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From: terry@spcvxb.spc.edu (Terry Kennedy, Operations Mgr)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: Can RA80 drives be reformatted?
Message-ID: <1990Aug15.223522.466@spcvxb.spc.edu>
Date: 16 Aug 90 02:35:22 GMT
References: <1990Aug15.022455.2356@watmath.waterloo.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: St. Peter's College, US
Lines: 30

In article <1990Aug15.022455.2356@watmath.waterloo.edu>, kcwellsch@watmath.waterloo.edu (Ken Wellsch) writes:
> I've got an RA80 drive circa 1984 that I've run "rabads" on (Ultrix11v3.0) with
> an awful lot of bad blocks, many that could not be fixed.  In fact, it's now
> hung on a block replacement; I suspect the RCT has become currupted. I'd like
> to reformat the darn thing but don't have diagnostics and don't even know if
> the RA series can even be "reformatted" or if one is stuck replacing the HDA.
> What can I do?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

  Well, if you're *sure* that reformatting is needed, you need to find your
diagnostic disk/tape (called XXDP, where XX may be 2 other letters). The for-
matter is ZUED??.

  The formatter warns that it is not to be run as a diagnostic tool, but only
when needed, as per the service manual. Generally the RA's don't need refor-
matting unless something else is wrong. Possibilities include:

  o Media/head damage - the HDA needs replacing
  o Logic board failure - needs replacing
  o Buggy driver for a UDA50 causing incorrect BBR

  Another case is when a drive is broken out of a shadow or volume set on an
HSC - if not properly dismounted from the HSC, a UDA50 will not mount it as
it sees an improper volume status. In such cases, reformatting may be easier
than getting the drive back to the HSC for a proper dismount.

  If you need more help, send mail and I'll see what I can dig up...

	Terry Kennedy		Operations Manager, Academic Computing
	terry@spcvxa.bitnet	St. Peter's College, US
	terry@spcvxa.spc.edu	(201) 915-9381