23 Apr
2002
23 Apr
'02
4:58 p.m.
Under CP/M, IIRC (it's been a while) all you have to do is low-level format
the drive with the sector size the software expects, then write 0xE5 to every
byte on it. That's easy if not quick, and leaves you with a useable disk,
provided you've got the right sector size.
As I said before, I do believe the '580 I once had (2 boxes, of which one was
a tape drive ... I gave it to Will Jennings for the taking) had a quantum
Q-540 in it. That one had 8 heads, which is why I snagged the thing. The
drive didn't work, nowever, nor did a functional CMI-6640.
I didn't try a 225 ...
Have you tried different sector sizes? How about different numbers of sectors
per track?
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Doc" <doc(a)mdrconsult.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 4:31 PM
Subject: Re: Altos 580 and CP/M-MP/M Again.
On Tue, 23 Apr 2002, Richard Erlacher wrote:
possible
What, exactly, do you mean by "partitioning
and making a filesystem?"
Most OS's won't write data to a raw low-level-formatted drive. You
have to define filesystems - partition the drive - and then _make_ the
filesystem - "format" in WinSpeak. I have no idea what's required on
the Altos. That's why I asked.
> Are you sure you've used the correct sector size and number of sectors per
> track? The only Altos 580 I've dealt with had a Quantum 540. It's
that the
firmware won't support a 6-head drive.
I do tend to do my homework. It'll be OK with me if the firmware
doesn't support a 6-head drive, since the ST225 is a 4-head. I found a
couple of references to running that drive on the 580, so I'm pretty
sure it's user error.
Doc