[comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware] Need info: Low level formatting

hklee@milton.u.washington.edu (Hyeon Kyu Lee) (11/22/90)

Hi Netters:

I have an occasional problem with my harddisk, in FAT area.
So I'm thinking about low level formatting. Due to my neglect,
I didn't keep the manual that came with HD. As far as I remember,
it starts with "DEBUG... something"

My hd is Seagate ST-238 RLL and controller is Western Digital
8-bit for XT. 

If you know how to do or have information, please send e-mail to me
or post. Thank you in advance.

H. K. Lee		hklee@milton.u.washington.edu

jih@ox.com (John Hritz) (11/22/90)

	Over the past years a number of Non-Destructive Low Level Formatters
have been marketed.  The most popular are SpinRite, Disk Technician Pro and
the programs associated with the Norton and Mace utilities.  These programs
run a number of tests on each sector of your harddrive moving the data out 
of harms way as they test.  A backup is generally suggested for safeties
sack.  Disk Technician keeps a database of the repairs it does and if there
is a chronic problem with a particular sector, it will mark it bad based
on it's records.
	One important thing to remember whether you use a destructive or
non-destructive utility is to make sure the drive is warm prior to 
beginning your task.  Wait for several hours at least to allow for 
expansion of parts and such.

bobmon@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (RAMontante) (11/22/90)

hklee@milton.u.washington.edu (Hyeon Kyu Lee) <11519@milton.u.washington.edu> :
| I didn't keep the manual that came with HD. As far as I remember,
| it starts with "DEBUG... something"
| 
| My hd is Seagate ST-238 RLL and controller is Western Digital
| 8-bit for XT. 

Many or most controllers include a software ROM that starts at c800 which
performs low-level formatting and testing.  Your manual probably
said something about using DEBUG and doing "G=c800" to start execution.

The starting address may not be exactly c800.  For example, my Adaptec
controller begins with some ASCII text so that the first executable
instruction is actually at c800:0ccc.  You could find the exact starting
point by using "dump" and "disassemble" functions of DEBUG to get past
copyright statements and the like.

Hope this helps.

freewill@nstar.UUCP (Bill Williston) (11/26/90)

hklee@milton.u.washington.edu (Hyeon Kyu Lee) writes:

> Hi Netters:
> 
> I have an occasional problem with my harddisk, in FAT area.
> So I'm thinking about low level formatting. Due to my neglect,
> I didn't keep the manual that came with HD. As far as I remember,
> it starts with "DEBUG... something"
> 
> My hd is Seagate ST-238 RLL and controller is Western Digital
> 8-bit for XT. 
 Try a shareware program called HDPREP. or HDPREP34.  an executable for low 
level formatting.  
> 

hao@esat.kuleuven.ac.be (12/06/90)

In article <F038s1w161w@nstar.UUCP>, freewill@nstar.UUCP (Bill Williston) writes:
> hklee@milton.u.washington.edu (Hyeon Kyu Lee) writes:
> 
>> Hi Netters:
>> 
>> I have an occasional problem with my harddisk, in FAT area.
>> So I'm thinking about low level formatting. Due to my neglect,
>> I didn't keep the manual that came with HD. As far as I remember,
>> it starts with "DEBUG... something"
>> 
>> My hd is Seagate ST-238 RLL and controller is Western Digital
>> 8-bit for XT. 
>  Try a shareware program called HDPREP. or HDPREP34.  an executable for low 
> level formatting.  
>> 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
you can also try: DEBUG
		  g=c800:5
or a program called DM (disk manager)