pcb@gator.cacs.usl.edu (Peter C. Bahrs) (02/17/90)
I have used several pc's over the years and have never had a problem to this extent before...however since we have set up this pc lab of 30 PS/2 70s and 2 80s (about 1 year) I have had 15 out of 50 diskettes go bad; the DSHD 3.5", of numerous brands. Suddenly, the diskette can't be read. Norton utilites NU disk map shows no errors. One time norton DT said it was reading from the 2nd FAT table? I can't even re-format them with the DOS format command for the most part. A couple I formated ad 720k. Has anyone experienced problems with diskette drives on the PS/2's. /*----------- Thanks in advance... --------------------------------------+ | Peter C. Bahrs | | The USL-NASA Project | | Center For Advanced Computer Studies INET pcb@gator.cacs.sl.edu | | University of Southwestern Louisiana ...!uunet!dalsqnt!gator!pcb | | Lafayette, LA 70504 | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
gray@toffee.it.udel.edu (Scott Gray) (02/17/90)
Yes, I have had the same trouble with my 3.5" DSHD disks on my PS/2 30-286. After using the disks for a while the disks suddenly stop working, and when I try to reformat them I get a "Track 0 bad - disk unusable" or somethine along those lines. I have heard rumor that IBM's 3.5 drives have been having this problem ever since they were introduced, but I don't have anything to substantiate that claim. Also, I am usually very good with my disks, keep them away from dust, heat, excessive cold, magnets, phones, etc. so I don't think that the problem is happening because I mistreat them. If anyone hears anything about this problem please post the info. ------------------------ Scott Gray ------------------------------
CMH117@psuvm.psu.edu (Charles Hannum) (02/17/90)
If you are trying to mix 720K disks and 1.44meg drives (or vice versa), then
that is your problem. The two mediums are incompatible.
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Virtually,
- Charles Martin Hannum II "Klein bottle for sale ... inquire within."
(That's Charles to you!) "To life immortal!"
cmh117@psuvm.{bitnet,psu.edu} "No noozzzz izzz netzzzsnoozzzzz..."
c9h@psuecl.{bitnet,psu.edu} "Mem'ry, all alone in the moonlight ..."amichiel@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Allen J Michielsen) (02/19/90)
In article <11361@nigel.udel.EDU> gray@freezer.it.udel.edu (Scott Gray) writes: >Yes, I have had the same trouble with my 3.5" DSHD disks on my PS/2 30-286. > >I have heard rumor that IBM's 3.5 drives have been having this problem ever >since they were introduced, but I don't have anything to substantiate that >claim. > According to Central Point Software, makers of the deluxe option board pc disk controller, disk copy card & software. IBM has used about a 50-50 mix of 2 manufacturers of 3.5 disk drives. The mix crosses over the 720k-1.4M boundry (same for both densities). As I recall the 2 manufacturers were ALP & Tosh. One of these, probably the ALP has been a problem for IBM since it was first placed in the field. IBM has quietly been replacing these this the other type for cronic complainers. The down side, the 'pulls' have been used for repairs of the unsuspecting. Reports of this also has been in small print in several of the computer mags, (not all public distribution). For some reason, several reports have the SONY disks causing more problems with the bad drive, but it isn't clear why. A internal memo suggests that removing the disk during a ac power change (turning it on or off), is a first step (as the drive can splat a write even if write protected during a power change) and not using any ram disks or disk caches is a second (but what a hard disk cache has to do with a floppy is a mystery yet unexplained...). al
RMC@psuvm.psu.edu (Ron Crandall) (02/22/90)
In article <3980@rouge.usl.edu>, pcb@gator.cacs.usl.edu (Peter C. Bahrs) says: > >since we have set up this pc lab of 30 PS/2 70s and 2 80s (about 1 year) >I have had 15 out of 50 diskettes go bad; the DSHD 3.5", of numerous >brands. > There was a problem with with DOS 3.3 (maybe 4.0, too - don't know) and the PS/2 ROM BIOS that caused problems and occasional physical damage to 3.5" diskettes. IBM "solved" this by releasing a device driver called DASDDRVR.SYS, which corrected this and other problems such as the clock losing time. It was eventually included on the reference diskette of PS/2's with a "READ THIS FIRST" sheet headed "Update Programs." IBM also included an install utility on the reference disk. I would check to make sure all the PS/2's in question were installed with the line DEVICE=\DASDDRVR.SYS in their CONFIG.SYS files, and that device driver is actually present. ------- Just Because I'm Paranoid Ron Crandall Doesn't Mean the World's PSU Office of Telecommunications Really Not Against Me... RMC@PSUVM.PSU.EDU (Internet) RMC@PSUVM.bitnet (Bitnet)