[comp.sys.next] floppy disk initialization problems

streib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Allan Streib) (04/16/91)

Whenever I attempt to initialize a floppy disk, either from the
Workspace or from the command level, it fails.  Here is an example:

localhost# disk -i /dev/rfd0a
Formatting disk /dev/rfd0a: 
    blocksize   = 0x200
    density     = 720 KBytes
    gap3 length = 84(d)
........................................................
...read : rawio.status = 8(d)
Sony MPX-111N 1440: unknown disk name

In the /usr/adm/messages log, I find:

Apr 16 02:49:59 localhost mach: fd: DISK UNFORMATTED
Apr 16 02:51:19 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RETRY
Apr 16 02:51:19 localhost last message repeated 2 times
Apr 16 02:51:19 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RECALIBRATE
Apr 16 02:51:21 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RETRY
Apr 16 02:51:21 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RETRY
Apr 16 02:51:21 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RECALIBRATE
Apr 16 02:51:22 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RETRY
Apr 16 02:51:22 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RETRY
Apr 16 02:51:22 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RECALIBRATE
Apr 16 02:51:22 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RETRY
Apr 16 02:51:22 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: RETRY
Apr 16 02:51:23 localhost mach: fd0: Sector 1025(d) cmd = Read; Data
CRC Error: FATAL

This happens with every disk I try.  Any suggestions?  I would suspect
bad disks, but I got similar results on ten different disks, and they
were 'name brand' disks: TDK, BASF, and Toshiba (the new 2.88 that
came with my station :-( )

-Allan

streib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Allan Streib) (04/17/91)

In article <1991Apr16.083032.22987@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu> streib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Allan Streib) writes:
>Whenever I attempt to initialize a floppy disk, either from the
>Workspace or from the command level, it fails.  Here is an example:

   [deleted]
>
>This happens with every disk I try.  Any suggestions?  I would suspect
>bad disks, but I got similar results on ten different disks, and they

Well, believe it or not, I had ten bad diskettes!  I went out today
and bought some 3M disks, and they worked like a charm.  BTW I have
*never* had a bad disk from 3M, which is something I cannot say about
any other major diskette brand.

I think the NeXT could be more robust in this area.  My old PC could
format a disk with bad sectors; it just didn't use them.  Seems that
the NeXT must have a perfect floppy or it'll puke it back out.

-Allan