chris@beach.cis.ufl.edu (Chris Wagner) (02/12/90)
I am trying to get a hard disk to work in an Olivetti M-18 Portable, otherwise known as a Cordata model 325. It is an _old_ PC clone with an MDA monitor built-in. The floppy controller is built into the motherboard. I have attempted to install several combinations of hard drive and controllers (Western Digital and Adaptec MFM controllers; an old Tandon 20 MB and Seagate model 225) as well as two different hard disk cards. The installation is no problem; the problem is after the system has been operating for a while, it will lock up. Only a hard reset will break out of it. Even after that, it somtimes fails to reboot. I have done the following: 1) Taken all other expansion cards out and powered the hard drive off of a separate power supply. This was to see if the problem was a weak power supply. Same symptoms. 2) Ran a memory test program for 18 hours to see if the problem was a transient memory failure. It passed. 3) "RFI Shielded" the hard disk controller by using aluminum tape over the plastic controller case. The monitor is built in to the case and I thought that it might have been interfering with the controller. This offered minor improvement. I have contacted a firm that supports this machine and they say that they have not had a problem getting a hard drive to work in it. Is there something I have overlooked? Responses by e-mail, if possible, please. Many thanks in advance. Chris Wagner