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LOW LEVEL FORMAT MFM DRIVE PROBLEM

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Douglas

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Dec 19, 2002, 11:54:37 PM12/19/02
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Hello,
I have a Tandy 1000TX with a Western Digital XT-GEN controller and a Seagate
ST-225 MFM drive.
Attempting to set up for the first time.
Debug goes as follows: G=C800:5, current drive is C, enter, current
interleave is 3, enter, dynamic configure?, yes,enter, cylinders 615, heads
4, reduced write cyl 615, write precomp 300, max correctable error burst 11,
step rate select 5, virtual configure? no, press y to format, I now receive
Error---completion code 80.
Where did I go wrong?
Thanks
Douglas


Amardeep S Chana

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Dec 20, 2002, 6:43:14 PM12/20/02
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"Douglas" <dhod...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:LLucne0tHuN...@comcast.com...

XT hard disk controllers use IRQ5 which is not available in the Tandy 1000
line. You must get some documentation on the XT-GEN and see if it is
possible to use an alternate IRQ such as 2 or 7.


Mike Yetsko

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Dec 20, 2002, 11:02:07 PM12/20/02
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"Amardeep S Chana" <asc...@despammed.com> wrote in message
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I thought that by the time 1000TX came along, IRQ5 was enabled...

Douglas

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Dec 21, 2002, 12:48:41 AM12/21/02
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IRQ5 is set with dip switches, and is not my problem, I also have an
original 1000 with a 8088 CPU mainboard with the same controller and drive
running fine.
IRQ5 was never a problem, just had to be switched.
I just don't understand why a lesser machine accepts this configuration and
this one won't, go figure, hmmmm

"Mike Yetsko" <j...@user.com> wrote in message
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Never Mind

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Dec 21, 2002, 3:44:01 PM12/21/02
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"Douglas" <dhod...@comcast.net> wrote:

>IRQ5 is set with dip switches, and is not my problem, I also have an
>original 1000 with a 8088 CPU mainboard with the same controller and drive
>running fine.
>IRQ5 was never a problem, just had to be switched.
>I just don't understand why a lesser machine accepts this configuration and
>this one won't, go figure, hmmmm


That's very odd. Is it hooked up exactly the same way? If so, I would
download HDTST128.ZIP at http://www1.simtel.net/pub/pd/44302.html. We
used this program A LOT on 1000's, especially to test and set the
interleave correctly. See if it recognizes and low level formats the
drive.

Douglas

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Dec 22, 2002, 3:12:13 PM12/22/02
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I did take the suggestion of downloading HDTST128.EXE, running on the TX
drives 0 and 1 drives not installed.
I borrowed the ribbon cables from the working machine to rule out that
possibility, no change, I'm kind of afraid to pull the working controller
and try it, from reading about low level format the controller and drive
must stay together in current format to work correctly.
I admit I'm a novice, but these Tandy's appear to be a bi99tch to install a
hard drive.
Any other suggestion welcome,
Thanks for any help
Douglas

"Never Mind" <a...@b.com> wrote in message
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