santol@cbnewsc.ATT.COM (shawn.r.antol) (11/27/89)
In article <29202@genrad.UUCP>, rob@genrad.UUCP (Rob Wood) writes: > > A hard drive had two partitions, one DOS, one non-DOS. This is reported > by FDISK. I want to delete the non-DOS partition and make just one DOS > partition on this 30 MB drive. FDISK won't let me. An IBM dealer said > that I should run the low-level disk formatter. I did the following: > DEBUG ..... <Stuff deleted> Here is the scoop... (from the beginning for the beginners...) Hard disks are generic... That is, with the appropriate controller card, the actual disk can be used in ANY machine (that supports a hard disk). When you purchase the disk, the first step is to "low-level" format it. This puts things like the timing information, sector address information, partition table, etc on the virgin disk (some factories do this for you, some don't) After the low-level format, the hard disk still has no idea what type of machine it is going into (The high level format does this). To perform a low level format, one must invoke the program to actually perform the operation. The method of invokation is DETERMINED by the disk drive controller card. On the disk drive controller card, there is a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM). This ROM "usually" contains the necessary software to perform the low-level format for that particular disk controller/drive. Here are the most common addresses to jump to from within "debug" g=c800:3 or g=c800:5 or g=c800:ccc If neither of these three work (you'll know cause the machine locks up or spits garbage onto the screen), then you have a controller card with no low-level formatting code on it. In this case, you need a program such as "The Disk Manager". The Disk Manager is made by Seagate ( I Think! ), and there is a different disk used for the various types of hard disks. Make sure you use the right one..... After the low level format is complete, you will need to use "FDISK" to tell the machine what operating system(s) you intend to install on the hard disk, ie. DOS, UNIX, ZENIX, etc. Running "FDISK" after the low level format will give a message like "No Partition Information Found". This is okay. Tell "FDISK" you want to create a DOS partition and it will ask "Do you want to use the entire hard disk for DOS (Y/N)". Since you only have a 30Meg drive (and I assume you only want DOS on it), press "Y". At this point, "FDISK" will update your partition table. Now you need to High-Level format the disk. This means that you are going to take the once generic hard disk, and use it for a particular operating system (DOS). Do this by exiting "FDISK" and using your favorit DOS verson, enter "format c:/s". When "format" is complete DOS will be on your hard disk and you can now boot from it.... If you have any problems call/email me: Shawn R. Antol AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville IL, USA 708-979-5622 (9-5 CST) Send email to: att!ihlpb!santol #include <std.disclaimers> #include <cutsy.quote>
ppa@hpldola.HP.COM (Paul P. Austgen) (11/29/89)
Hard disc controllers do not always have ROM programs at c800:5 to format discs. Some manufacturers rely on programs shipped with their disc drives. If so, then jumping here just forces the processor to go off into never-never land. You can check for this by UNASSEMBLING at this address and see if there is any real code there. I have heard that Disk Manager by Ontrack will low-level format most all disks. Did you try the Spinrite re-format?
davidsen@sungod.crd.ge.com (William Davidsen) (12/04/89)
There is a BIOS call "format track" which can be used to portably
format a disk. I don't remember the details now, but you may find a copy
of a program I wrote in 84 to do this. It was called hdformat and was
posted on a bunch of BBS systems. I'm not sure I have a copy any more,
and I'm sure I don't have one online, since the only DOS I run these
days is under UNIX.
You might be able to find a copy around somewhere. This asks for
format and stuff. Any proper BIOS ROM should handle it.
bill davidsen (davidsen@crdos1.crd.GE.COM)
{uunet | philabs}!crdgw1!crdos1!davidsen
"Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -me