Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uwm.edu!linac!att!att!cbnewsk!vwp
From: vwp@cbnewsk.att.com (mark.a.skala)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: IDE hard disk performance
Message-ID: <1991May8.170305.28013@cbnewsk.att.com>
Date: 8 May 91 17:03:05 GMT
Reply-To: vwp@cbnewsk.att.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Network Systems
Lines: 13

I just got an AT-compatible from Emerson with a hard drive, and since they're
morons I'd like to ask an IDE question/problem here.  My disk is a Western
Digital 40mb IDE.  The thing is pathetically slow, and this has been sort of
verified by Checkit,Spinrite,Norton U, even though I understand that their
numbers won't be accurate without MFM.  Every low-level formatter I have
tried (I try to change the interleave from 3:1 to anything) claims to be
working and completes, but the setup is unchanged.  Is there something I don't
know about IDE drives with respect to speed and low-level format, or do I
need some special software?  Thanks for any help.

Mark A. Skala        "Sleep is so boring I can hardly stay awake through it."
vwp@cbnewsk.att.com
508-960-4208 (work)