RFM@psuvm.psu.edu (07/06/90)
I have a Zenith Z-159 (XT-Level) with a Seagate ST251-1 40-meg drive. I'm thinking about putting an RLL controller in my machine to get some more space on my disk, but I have a nagging thought that Zenith machines won't work with RLL. Anybody know anything about this? Thanks. Bob M., PSU- Harrisburg.
bobmon@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (RAMontante) (07/06/90)
My z-158 is running one of the earliest Adaptec RLL controllers quite happily. This controller, and probably others, are not recognized properly by the monitor ROM, so that no matter how I reboot --- straight reboot or ROM-monitor command --- the machine always tries to go the floppy drive before using the hard disk. Since I never store floppies in the floppy drive, this merely slows down the boot by a second or three (out of 60 or so to get all the EMS, TSR, and other goodies loaded up). The z-159 ROM is surely newer than mine, and may do a better job of identifying non-Zenith controllers, but it really isn't a problem anyway. I would expect an RLL controller to work fine.
billmac@image.soe.clarkson.edu (Bill Mackinnon) (07/09/90)
From article <90186.174616RFM@psuvm.psu.edu>, by RFM@psuvm.psu.edu: > I have a Zenith Z-159 (XT-Level) with a Seagate ST251-1 40-meg drive. > I'm thinking about putting an RLL controller in my machine to get some more > space on my disk, but I have a nagging thought that Zenith machines won't > work with RLL. Anybody know anything about this? Thanks. Bob M., PSU- > Harrisburg. The RLL controllers should work in your machine. You might need a ROM upgrade. Do not , however, try to format your st251 with an RLL controller. RLL controllers should be used with RLL drives only. You are just looking for trouble if you use MFM drives with RLL controllers. Bill MacKinnon