[comp.sys.dec] help with low level format Maxtor 1140

gwl@sun.ufnet.ufl.edu (Gerry Lawrence) (09/06/89)

Greetings:


    I have a maxtor 1140 (140mb) hard drive which I've just installed in a
Vaxstation 2000.  The problem is the low level format (via the monitor test
71).  The monitor program asks for the following:

xbnsiz
dbnsiz
lbnsiz
rbnsiz
surpun
cylpun
wrtprc
rctsiz
rctnbr
secitl
stsskw
ctcskw
mediai


For which it wants numerical answers.  I've contacted DEC and they said to
call Maxtor.  I've called maxtor several times, first I got a major
run-around, but finally got them to admit that they "were under a
contractual obligation from DEC, not to divulge this information" (!)  Get
this, it's maxtor's drive but they can't (or won't) tell me for to format it.
Meanwhile DEC sends me to Maxtor, probably knowing full well that I can't get
the info there.  I'm sure some DEC types get big kicks out of this one: "Hey
Jimmy-Bob, there's here some buff-FOON from UF want's to know how 't format a
Maxtor 1140 heh heh, Well, them college boy's is reeeal smart heh heh.

DEC is starting to make IBM look like the Free Software Foundation ;-)  It'll
catch up with them in the end, this is the age of OPEN SYSTEMS guys, but right
now I'm stuck.

For those of you that don't believe about the DEC contract (they could have
been lying to me) here's Maxtor's tech#  (408) 986-0223.  The first guy you
talk to (probobly Roger) will tell  you that "No one here know's what you need
to know". but if you talk to a "product specialist" They'll eventually admit
they _can't_ tell you.  If they do tell you, I'd like to know!


But seriously, any info would be appreciated. Mail to:

Gerry Lawrence           UFNET, University of Florida Network Operations

gwl@sun.ufnet.ufl.edu
gwl%sun.ufnet.ufl.edu@bikini.cis.ufl.edu
UUCP:     ...!gatech!uflorida!sun.ufnet.ufl.edu!gwl
BITNET should try:    gwl@ufl.edu

--
Gerry Lawrence    gwl@sun.ufnet.ufl.edu
UFNET

abstine@image.soe.clarkson.edu (Arthur Stine) (09/06/89)

From article <20826@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>, by gwl@sun.ufnet.ufl.edu (Gerry Lawrence):
> 
> 
> 
> Greetings:
> 
> 
>     I have a maxtor 1140 (140mb) hard drive which I've just installed in a
> Vaxstation 2000.  The problem is the low level format (via the monitor test
> 71).  The monitor program asks for the following:
> 
> xbnsiz
> dbnsiz
> lbnsiz
> rbnsiz
> surpun
> cylpun
> wrtprc
> rctsiz
> rctnbr
> secitl
> stsskw
> ctcskw
> mediai
> 
> 

I had this problem when I tried to format a CDC Wren II. Try calling Total-Tec
@ 201-906-6555. I talked to one of their service reps and he helped me out
so that I could get it working.


-- 
Art Stine
Sr Network Engineer
Clarkson U
ABStine@CLVMS.Clarkson.Edu