[comp.sys.dec] Dead MicroVAX disk

barrett@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Dan Barrett) (05/03/90)

	Our MicroVAX II's disk is having problems.  First, it refused
to boot because of errors in the superblock.  So, I loaded the Ultrix
boot tape and overwrote the root partition, and then attempted to reboot.

	The machine booted fine, but could not mount /dev/ra0g on /usr.
It kept saying:

	$ mount /dev/ra0g /usr
	/dev/ra0g on /usr:  Illegal argument

or something like that.

	Anyway, I suspect the disk is hosed.  What kind of replacement
disk can I use?  I assume non-DEC is a cheaper solution.

	Thanks for any advice.

                                                        Dan

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chris@sharra.usc.edu (Christopher Ho) (05/04/90)

In article <5144@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU>, barrett@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Dan Barrett) writes...
>	Our MicroVAX II's disk is having problems.  First, it refused
>to boot because of errors in the superblock.  So, I loaded the Ultrix
[...]
>	Anyway, I suspect the disk is hosed.  What kind of replacement
>disk can I use?  I assume non-DEC is a cheaper solution.

I assume you're talking about an RD53 or RD54 on an RQDX3 controller.  These can
often be helped by a reformat (which also maps out bad areas).  If you have any
VAXstation 2000s handy, the disk can be plugged into that machine and
formatted; otherwise you would need DEC's diagnostics.  The RQDX2 controller
uses different formatting.

The RD53 is a Micropolis 1325 or 1335 with a jumper shorting R7 on the PC
board.  The RD54 is an unmodified Maxtor XT-2190.  I'm not sure how you'd
format these if you buy from a non-DEC oriented supplier.

Chris