Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!ists!yunexus!hydroesm!jtsv16!geac!blister!micasa!jzl From: jzl@micasa.UUCP (Jack Z. Lupic) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Cannot Low Level Format St-4086>94155-86 Imprimis Drive Message-ID: <624RR1w163w@micasa.UUCP> Date: 29 Oct 90 01:16:28 GMT References: Organization: MSDOS Gateway to Usenet/Internet Lines: 54 jc58+@andrew.cmu.edu (Johnny J. Chin) writes: > First of all, where did this Imprimis Drive come from? > [ NOTE: Imprimis, was original a division of CDC; later bought by Seagate. > Therefore, the 94155-86 is *NOT* equivalent to a Seagate drive. > Seagate just renamed the drive when they acquired Imprimis.] > > > Error code 80 -- which is in hex -- usually means that the drive is either no > found, not ready, or the drive controller (on the drive) is faulty. > Incorrect drive selects can cause drive controller faults. > > Since it is obvious that you are connecting this drive to an XT-type computer > I strongly think that if the drive was originally working, that you have > the wrong drive select. Check them (those little jumpers on the drive). > > I hope this helps. Feel free to drop me a line if you need more help. > First of all,thanks to all who answered the question and gave me their suggestions and ideas.This is what happened: After all that hassle and talking to both Seagate and Western Digital I have finally solved the problem myself.My WX2 DID NOT support drives with greater than 8 heads.Imprimis has 9 heads.WX2 is a 1985 controller with a 1987 dynamic super bios chip.The controller with its built-in bios only supported 10 and 20Meg drives.The super bios chip allowed me to format my ST251-1 but would NOT work with Imprimis as per above. Western Digital Tech Support told me that it WOULD work. I got a DTC XT controller <1989> and everything is working perfectly now.The Imprimis formatted to 69Meg and ST251-1 to 42Meg. Imprimis is a heck of a nice drive,faster and quieter than ST251-1. The error 80 was due to the fact that was trying to write the precomp on the non-existent cylinder.By the way,in the process I burned-out my Western Digital Controller due to the advice of their Tech Support to change jumpers.They'll get a call from me since instead of helping they did more damage. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Lupic Scarborough,Ont.,CANADA Internet: jzl@micasa.UUCP OR jzl%micasa@uunet.UU.NET UUCP: micasa!jzl OR uunet!mnetor!micasa!jzl " Let us create vessels and sails adjusted to the heavenly ether, and there will be plenty of people unafraid of the empty wastes". - Johannes Kepler - -----------------------------------------------------------------