Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga:76245 comp.sys.amiga.tech:17679 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!apple!sun-barr!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!eos!data.nas.nasa.gov!noc.arc.nasa.gov!ranma From: ranma@noc.arc.nasa.gov (Robert Michael Gutierrez) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.amiga.tech Subject: Re: HD Errors Message-ID: <1991Jan10.045625.20489@nas.nasa.gov> Date: 10 Jan 91 04:56:25 GMT References: <1991Jan5.235810.25940@nas.nasa.gov> <17158@cbmvax.commodore.com> Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov Reply-To: ranma@noc.arc.nasa.gov (Robert Michael Gutierrez) Organization: The Saotome Ryu School of Martial Arts Lines: 87 jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com (Randell Jesup) writes: > ranma@noc.arc.nasa.gov (Robert Michael Gutierrez) writes: > >Well, then write a good interface to an Amy version of fsck. Odd that in the > >Messy-DOS world, there's a TON of software to help fix trashed FS's (like > >Norton, PC Tools, etc), .... > Amusing comment, given other people's contentions that MSDOG > filesystems are rock-solid. You do have a good point. We probably should change our tune to Messy-DOS files systems are easily recoverable, as opposed to good file systems. Are there such things as 'good file systems'??? > >I can NOT use my Syquest on FFS without seeing eventual errors crop up.... > These sound like real hardware errors, not FS screwups. If the bad > block is in a file, you could delete the file (if the drive is still writable > or you're good with a sector editor), but if you continue to use it you'll hit > the bad block again soon. You need to reformat, or map out the bad block. > If the error is in a fileheader or directory block, you may be screwed and > have to use disksalv/doctor to get some data back. Aha! This is the fun part. The Syquest's were originally on 2090a's, in an external box (yes, I've got the terminators right!). On the 2090a, I could FFS format, but eventually, I would get the famous 'read/write' error. OK, disksalv the contents, then reformat. The format does NOT report any bad blocks. Stuff the old contents back into the Syquest. Give it about a month, WHAM! Another 'read/write' error. Eventually OFS formatted the disk, no problems in 3 months use. Now, got the 2091. HDTools says 1 head, 2550 sectors (approx). Used one partition (I need the space!!!), FFS. Format and data verify, all clean. Start moving files onto the cart, WHAM! 'read/write error'. OK, HDTools Data Verify says no errors! Format again, turn off reselection this time, and WHAM! 'read/write error'. > I would think syquests should be more reliable than that. So would I... > What's the MTBF? Specs never published... > Are these old drives/carts? All brand new. 6 of them. 2 previously used on my Messy-DOS system *in the same drives and box* on an NCR SCSI controller, no problems. Used the same Centronics to DB-25 cable on the box. > Have you talked to Syquest? Will tomorrow at MacWorld, hopefully. Otherwise, they are approximately 20 blocks away from my house, In Fremont, Calif. > The only > way to get R/W errors is a media/hardware problem, or turning off the power > (or resetting) in the middle of a write. Is there much dust or smoke (or > any other contaminant) where they're kept? Nope. Never powered down during anything. No way to 'reset' without a scsidirect command. No external 'reset' button. No 3-finger-salute during read/writes, except today, I had HDTools disappear during another lockup. This latest lockup occured when I was trying to poll the Syquests, and the system froze as it was reading the info from the Syquests. AFter the reboot, I got a Key Validation message. Disksalved everything, but my HDTools is now corrupted. Oh, I got my Amy used, so I don't have the diskette for HDTools. Does anybody have a copy of HDTools for the 2091??? Considering that it only works with the 2091 (maybe others?), I doubt I would have any piracy intentions in mind :-) > Could you spell out your hardware > config, including rev number of the Syquest roms if you know it, or when it > was obtained? Rev 6.2 mother, unknown rev 2091 ["(c) 1990" ROMS] w/2 megs, Syquest F3H ROMS (may have to check that to make sure), 8-up memory board w/6 megs. I just got 'Quarterback Tools' today, and will try to give the Syquest's a hit with it and see what it says. robert