Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!apple!amdahl!drivax!liberato
From: liberato@drivax.UUCP (Jimmy Liberato)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Compaq disks are non-standard?
Message-ID: <256B8C7E.2AA@drivax.UUCP>
Date: 23 Nov 89 06:21:48 GMT
References: <362@m1.cs.man.ac.uk>
Reply-To: liberato@drivax.UUCP (Jimmy Liberato)
Organization: Digital Research, Inc., Monterey, California
Lines: 26

mario@r3.cs.man.ac.uk writes:

>... the [hard] disk interface on Compaqs is non-standard, and ... I
>must buy Compaq's own drives.  These are *expensive* (over twice the
>price per meg of most PC drives).

>Is this common knowledge?  (if so, why wasn't I told :-).)


Well, it is more like uncommon knowledge.  The kind that hurts. :-)

The way to tell if your controller is Compaq specific is to see if
it has only one cable going to it.  Some of the 286 models did have
standard ST506 type interfaces.  The only other sane upgrade option
is to get a new controller with your drive.  You will still come out 
ahead as far as cost.  Since you have a 386 you might as well spring
for something *really* fast (which is going to entail a new board 
anyway).

I guess this kind of situation sums up the difference between a 
"compatible" and a "clone."

Good Luck!

--
Jimmy Liberato   ...!amdahl!drivax!liberato