vanam@pttesac.UUCP (03/28/87)
I posted an article a few weeks ago about the C-Ltd 20 Meg hard
disk I bought at the Commodore computer show in San Francisco.
At first the drive caused my C-Ltd 1 Meg memory expansion to
take errors. Then the drive started taking read/write errors
and finally the drive was "NOT A DOS" and wouldn't even format.
This all took place within about 5 days of use.
I called C-Ltd and they asked if I had replaced the 2 PAL chips
in the Amiga (according to C-Ltd, Commodore has acknowledged that
some Amiga's have substandard PAL chips). I had already replaced
those chips. The only thing left to do was to send the drive
back to C-Ltd for repair and/or replacement (there is a 90 day
warranty). I did so. It cost me $20 for UPS shipping. C-Ltd
promised to send back a repaired or replacement unit within 1
day of receipt of my unit.
Well, I did receive the unit back within the number of days expected.
There was a note from the repairman explaining that he had found and
replaced a bad PAL chip in the controller.
The drive worked just like before. It worked fine for a
few hours. Then a few gurus. Then a memory test showed errors in
my external RAM. Then a few hours later I started getting read/write
errors from the hard disk. After about 10 hours of use, the hard drive
was again "NOT A DOS" and wouldn't even format.
I called C-Ltd and the only thing they could guess was that there
might be something wrong in the drive that could cause the PAL chip
in the controller to go bad. I asked if this time they would please
send me a new, but burned in unit. They agreed to do this. I
also asked if they would give me my money back if I have this same
trouble again with the drive they send me this time. I was told
that I would have to talk to my dealer about that. I reminded
them that I bought the hard drive directly from them at a show.
They said I would have to take it up with <some-management-position>.
I also asked if it was possible that my memory or my Amiga could
be damaging the hard drive controller. They doubted that very
much, especially since my Amiga and memory are working fine by
themselves.
Anyway I sent the unit back to them again. This time I sent it
by 2 day air. Cost me $40 including insurance and the cost of
a bigger box that the UPS folks in my town insisted I use. C-Ltd
has told me that they would ship back with the faster service, so
this time I expect a replacement drive to arrive within 8 working
days. (2 day air does not mean delivery in 2 days -- usually ends
up being 3 days total delivery time so I was told)
If I have this same trouble again, I will try to get my money back.
I pray I won't have to try for that.
What I really fear though, is that I've been having two problems.
One, that the drive (or controller) keeps going bad, and two, that
my external RAM will take errors when the hard drive is connected.
I'm afraid that I might get back a good working drive, but that it
won't work correctly with my RAM. Then I may end up fighting with
C-Ltd about that. My RAM is no longer under warranty, but I certainly
expect it to work without errors with my hard drive, especially when
both are from the same manufacturer.
I will post another article after I test out the new drive.
--
Marnix (ain't unix!) A. van\ Ammers Work: (415) 545-8334
Home: (707) 644-9781 CEO: MAVANAMMERS:UNIX
UUCP: {ihnp4|ptsfa}!pttesac!vanam CIS: 70027,70page@ulowell.UUCP (03/29/87)
Since my posting saying "I have CLtd ram and disk, both work fine"
I've received a lot of e-mail asking to clarify some things. Here's
a more complete picture of my setup.
I have a Launch Amiga - the bunch of Amiga's made in the first batch.
I got the system about three weeks before first customer ship (via the
developer's program); so I don't think it is any different than what
first customers got.
I have not opened the case, ever. I have not replaced any PALs, have
not added the EXTRA-HALFBRIGHT rev chip, have not replaced the 68000
with a 68010, etc. I have not even looked at the underside to see
the signatures (although I've looked at other's machines).
I got the aMega 1MB RAM from a dealer ... it was the first batch that
CLtd sent out. It has the wait state problem talked about some time
ago, and documented in Amazing Computing. I did *not* fix the board;
it still has the wait state. I will eventually make the necessary
mods, but not until I finish a couple of projects that I'm working on.
I can't afford to be without the system (or the RAM) for a few days
or more if I botch the board (I'm a strict software type, you see).
I got the Cltd hard disk directly from Cltd as part of their developer
program. It arrived December '86, in what I understand was their
first batch of drives to go out. I also got the pass-through board
that allowed the RAM to 'pass the bus' to the drive controller. I
did not read the instructions at first, and just stuck the PTB into
the RAM and plugged the disk controller into it. When I powered up
the Amiga, the power light was dim, and no request for KS came up.
*Then* I read the directions, and put the PTB in correctly. I have
not had any problems since then, and I have not *moved* the ram or
disk controller since.
I have the RAM against the Amiga, and the disk controller plugged into
the RAM. I could have put it the other way, but didn't.
Again, I have not opened *any* hardware. My serial port, parallel port
external drive port and audio ports are all in use. I do not have
anything in the second mouse port, although I have had joysticks there
without any problems. I am not using any form of external clock,
and the serial port and parallel port just have a modem and printer
in them - nothing fancy that uses the power pins. I only have one
A1010 external 3.5 inch disk in the disk port, and the audio ports
are Y'ed together into my monitor. There is nothing in the composite
video jack. So, nothing special here.
The setup has performed reliably since installation. I power the
system (Amiga, drive, etc) up and down via a power strip, so everything
comes up and down at once. I do not leave the system on continuously,
it gets powered up and down a couple of times per day.
I hope that answers all the questions you may have. My only fear is
that making the modification to the RAM to remove wait states might
result in RAM and/or disk errors; a fear that only crossed into my
mind today.
Lastly, if I had to buy RAM and hard disk *today*, knowing what
I now know, I still _might_ get the CLtd stuff, since it is cheap,
and works (for me, anyway). Of course, if I had somebody else's
RAM, I'd be very careful about a CLtd hard disk, and make sure
that I could return it if it didn't work correctly. Sometimes
it is true that "you get what you pay for," although a SCSI disk
controller and 20MB hard disk for less than $750 (developer's
discount) is pretty hard to pass up. Of course, a broken system
isn't a value at any price.
It is unfortunate that CLtd, in announcing two add-on products
for the Amiga, has managed to create controversy over both of them.
My initial posting regarding Fred's problems was to point out that
not everybody has problems. I know several others who have CLtd
products (RAM + disk) and also have no problems, but do not know
what versions/revisions/modifications they have made to their
hardware, if any.
..Bob
--
Bob Page, U of Lowell CS Dept. page@ulowell.{uucp,edu,csnet} 617/452-5000