ts@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Takahiro Sajima) (02/26/91)
A while back, I posted a request for information about low-level
formatting an IDE disk drive. Since I got almost no response, I assume
that this information is not widely known. So I'm posting this in the
hopes that it would be useful.
Configuration:
80386-25 machine with 4MB RAM, and AMI BIOS dated 4/89.
Conner CP-3044 IDE disk drive about one year old.
etc. etc.
Initial problem: during disk access, all data transfer halts. Drive
light remains on for about five to ten seconds. It then mysteriously
recovers, and life goes on. This happened at random intervals, but
often enough to be annoying. I predicted that it was having seek errors
due to aging (head drift, etc.).
Initial fear: There's a big warning sticker on the drive saying "DO NOT
low level format this drive."
First course of action: called Conner technical support at
(408)954-3200. Frankly, I was disappointed, but maybe I was just
unlucky. I fogot to get the man's name though (Dang!).
Me: [described the problem above]
Him: "What's the bus speed?"
Me: "I think it's 8 Mhz"
Him: "But you're not sure? Well, I think that the bus is going
a lot faster than that, and is too fast."
Me: "but as I said, the drive is not new, and the problem IS new."
Him: "Oh, then you have to ship it back to us for [something
something] analysis."
Me: "Well, I was hoping that a low-level formatting would clear
up the problem, and ..."
Him: "Well, if you have a Disk Manager then you can do it."
Me: "Any disk manager? I know that there's a special version
for old Seagate type drives."
Him: "No, not ANY disk manager."
Me: "Should there be a special version of Disk Manager for
Conner disks?
Him: "Oh, I don't know, we're not a software company."
Me: "Thanks" etc.
In short, I gave out all the hints, and the guy didn't (maybe can't)
give me any new useful information.
Next action: backed up my disk, and tried using the format routine in my
AMI BIOS Diagnostics. Lo and behold! It worked! Partition using
FDISK, no problem. High level format, a breeze. Restore, also a
breeze. And in the past two hours of my using the disk, the problem
hasn't occured yet (I'll make sure to post again it the problem comes
back within several months).
Well... The moral: I was scared ****less for NOTHING?!
Disclaimer: Above is MY experience, and what others do with their disks
are their business, so whatever happens, DON'T sue me.
* * Double Diamond Club
*** *** "Better Dead than Slow!"
***** ***** Taka Sajima
*** *** Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, NYC. 10027
* * ts@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu