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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

5080.0. "HDprep on Seagate 325N problem." by WOTVAX::HATTOS (I think, Therefore I'm paid less) Fri Sep 27 1991 11:31

    I have a dilemma!!!
    
    I have an A590 with a Seagate 325n 20 Meg scsi drive. I was having a
    play today at getting geometry information from it. (just practising as
    I am going to put an RZ23 on soon). I have the HDprep software from
    Commodore on my A590, (came installed), and also on a floppy which came
    with the A590.
    
    When I use the prep software off the A590 and get it to retrieve the
    disk information it comes back with 2 heads, 654 cylinders. When I use
    the version on the floppy it comes back with 1 head 1308 cylinders.
    
    Also the park cylinder is seen as 654 for the first instance and 1308
    for the second!
    
    The version on the floppy says it is V1.1 whereas the version on the
    Hard disk doesn't say anything.
    
    Which version should I trust. I am inclined toward 2 heads, 654
    cylinders. 
    
    This also begs the question why am I getting two different results for
    what should be the same SCSI command.
    
    
    Thanx in advance,
    
    Stuart
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5080.1LOSPED::MCGHIEThank Heaven for small Murphys !Sat Sep 28 1991 02:229
    Just a guess, but if one version of the software says nothing about the
    version it's probably 1.0.
    
    I may be wrong of course.
    
    You could try type filename opt h to see if there is any version
    details in the first few bytes of the executables.
    
    Mike
5080.22*654 = 1*1308CRISTA::CAPRICCIOGarth, take your Ritalin...Sat Sep 28 1991 02:3627
�    When I use the prep software off the A590 and get it to retrieve the
�    disk information it comes back with 2 heads, 654 cylinders. When I use
�    the version on the floppy it comes back with 1 head 1308 cylinders.

    According to what I've read elsewhere in this conference, the actual
    breakdown of heads, cylinders, etc., is not important for a SCSI drive;
    that is, providing it all "adds up": 2*654 = 1*1308. 
    
�    Also the park cylinder is seen as 654 for the first instance and 1308
�    for the second!

    I think most modern drives handle parking automatically on power-down,
    so it shouldn't be a problem. I beleive the value for the park cylinder
    defaults to the outer-most cylinder and should only matter for older
    drives that don't automatically park the heads. Then, for the latter,
    you can specify the "landing zone" which the "Park" utility would use.
    
�    The version on the floppy says it is V1.1 whereas the version on the
�    Hard disk doesn't say anything.

    Can't help you on that one, but I'd compare the dates of the two
    executables. One of the many here wiser than I probably knows, but if
    not you could ask your dealer (or CBM directly).

    Hope this helps,

    Pete
5080.3Thanks...WOTVAX::HATTOSI think, Therefore I'm paid lessSat Sep 28 1991 13:537
    Ta, every one.
    
    I will go with the HD version... trying the RZ23 in a few minutes!!
    
    Expect a new note!!!
    
    Stuart