3 Feb
2008
3 Feb
'08
10:16 a.m.
When I am using debug to format a HD on an unknown controller, I'll do an
unassemble at C800:5 and C800:6. The correct address will have a jmp
instruction.
Besides the HD formatting program on the utilities disk, going *way* back, I
think Western Digital put out a formatting program WDFMT (?) that would allow
the formatting of MFM HDs. I think there also might have been some PD/shareware
programs to do the same thing. Assuming the Simtel archives are still around, I
would expect to be able to find these programs there.
From: Roger Pugh <rogpugh at mac.com>
does anyone know the correct incantation to low level format an MFM
drive, a rodime 351, driven by a Compaq controller board.
I,ve tried with debug G=C800:5 to no avail. there is no format program
there!.
3 Feb
3 Feb
10:37 a.m.
> does anyone know the correct incantation to low
level format an MFM
> drive, a rodime 351, driven by a Compaq controller board.
>
> I,ve tried with debug G=C800:5 to no avail. there is no format program
> there!.
The Adaptec 2070A controller used G=C800:CCC and it is an 8 bit HD
controller of that vintage.
I have had several of the Compaq II Pluss in the past and ISTR that
the Format SW is on the Diagnostic disk, but it has been too many
years to be sure.
My CSC book says the Rodime 351 is a 5 meg 3 1/2" drive, 306 Cyl, 2
heads, 17 sectors, 85ms, MFM.
--
Paxton Hoag
Astoria, OR
USA
4 Feb
4 Feb
10:31 p.m.
On Sunday 03 February 2008 13:37, Paxton Hoag wrote:
One Compaq we have around here, while somewhat later (I think it's a P60 or
somesuch) had a separate diagnostic partition on the original 500M drive. In
trying to stuff another drive in there I was able to download all sorts of
stuff from their web site, which may or may not be possible with something
as old as what's being talked about here, but it's something that might be
worth a shot...
They did seem rather fond of that sort of thing, and a utility rather than
the more common debug route wouldn't surprise me in the least, particularly
if they've got their own ROM in the controller.
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin
> does
anyone know the correct incantation to low level format an MFM
> drive, a rodime 351, driven by a Compaq controller board.
>
> I,ve tried with debug G=C800:5 to no avail. there is no format program
> there!.
The Adaptec 2070A controller used G=C800:CCC and it is an 8 bit HD
controller of that vintage.
I have had several of the Compaq II Pluss in the past and ISTR that
the Format SW is on the Diagnostic disk, but it has been too many
years to be sure. 
3 Feb
3 Feb
10:51 a.m.
Besides the HD formatting program on the utilities
disk, going *way*
back, I
think Western Digital put out a formatting program WDFMT (?) that
would allow
the formatting of MFM HDs. I think there also might have been some
PD/shareware
programs to do the same thing. Assuming the Simtel archives are still
around, I
would expect to be able to find these programs there.
I thought wdfmt.exe was just for AT computers but will try it!
roger
11:21 a.m.
Another thing to try is a BIOS call. On the XT class controllers there
is a BIOS interrupt to do a low-level format. According to my Phoenix
BIOS ref, it is Int 13h, function 7. Parameters are:
AH = 07h
AL = Interleave
CH = Start Cylinder
DL = Drive number (80h or 81h)
Outputs are:
AH = 07h if bad drive number in DL
= 00h no error
= xxh More error codes .. see table
CF = 0 No error
= 1 Error (see AH)
Mike
Marvin Johnston wrote:
When I am using debug to format a HD on an unknown
controller, I'll do an
unassemble at C800:5 and C800:6. The correct address will have a jmp
instruction.
Besides the HD formatting program on the utilities disk, going *way* back, I
think Western Digital put out a formatting program WDFMT (?) that would allow
the formatting of MFM HDs. I think there also might have been some PD/shareware
programs to do the same thing. Assuming the Simtel archives are still around, I
would expect to be able to find these programs there.
From: Roger Pugh <rogpugh at mac.com>
does anyone know the correct incantation to low level format an MFM
drive, a rodime 351, driven by a Compaq controller board.
I,ve tried with debug G=C800:5 to no avail. there is no format program
there!.
8:54 p.m.
Disassemble at C800:0CCC and look for a jmp instruction.
-T
At 10:16 AM 2/3/2008 -0800, you wrote:
When I am using debug to format a HD on an unknown
controller, I'll do an
unassemble at C800:5 and C800:6. The correct address will have a jmp
instruction.
Besides the HD formatting program on the utilities disk, going *way* back, I
think Western Digital put out a formatting program WDFMT (?) that would allow
the formatting of MFM HDs. I think there also might have been some
PD/shareware
programs to do the same thing. Assuming the Simtel archives are still
around, I
would expect to be able to find these programs there.
> From: Roger Pugh <rogpugh at mac.com>
>
> does anyone know the correct incantation to low level format an MFM
> drive, a rodime 351, driven by a Compaq controller board.
>
> I,ve tried with debug G=C800:5 to no avail. there is no format program
> there!.
-----
222. [Philosophy] "An assertion is Zen only when it is itself an act and does
not refer to anything that is asserted in it." --(from Bruce Lee's book,
The Tao of Jeet Kune Do)
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innfoclassics＠gmail.com -
marvin＠west.net -
mbbrutman-cctalk＠brutman.com -
rogpugh＠mac.com -
rtellason＠verizon.net -
tpeters＠mixcom.com