[comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc] Info re types of disk drives

lindsay@giaea.gi.oz (lindsay smith) (11/30/90)

Can someone out there in netland help me with a problem concerning hard disks.
The initial problem is I am trying to install Coherent on a 101Mb Toshiba ESDI
hard disk in a 25MHz 386 (Opti motherboard - local Aus clone). The machine has
an AT Bus Controller(? - according to the supplier) driving the hard disk and
two floppies. Coherent does not recognise the disk / controller as an
'AT Controller'. Unfortunately the controller is a 'no-name' job :-(.

My main question is can someone throw some light on this problem? But also can
one of the gurus out there help my understanding of the differences between
ESDI IDE and SCSI disks and their relative controllers. What is their
relationship to stepper and voice coil drives?

Thanks

##############################################################################
Internet : lindsay@giaea.oz.au      #  Lindsay Smith
Phone    : +61 51 220 669           #  Monash University College Gippsland
FAX      : +61 51 222 876           #  Switchback Rd Churchill Vic Aust 3842
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leonard@qiclab.uucp (Leonard Erickson) (12/02/90)

lindsay@giaea.gi.oz (lindsay smith) writes:

<Can someone out there in netland help me with a problem concerning hard disks.
<The initial problem is I am trying to install Coherent on a 101Mb Toshiba ESDI
<hard disk in a 25MHz 386 (Opti motherboard - local Aus clone). The machine has
<an AT Bus Controller(? - according to the supplier) driving the hard disk and
<two floppies. Coherent does not recognise the disk / controller as an
<'AT Controller'. Unfortunately the controller is a 'no-name' job :-(.

"AT Bus Controller" means IDE. 

Coherent probably (like most *sensible* people would) thinks you are telling
it that you have a Western Digital type controller.

<My main question is can someone throw some light on this problem? But also can
<one of the gurus out there help my understanding of the differences between
<ESDI IDE and SCSI disks and their relative controllers. What is their
<relationship to stepper and voice coil drives?

There is no such relation. Stepper and voice determine how the head is
physically moved. ESDI, etc are how the controller talks to the drive.
No relation whatsoever.

-- 
Leonard Erickson			leonard@qiclab.uucp
personal:	CIS: [70465,203]	70465.203@compuserve.com
business:	CIS: [76376,1107]	76376.1107@compuserve.com