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From: bkirby@mcs213a.cs.umr.edu (Bill Kirby)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: mfm+ide drive in 1 computer.
Message-ID: <1928@umriscc.isc.umr.edu>
Date: 12 Jan 91 19:56:26 GMT
References: <6833@crash.cts.com>
Sender: news@umriscc.isc.umr.edu
Organization: University of Missouri - Rolla
Lines: 38

In article <6833@crash.cts.com> jca@pnet01.cts.com (John C. Archambeau) writes:
>gwoho@nntp-server.caltech.edu (g liu) writes:
>>
>>  [question about ide coexisting with mfm]
>
>You can't do it easily.  ST412/506 MFM and IDE use the same port address and
>IRQ.  You could try putting the ST412/506 MFM controller at the secondary port
>address and a different IRQ, but then your BIOS wouldn't be aware of it.  Only
>OS'es that support a secondary ST412/506 controller to my knowledge are Unix
>based.
>
>Basically, it's more trouble that it's worth for DOS.
>

I'm confused.  I've called CompuAdd (i own a compuadd floppy/harddrive 
controller), and USA Flex (I was going to buy an IDE drive from them)
and they both claim that the controllers will not interfere with each
other.  I specifically told the USA Flex tech. guy that I had heard
of I/O and IRQ conflicts, but he assured me that this wouldn't be a 
problem.

Right now, my only option for a second hard drive must be 3.5"
form factor.  And the cheapest drives i've found are IDE.

If I decide to get rid of my current drive (ST-225) and go with the 
IDE by itself, can I still use my CompuAdd controller to control
my floppy drives?  If not, what do I do?

Also, does the IDE drive require any special device driver?

Thanks,

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