Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!blueeyes.kines.uiuc.edu!scott From: scott@blueeyes.kines.uiuc.edu (scott) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: how do i change the interleave on a ide drive? Message-ID: <1991Feb18.171647.8005@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Date: 18 Feb 91 17:16:47 GMT References: <1991Feb11.205602.6901@nntp-server.caltech.edu> <15082@uudell.dell.com> <6556@testeng1.misemi> Sender: news@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (News) Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana Lines: 29 In article <6556@testeng1.misemi> huis@testeng1.UUCP () writes: > > You can do a low level format on IDE drive with the right software. >I got a DiskManager 4.3 for SEAGATE drive, which allow me to low level format >my ST-157A. However, IDE is almost the same as RLL drive and interleave is set >to 1:1 already. If you change the interleave factor then all you will get is >a poorer Xfer rate drive. Also, all IDE drives are pre-low level formatted >by the maker with interleave 1:1, that's why nobody would do a low level >format. This appears to be based on the assumption that a single low-level format lasts forever, or at least as long as the disk drive is alive. Not true - that's why we need programs like SpinRite which compensate for "drift" in the alignment of the read/write heads that occurs as the drive ages. Also, the formatting information "fades" with time, and needs to be refreshed periodically, again with a low-level format. That's why EVERYBODY should be able to do a low-level format on their drive. The only exception would be if the controller in the IDE drive automatically detected and corrected drift and other LL formatting problems. It's good that Disk Manager will do the job. Does anyone know if SpinRite II can handle IDE drives? -- Scott Coleman tmkk@uiuc.edu "Unisys has demonstrated the power of two. That's their stock price today." - Scott McNealy on the history of mergers in the computer industry.