[comp.os.misc] Coherent doesn't like Maxtor 3280s

ardai@bass.bu.edu (Michael Ardai) (03/13/91)

Aparantly, Coherent has a problem with Maxtor 3280 (220 Meg) drives.
Right before partitioning, I get the following error:

/etc/fdisk: cannot get "/tmp/dev/sd0x" drive characteristics
/etc/build: command "/etc/fdisk -cb /conf/mboot /tmp/dev/sd0x" failed

It seems that Coherent is unable to get the drive parameter info, and 
thus can't use that drive.  MWC has no idea what is causing this.
According to them, there is no problem with the more reasonable Maxtors
such as the 4380 or the 3 inchers.  My 100 Meg Quantum works fine, so it
isn't the controller.
/mike
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efeustel@prime.com (Ed Feustel) (03/13/91)

The probable reason is not Coherent, but the fact that the 3280 takes so long
to initialize itself.  Its Z8 processor on board produces one of the longest
initializations known!  If there is a way to delay the command which tries
to determine the characteristics for a second or so, my guess would be that it
will work.

Ed Feustel