrack Disk Manager may not work properly with some newer hard drives or operating systems. It is recommended that you use it only with older hard drives or operating systems that have BIOS limitations.
Ontrack Disk Manager may overwrite some data on your hard drive when installing its BIOS overlay program. You should backup any important data on your hard drive before using Ontrack Disk Manager.
Ontrack Disk Manager may cause some compatibility issues with other disk management tools or programs. You should uninstall any other disk management tools or programs before using Ontrack Disk Manager.
Ontrack Disk Manager may not be able to undo some of its operations once they are performed. You should be careful when choosing your options and confirm them before proceeding.
The options and features available in Ontrack Disk Manager for partitioning and formatting a hard drive
Once you enter Ontrack Disk Manager's main menu, you will see a list of options and features available for partitioning and formatting a hard drive. Some of them are:
Create/Modify Partitions: This option allows you to create, delete, resize, move, copy, hide, or unhide partitions on your hard drive. You can also change the partition type, label, or letter.
Format Partitions: This option allows you to format partitions on your hard drive with various file systems, such as FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, etc. You can also choose the cluster size, volume label, quick format option, etc.
Check Partitions: This option allows you to check partitions on your hard drive for errors in the file system or the disk surface. You can also fix any errors found by Ontrack Disk Manager.
Erase Partitions: This option allows you to erase partitions on your hard drive with various data sanitization methods, such as zero fill, random fill, DoD 5220.22-M, etc. You can also choose the number of passes for each method.
Restore MBR: This option allows you to restore the M BR (Master Boot Record) of your hard drive, which is the first sector that contains the boot code and the partition table. You can also backup or restore the MBR to or from a file.
Install Windows 3.1 32-bit Disk Access Driver: This option allows you to install a 32-bit disk access driver for Windows 3.1, which can improve the performance and compatibility of your hard drive with Windows 3.1.
Exit Ontrack Disk Manager: This option allows you to exit Ontrack Disk Manager and return to the previous menu. You can also reboot or shut down your computer from this option.
To use any of these options, you need to select them with the arrow keys and press Enter. You will then see a sub-menu or a dialog box that will guide you through the process. You can press Esc to go back to the previous menu or screen at any time.
Conclusion
A summary of the main points and the purpose of the article
In this article, we have explained what Ontrack Disk Manager is, what Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip is, how to create a bootable ISO from it, and how to use it to partition and format your hard drive. We have also discussed some of the benefits and precautions of using Ontrack Disk Manager for hard drive partitioning and formatting.
The purpose of this article is to provide you with a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide on how to use Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip, which is a useful tool for overcoming BIOS hard drive size limits and optimizing your hard drive's performance and security.
A call to action and a recommendation for the readers
If you are interested in using Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip, you can download it from a reliable source and follow the steps in this article to create a bootable ISO file from it. You can then use it to partition and format your hard drive according to your needs and preferences.
However, before using Ontrack Disk Manager 9.57 Boot Iso.zip, we recommend that you backup any important data on your hard drive, uninstall any other disk management tools or programs, and check the compatibility of your hard drive and operating system with Ontrack Disk Manager. You should also be careful when choosing your options and confirm them before proceeding.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
What is the difference between BIOS and UEFI?
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) are both types of firmware that control the boot process of your computer. BIOS is the older and simpler type, while UEFI is the newer and more advanced type. Some of the differences between BIOS and UEFI are:
BIOS uses MBR (Master Boot Record) to store the boot code and partition table on the first sector of your hard drive, while UEFI uses GPT (GUID Partition Table) to store more information and partitions on multiple sectors of your hard drive.
BIOS has a limit of 4 primary partitions per hard drive, while UEFI has no limit on the number of partitions per hard drive.
BIOS has a limit of 2 TB for the maximum size of a hard drive or partition, while UEFI has a limit of 9.4 ZB (zettabytes) for the maximum size of a hard drive or partition.
BIOS uses legacy mode to boot from CD-ROMs or USB flash drives, while UEFI uses native mode to boot from CD-ROMs or USB flash drives.
