karlh@ico.ISC.COM (Karl Hanzel) (02/14/89)
I'm having some problems configuring a new disk into my Intel 286/310 system running xenix 3.5. The new disk is a Miniscribe 3053: 42.5 Mb, 25 milli second, 1024 cyl, 512 byte/sect, 17 sect/trk, 5 head. I've been trying to configure it into the disk driver using the utility supplied with xenix (icp calling cfgi215). It seems to *almost* ask all of the right questions and do the job, except that it does not prompt for a bytes/sector figure, rather it is hard coded as 1024. When I try to format the new disk using the new driver built into a new kernal, it chokes (the cpu (as indicated by the non-flickering green LED on the front panel) is idle, and the controller (as indicated by the flickering red LED on the floppy drive (?)) goes into a spasm). Before this happens, it hard errors several times claiming "illegal sector size" (!) and requests that I enter bad track data (already loaded onto disk by using the diagnostic utilities (which by the way, checkout & run the new disk just fine)). Is there some sort of fundimental incompatability with xenix and a sector size of 512 bytes?... I modified the utility script to prompt for it, and of course specify 512. Other supported disks all seem to be 1024 byte/sect, and also, none are 17 sect/trk, however my friend who knows about disks claims that this Miniscribe is a very common sort by todays standards. Has anyone ever reliably configured in a totally new kind of drive using the utility program? Does it do a complete & thorough job, or do I need to do something more? I'm I being stupid and overlooking something obvious? Can I tweek xenix somewhere so that 512 is a "legitimate" sector size (or should it already be?)? For kicks, I installed a (supported) Quantum drive, and it formated without a hitch. Any and all clues appreciated! pax, Karl *----->
karlh@ico.ISC.COM (Karl Hanzel) (02/14/89)
[ please excuse if this is a second post to this group... it didn't appear the first time posting to "comp.sys.intel comp.unix.xenix" ] I'm having some problems configuring a new disk into my Intel 286/310 system running xenix 3.5. The new disk is a Miniscribe 3053: 42.5 Mb, 25 milli second, 1024 cyl, 512 byte/sect, 17 sect/trk, 5 head. I've been trying to configure it into the disk driver using the utility supplied with xenix (icp calling cfgi215). It seems to *almost* ask all of the right questions and do the job, except that it does not prompt for a bytes/sector figure, rather it is hard coded as 1024. When I try to format the new disk using the new driver built into a new kernal, it chokes (the cpu (as indicated by the non-flickering green LED on the front panel) is idle, and the controller (as indicated by the flickering red LED on the floppy drive (?)) goes into a spasm). Before this happens, it hard errors several times claiming "illegal sector size" (!) and requests that I enter bad track data (already loaded onto disk by using the diagnostic utilities (which by the way, checkout & run the new disk just fine)). Is there some sort of fundimental incompatability with xenix and a sector size of 512 bytes?... I modified the utility script to prompt for it, and of course specify 512. Other supported disks all seem to be 1024 byte/sect, and also, none are 17 sect/trk, however my friend who knows about disks claims that this Miniscribe is a very common sort by todays standards. Has anyone ever reliably configured in a totally new kind of drive using the utility program? Does it do a complete & thorough job, or do I need to do something more? I'm I being stupid and overlooking something obvious? Can I tweek xenix somewhere so that 512 is a "legitimate" sector size (or should it already be?)? For kicks, I installed a (supported) Quantum drive, and it formated without a hitch. Any and all clues appreciated! pax, Karl *----->