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From: gac2@ellis.uchicago.edu (geoffrey arthur coulter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Floppy Failures
Message-ID: <1991Apr3.042224.14038@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: 3 Apr 91 04:22:24 GMT
References: <1991Apr01.024515.204@ecst.csuchico.edu> <1991Apr1.181741.363@csc.canterbury.ac.nz> <1991Apr2.114122.1@dev8o.mdcbbs.com>
Sender: bcareful@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago
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Hi.

This is my first time posting, so I am not really sure of what
I'm doing.

Here's my problem:  my floppies will read, but not write,
although they have done so occaisionally in the past.  I have a
20mh 386DX clone from the Pac Rim.  It was originaly configured
with an ST02 (I think - 8-bit Seagate SCSI adapter also
controlling floppies) and a 40 meg Seagate drive.  My floppies
(1.2 & 1.44) worked perfectly.  

I wanted a faster, larger drive, and decided to upgrade my
controller too, so I got an Always IN-2000 SCSI Host Adapter (16-
bit, also controls floppies) and a wonderful 150 meg HD.  I took
it home from the computer exchange and noticed something fishy
was going on with my floppies.  (Note: problem was intermittent,
some some of my tests gave false-positives) I tried each drive
sepeartely first, then a replacement Always board, then a
different cable, then I bought a seperate floppy controller, and
that seemed to do the trick.  

However, within several months, the problems popped up again, and
are no longer intermittent.  I have tried everycombination of the
above parts I can imagine (including completely removing the
Always card) and haven't found a clue as to the nature of my
problem.  What really puzzles me is that certain combinations
will work for a while and then cease to work at all, no matter
how I coax them.

I'm not sure I will spot any responses to this post in the flood
of postings to this newsgroup, so please e-mail responses to
gac2@midway.uchicago.edu

Thank you.