#: 195623 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    06-Jan-92  22:45:11
Sb: #How to format IDE ?
Fm: Robert Walker 70167,543
To: all
   
My experience is limited so far to MFM and RLL drives. Just put in my first
IDE system together, and thus: how does one initialize an IDE drive? Can I use
non-IDE utilities, such as WDFMT, which works great for MFM drives?
   
Also, does anyone know of memory diagnostic utilities for 286 machines?
   
Thanks!   R.
   
   
   
   
There are 2 Replies.
 
#: 195779 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    07-Jan-92  08:36:13
Sb: #195623-How to format IDE ?
Fm: Ray Tackett 76416,276
To: Robert Walker 70167,543 (X)
   
Robert,
   
>>>>how does on initialize an IDE drive?
   
YOU DON'T!  If you try, you can foul up the sector translation and defect
maps.
   
Just run FDISK to partition the drive and use the DOS format command to set up
an empty DOS directory.
   
Ray
   
* RR 195623+
 
#: 195782 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    07-Jan-92  08:51:47
Sb: #195623-#How to format IDE ?
Fm: Keith Uddenberg 70735,1530
To: Robert Walker 70167,543 (X)
   
>>How does one initialize an IDE drive?
   
One doesn't.  The low level format is done once, at the factory, and can't be
redone by the user.  You just pick a likely drive type or (with newer BIOSes)
use the Type 47 or 48 (user-defined) drive type and enter the suggested drive
specs from the data sheet.  Then you proceed to FDISK and FORMAT.  It's pretty
easy.
   
Memory diagnostic? try Check-it or AMIDIAG.
   
Keith
   
   
 
#: *195983 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    07-Jan-92  22:13:56
Sb: #195782-#How to format IDE ?
Fm: John Bishop 71131,212
To: Keith Uddenberg 70735,1530 (X)
   
DEAR KEITH I HAVE JUST LOADED A NEW IDE DRIVE in the 386-25 meg Gateway at
work. I ran fdisk and tried what i thought were the right things and the 1239A
Seagate drive showed 1 large partion.  I then ran Format and I got the dreaded
"invalid track 0 - disk bad" message but after a few secs the dos FORMAT Dos
4.01 program formatted and then copied files into a dos subdirectory.  BUT it
wouldn't boot and a dir of the root directory spewed out many strange
characters when given a DIR command. format the drive agin and couldn't since
I couldn't type in the volume label.  I tried partitioning again and could set
up a logical drive of about 168 Mb (with a c: drive of 33 Mb).  But it too had
a strange vol label and couldn't be subsequently altered.  I then ran label to
change the vol label and it failed to rename the label.  I then called seagate
and got very little help.  I then called the company that sold it too us and
he said to try (after hearing of my label problems) to run Ontrack's
diskmanager. I did and he advised to run it a short time and then quit. That
should erase the boot record or something...I worried about the drive but did
it anyway.  It is one sick drive, and so I don't know what todo. The low level
format PARTial as he recommended only did a few cylinders but has not cured
the problem.  SO do I have an expensive paperweight or is there anything that
can be done. What did I not do in fdisk? Could I not have actually made a
partition active so that DOS would be loaded OK?  Can there be a solution
other than repair and if repair how much do seagate company service centers
charge? HELP anyone! John Bishop Thanks for reading this, and suggesting other
threads or whatever you might know of...
   
There is 1 Reply.
 
#: 196053 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    08-Jan-92  00:33:45
Sb: #195782-#How to format IDE ?
Fm: BRIAN L GATZA 70661,2521
To: Keith Uddenberg 70735,1530 (X)
   
It is possible to low level format a Conners drive. A company called Magnetic
Engineering Corp which develops test equipment and other types of engineering
support for the disk drive repair industry has developed a piece of equipment
(hardware and software) which attaches between a computers serial port and the
utility port on a Conner drive.
   
This equipment is designed to low level format all Conner drives and perform
over 40 different tests. These tests detect all defective and marginal
sectors, adds them to the bad track table and then low level formats the
defects out.  Most drive repair companies are now using Mag Eng equipment for
Conners.
   
It can be purchased from TCE Company (800-383-8001) for $175.
   

 
#: 196078 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    08-Jan-92  02:13:19
Sb: #195782-How to format IDE ?
Fm: john marc 73367,465
To: Keith Uddenberg 70735,1530 (X)
   
>>Can't be redone by the user
   
Unless it is a Maxtor!
 
#: 196079 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    08-Jan-92  02:13:26
Sb: #195983-How to format IDE ?
Fm: john marc 73367,465
To: John Bishop 71131,212
   
Seagate is notorious for accepting some HD BIOS data but not working.  If you
get 'no boot', or 'invalid command ' or 'missing operating system' or
whatever, it is either the wrong BIOS setup or you have 2 different IDE drives
arguing.  Your partial format probably blew the drive, if not now, it'll flake
out in a month or so.  Conner and Maxtor won't let you low-level, but I
believe Seagate has no such safety feature.  They'll screw you a couple
hundred to redo it, but don't despair, maybe they have changed!
 
#: 196106 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    08-Jan-92  05:14:03
Sb: #196053-How to format IDE ?
Fm: Keith Uddenberg 70735,1530
To: BRIAN L GATZA 70661,2521
   
Thanks for that info, Brian, I'll keep it on file.    KU
 
#: 195774 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    07-Jan-92  07:58:58
Sb: #Low-Level Formatting
Fm: Wayne Cannon 72330,177
To: Keith Uddenberg 70735,1530 (X)
   
You CAN low-level format some sector-translation drives, and they can be
damaged.  I don't know why they don't lock it out, but some don't.
   

 
#: *196107 S1/Disk/Disk Utils [H]
    08-Jan-92  05:14:05
Sb: #195774-Low-Level Formatting
Fm: Keith Uddenberg 70735,1530
To: Wayne Cannon 72330,177
   
Yeh, I know that can happen, Wayne. You point is taken.  I was using the word
"can't" to mean "shouldn't", and that wasn't clear, I guess.  KU