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From: ted@polyof.poly.edu (Theodore S. Kapela, staff)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.periphs
Subject: Problem getting floppy drive to work with DTC 3280A SCSI card
Message-ID: <1990Oct17.165757.4274@polyof.poly.edu>
Date: 17 Oct 90 16:57:57 GMT
Organization: Polytechnic University
Lines: 38

I have a Data Technology Corporation 3280A SCSI host adapter w/floppy
controller.  I have been trying to use it with my 5 1/4" and 3 1/2"
drives (both high density).  When I first boot the machine and try to
read a floppy, everything seems OK.  BUT, when I change the floppy and
try to do a dir or chkdsk,  The drive does not really read the floppy.
I turns the drive and access light on, but does not appear to read
anything.  I get the same info (eg: directory listing) that I just had
for the floppy that was in the drive last.  ALSO, I can not swith to
another density media after first reading a disk.  If I read a high 
density disk, that is all I can use the drive for.  If I read a 
standard (double) density disk, that is all I can read afterwards.
  
If I try to format a disk, though, I can format either density just
fine at any time.  I can then only read that density afterwards.
   
I tried using DOS's driver.sys to make another "virtual" drive.
I used a: for the high density 5 1/4" drive and e: for the double
density 5 1/4" drive.  They are both physically the same drive, 
but I told DOS that their parameters are different.  Format recognizes
the parameters and formats the disk appropriate for the drive, but the
rest of DOS doesn't care.  I can read either density in either drive, 
but then I have the same problem as above, only for both drives (if I
read a 1.2M disk in a:, that is all I can read in i: also.)
    
The problem does not pertain strictly to DOS.  It happens in applications
also (possibly because they use DOS calls for disk access).
     
The drives worked fine with another controller.  I had no problems 
then.
      
If anybody else has had this problem or has any clue how to remedy the
situation, I would greatly appreciate a reply.
       
-- 
...............................................................................
    Theodore S. Kapela			(516) 755-4299 [Voice, Days]
    ted@polyof.poly.edu			(516) 473-7746 [FAX]
	   "Another brilliant mind corrupted by education"