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Conference noted::ibmpc-95

Title:	IBM PCs, clones, DOS, etc.
Notice:	Intro in 1-11, Windows stuff in NOTED::MSWINDOWS please
Moderator:	TARKIN::LINND

Created:	Mon Jan 02 1995
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3023
Total number of notes:	28404

2991.0. "rx26 compatibility" by TOSSUB::CONDO () Wed Apr 16 1997 07:26

	Hello, 
		We have a problem with a floppy disk model rx26-aa.
		The customer has three personal computer (PC1, PC2 and PC3)
		VENTURIS model 433sx (vers. 1.02) with bios version 4.04.
		Each personal has two floppy disk installed.
		We have verified that there are many compatibility
		problems about data written by the floppies.
		Data written by the floppies in PC1 are unreadable
		from the floppies in PC2 and PC3.
		Data written by the floppies in PC2 are unreadable
		from  the floppies in PC1 and PC3..... 
		.....And so on...
		Sometime we have problem from floppies on the same pc.

		The floppy disk drives are all manufactured by the 
		Mitsubishi (model MF356F-258MD), but with different
		version of hardware:

		      DEC REV.			MITSUBISHI REV.

		1) RX26-AA REV. B02        DATE: FEB95  DEL.REV. A1
		2) RX26-AA REV. B01	   DATE: DEC94  DEL.REV. B
		3) RX26-AA REV. B02	   DATE: JUL96  DEL.REV. A1


		We have tried to install six floppies with the same
		revison, but the problem is still present.
		The customer application uses the floppies to transport
		the data from one pc to others and cannot uses the network.

		Any ideas????
		Thanks in advanced......  Luca

		Crossed in storage_arch.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2991.1		SUBSYS::VIDIOT::PATENAUDE	Ask your boss for ARRAY's...	`Thu Apr 17 1997 13:01`	8
	Luca, I checked, the RX26 IS the 2.88 floppy. Does the Venturis support this floppy???? I thought it supported the RX23L and/or the FR-xxxxx equivalent of the RX23L. If it does not support or ship with that drive, then my response in SSAG stands. Roger.
2991.2		TOSSUB::CONDO		`Fri Apr 18 1997 09:50`	8
	Roger, I can set the drive type (2.88Mb, 3.5 1/2") from the Venturis PhoenixBios setup and in Tima-stars I looked for the part number of the floppy. Regards. Luca
2991.3	2.88MB drives are not supported	PCBUOA::LIBKIND	Sam Libkind - PC Support Engineering 276-9465	`Fri Apr 18 1997 10:47`	5
	Luca, The 2.88MB drives are not supported on Venturis 5xxx systems. Sam.
2991.4		ALFSS2::MITCHAM_A	Andy in Alpharetta (near Atlanta)	`Fri Apr 18 1997 11:21`	5
	The RX26-AA 2.88mb FDD is listed in the SRS (Service Reference Sheet) for the Venturis 433sx (ALTA) product. Reference note 6454.1 in the DECSTATION notes conference. -Andy
2991.5	'tain't worth the trouble	SUBSYS::VIDIOT::PATENAUDE	Ask your boss for ARRAY's...	`Fri Apr 18 1997 12:12`	12
	Just because BIOS supports it does not mean the FD chip supports it ;^) at LOT of BIOS's have 2.88 in them and the only systems Digital shipped that I KNOW supported them correctly were the 4xxMTE class of system. Even so, "ED" (2.88) media is about a year out of production, the drives you have are also 1 to 2.5 years old, and the time you expended, trash them, spend the $50 (you probably have already spent 10X as much in labor) and replace them with a newer better reliable drive, set the BIOS to 1.44 and sleep at night. ;^) roger.
2991.6		TOSSUB::CONDO		`Fri Apr 18 1997 13:19`	6
	Roger,thanks for your sincerity.... give me one more input..do you mean that we have newer 2.88 floppy disks available today or you mean that we should change the type of media?? Regards ..Luca
2991.7		SUBSYS::VIDIOT::PATENAUDE	Ask your boss for ARRAY's...	`Fri Apr 18 1997 14:07`	11
	Nope. 3M was the last remaining (and pretty much the only) manufacturer of "ED" media. The 2.88 floppy and media were dropped due to lack of consumer demand over a year ago by most everybody. You may find a box of RX26 media laying around here or there, but is is scarce and as you see problematic. I use a prototype RX26 at home in my home system and I can read any 1.44 disk, I can write and read my own 1.44 disks, but I can't write at home and bring anything to other systems as it will not work (I have 2.88 bios support but non-2.88 controller). roger.
2991.8		TOSSUB::CONDO		`Mon Apr 21 1997 04:49`	13
	Roger,thanks again.. I don't want to be misanderstood but I need to know if today is available a new drive 2.88 Mb in order to avercome actual compatibility problems or if we must change the kind of drive for our application. And what about ECSO escalation of the call?? Thanks. Luca will help us?
2991.9		TARKIN::LIN	Bill Lin	`Mon Apr 21 1997 19:59`	6
	re: .8 by TOSSUB::CONDO We don't support the 2.88MB floppy drive on the platform. Your best bet is to downgrade to a supported 1.44MB configuration. Bill
2991.10		SUBSYS::VIDIOT::PATENAUDE	Ask your boss for ARRAY's...	`Tue Apr 22 1997 11:47`	13
	Luca, Run the 1.44 drive. There is NO new 2.88 drives the RX26 was the one and only drive Digital ever bought at 2.88. If you log an ESCO, against the RX26 you will get ME, and I will just reiterate what has already been disscussed in .5 and .7 If you log an ESCO, against the PC you will get to Bill Lin and CO. in AKO and they will reiterate .9 and maybe forward the RX26 part of the case to me (see above ;^) roger.
2991.11		TARKIN::LIN	Bill Lin	`Tue Apr 22 1997 11:55`	7
	re: .10 by SUBSYS::VIDIOT::PATENAUDE >> If you log an ESCO, against the PC you will get to Bill Lin and CO. >> in AKO Nah, I don't do PC support any more. ;-) You'll just get the "and company" part. ;-)
2991.12		LEFTY::CWILLIAMS	CD or not CD, that's the question	`Tue Apr 22 1997 12:29`	3
	Lucky you, Bill.....