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From: zielke@romeo.cs.duke.edu (David Zielke c/o hsg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Problems with ST4096 and Original IBM-AT controller
Message-ID: <20539@duke.cs.duke.edu>
Date: 28 Jun 90 15:32:01 GMT
Sender: news@duke.cs.duke.edu
Lines: 31


  I have just purchased a Seagate ST4096 hard disk (9head,1023 cyl, MFM)
and have spent a significant amount of time trying to format the disk.  
The Seagate Diag program performs the seek test without a problem but
I cannot get the drive to low level format with either DM from seagate
or the IBM diagnostics disk.  (I even tried formatting to a smaller drive
with no avail).  The error is this: Write Fault.  I have called Seagate
and they checked the position of all of the jumpers on the board (on the
disk) and they check out.  Including the Write Fault jumper.  

  The controller works fine with the Rodime 20meg drive which came with
the system.  I even tried formatting a track to see if there was some
problem and it worked fine.

  Seagate suggests replacing the controller.  Is there a reason for this, 
a simple answer (please not `42').  

  Is the 'Write Fault' line interpreted in the drive or on the controller?  
is it possible to do a minor hardware mod to get this beast to work or will
I have to put out $$ for a new controller?

Thanks for your time and attention!

David Zielke
zielke@cs.duke.edu
zielke@phy.duke.edu

________________________________________________________________________
|  Name:		David M. Zielke					|
|  Internet:		zielke@physics.phy.duke.edu			|
|			zielke@cs.duke.edu				|