BIOS has a text-based interface that can be accessed by pressing a specific key during startup, while UEFI has a graphical interface that can be accessed by pressing a specific key or using a mouse during startup.
How can I check if my computer uses BIOS or UEFI?
There are several ways to check if your computer uses BIOS or UEFI. Some of them are:
You can check the firmware version in the System Information window of Windows. To do this, press Windows + R keys, type msinfo32 in the Run dialog box, and press Enter. In the System Information window, look for the BIOS Mode entry under System Summary. If it says Legacy, then your computer uses BIOS. If it says UEFI, then your computer uses UEFI.
You can check the disk partition style in the Disk Management window of Windows. To do this, press Windows + X keys, select Disk Management from the menu, and right-click on your hard drive. In the pop-up menu, select Properties, then click on the Volumes tab. In the Volumes tab, look for the Partition style entry. If it says Master Boot Record (MBR), then your computer uses BIOS. If it says GUID Partition Table (GPT), then your computer uses UEFI.
You can check the boot mode in the BIOS setup menu or the UEFI setup menu of your computer. To do this, restart your computer and press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS setup menu or the UEFI setup menu. The key may vary depending on your computer's manufacturer and model, but it is usually one of the following: F1, F2, F10, F12, Del, Esc, etc. In the BIOS setup menu or the UEFI setup menu, look for the Boot Mode entry or the Boot Options entry. If it says Legacy or CSM (Compatibility Support Module), then your computer uses BIOS. If it says UEFI or UEFI Only, then your computer uses UEFI.
How can I switch from BIOS to UEFI or vice versa?
Switching from BIOS to UEFI or vice versa is not a simple or straightforward process. It involves changing the firmware type, the disk partition style, and the boot mode of your computer. It may also require reinstalling your operating system and applications. Therefore, it is not recommended that you switch from BIOS to UEFI or vice versa unless you have a specific reason and you know what you are doing.
If you still want to switch from BIOS to UEFI or vice versa, you will need to follow these general steps:
Backup any important data on your hard drive, as switching from BIOS to UEFI or vice versa may erase or corrupt your data.
Check if your computer's motherboard supports both BIOS and UEFI firmware types. You can do this by checking the manufacturer's website or manual for your motherboard model.
If your motherboard supports both BIOS and UEFI firmware types, update your firmware to the latest version and change the firmware type in the firmware setup menu. You can do this by following the instructions provided by your motherboard manufacturer.
Change the disk partition style of your hard drive from MBR to GPT or vice versa. You can do this by using a disk partitioning tool, such as Windows Disk Management, Diskpart, GParted, etc. However, be aware that changing the disk partition style may delete all partitions and data on your hard drive.
Change the boot mode of your computer from Legacy to UEFI or vice versa. You can do this by changing the boot order or boot priority in the firmware setup menu.
Reinstall your operating system and applications on your hard drive according to the new firmware type, disk partition style, and boot mode.
What are some alternatives to Ontrack Disk Manager?
Ontrack Disk Manager is an old and discontinued software that may not work well with newer hard drives or operating systems. Therefore, you may want to consider some alternatives to Ontrack Disk Manager for hard drive partitioning and formatting. Some of them are:
Windows Disk Management: This is a built-in tool in Windows that allows you to create, delete, resize, format, and manage partitions on your hard drive. You can access it by pressing Windows + X keys and selecting Disk Management from the menu.
Windows Diskpart: This is a command-line tool in Windows that allows you to perform various disk operations, such as creating, deleting, formatting, cleaning, converting, extending, shrinking, etc. partitions on your hard drive. You can access it by pressing Windows + R keys, typing diskpart in the Run dialog box, and pressing Enter.
GParted: This is a free and open-source graphical tool that allows you to create, delete, resize, move, copy, format, check, label, etc. partitions on your hard drive. You can download it from its official website and run it from a CD-ROM or USB flash drive.
Partition Wizard: This is a free and professional tool that allows you to create, delete, resize, move, copy, merge, split, align, format, wipe, convert, hide, etc. partitions on your hard drive. You can download it from its official website and install it on your computer or run it from a CD-ROM or USB flash drive.
EaseUS Partition Master: This