18 Feb
1999
18 Feb
'99
4:09 p.m.
At 11:03 PM 2/18/99 +0000, you wrote:
No, I'm not sure. I'm just using the initialize command in HP BASIC and
the format command in HP CPM. That's the only "tools" they give you. I
have no idea how to do a low level format on these.
Jeff,
I tried a ST-251-1 but it wouldn't work. Here's the story:
I picked up a HP 9133XV drive with a bad drive in it. The XV is the one
that you can partion into 4 so that it looks like 4 HP 9895 floppy drives
to the system. It's the only hard drive that can be used on the HP 85, 150
and some of the others. This one has a Seagate ST-419 drive in. I replaced
it with a Seagate ST-251 that has the same number of heads but more tracks
and is smaller and faster. The system recognizes if but it won't format it.
Are you sure you're really doing a low-level format?
It's possible the controller (in the 9133) is expecting to see a drive
with the correct sector pattern - the low-level format - already in
place. When it doesn't see it, it complains.
That's what I'm wondering too. FWIW I did replace a Seagate ST-225 in
another drive with a drive from a PC and it worked fine after initializing.
I don't know if the 9133 (as supplied) is capable of low-level
formatting. On some other controllers (not HP, nothing to do with the
HP150), this was done by setting the DIP switches correctly and turning
on. Alternatively, you might need a special ROM set for the controller
board, or even a special manufacturing rig.
That's what I thought but maybe HP has some special sector markers on one
of the platters.
It says that the drives are bad. I'd like to
get it running again since the
XV drives are hard to find.
The 251 does have fewer sectors (17 vs 32). I don't know if that's why
it failed or not.
The 251 is (AFAIK) soft-sectored. The 17 sectors is something that's
specified when you low-level format it.
If it is the case that you're not doing a low-level format, then not only
do you need an ST419, but also an ST419 that's been formatted on this
type of controller
Yes, the only way to find out is to get a 419 and try it.
Joe
-tony