Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!microsoft!philba
From: philba@microsoft.UUCP (Phil Barrett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: low-level formatting
Keywords: HD, Crash, format
Message-ID: <8210@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: 25 Oct 89 16:08:32 GMT
References: <1989Oct20.032750.9966@ccu.umanitoba.ca> <1228@utkcs2.cs.utk.edu> <4264@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Reply-To: philba@microsoft.UUCP (Phil Barrett)
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA
Lines: 34

In article <4264@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu> unkydave@shumv1.ncsu.edu (David Bank) writes:
>In article <1228@utkcs2.cs.utk.edu> wozniak@utkux1.cs.utk.edu (Bryon Lape) writes:
>>	You need SpinRite.
>
>   Yeah, right. No one was ever able to low-level format their
>hard drive before Spinrite came along.
>
>   Try using DEBUG and enter "g=c800:5" at the "-" prompt. This will
>usually transfer control to the HD controller's on-board BIOS and
>allow you to trigger a low-level format.
> 
>   The above refers to Western Digital and similar controllers in
>PCs and PC/XTs. The PC/ATs require that you use something akin
>to Advanced Diagnostics or even Spinrite or any of the other
>programs that allow you to pay for the privledge of something
>you can do for free if you take the time to read a manual.
>
>    Or you can pay someone like me $40/hr. Take you pick!  :-)


Well, thats half the story.  SOME controllers have the format routine
at c800:5.  My WD1006VSR2 has it at cc00:5.  I believe its different for
adaptecs and the IBM AT controllers don't have any.  Also, in many cases
you need to know the geometry of your drive (sects/track, # of cylinders,
# of heads, write precompensate).  The advantage of spinright is that it
simplifies the problem for people -- they just select their disk drive and
thats that.  Generally, if one buys a drive from a reasonable retailer, it
comes with enough instructions and SW.



phil barrett
the above opinions are mine and do not necessarily
reflect those of my employer.