[comp.sys.hp] formatting 7945 disk drives

salex@central.cis.upenn.edu (Scott Alexander) (11/29/89)

We have 40-50 7945s which are no longer on maintenance.  Mostly they
hang around and act as spares for the 7945s that we are still using.
Recently, we decided to try to get the HDA repaired in one of the
units.  Since HP wanted approximately $1000 for an exchange and Priam
(the manufacturer of the HDA) wanted $375, we sent the HDA off to
Priam.  Unfortunately, when we bolted everything back together, it
doesn't work.  The drive makes the usual startup sounds, but when it
gets to the part where it makes a sound with a falling tone, it just
keeps making that sound.  Then the fault light comes on.

I had assumed that mediainit did all the formatting necessary for
these drives.  Now, my guess is that HP does some low level format
before the drive leaves the factory and that mediainit does a higher
level format.  Is this the case or is there something that I should be
able to do at home to resuscitate this drive?

Thanks,
Scott Alexander
salex@cis.upenn.edu
215 898 5617

prouty@hpdml93.HP.COM (Dave Prouty) (11/30/89)

> I had assumed that mediainit did all the formatting necessary for
> these drives.  Now, my guess is that HP does some low level format
> before the drive leaves the factory and that mediainit does a higher
> level format.  Is this the case or is there something that I should be
> able to do at home to resuscitate this drive?
> 

We do a low level format in the factory that establishes factory spares,
and creates a maintenance track for error information.  Without this
operation the drive will fail self test.  I'll contact you via e-mail to
see if we can help.

--
Reguards,

Dave Prouty