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From: cssjs2@ufhx1.ufh.ac.za (Mr JM Scheepers)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: How to access all of a 676MB ESDI Seagate/WREN under DOS 5 ?
Summary: Help needed to access full disk capacity under DOS
Keywords: ESDI format bios
Message-ID: <1991Jun17.124112.9416@ufhx1.ufh.ac.za>
Date: 17 Jun 91 12:41:12 GMT
Organization: University of Fort Hare, Alice, Ciskei
Lines: 19

The scenario is this: 486-25, 676MB Seagate/WREN ESDI 94196 disk, AMI bios.
The problem: Unable to access more than 450 MB under DOS 5.0 (beta)

The obvious problem (old DOSes) is the 1024-cylinder limit. However, the
AMI BIOS, with its nifty Hard Disk Utility, DOES allow you to initialise
the disk's full capacity of 1632 tracks x 15 hd x 54 sect. (1629, actually). 

Trying the DOS 5 Fdisk, it only sees 1024 tracks. (=450MB) Same with Seagate's
Disk Manager (604 cyls) and Storage Dimensions' PartEd (1025 cyls).

It's impossible to use the controller's BIOS (The debug g c800:5 trick).
It simply says "-Program terminated normally". Why ? According to the disk
controller info (DTC6280-15TX) I should be able to access a 60 sector/track
translation mode (If I can get into the controller bios!) which will help me
overcome the 1024 cyl limit and give me support up to 480 MB. Big deal! Why
can't I get the FULL 676 MB that's been paid for? What a waste of 196 Meg!

ANY help will be appreciated. As always, thanking you in anticipation...
Inus Scheepers (cssjs2@ufhx1.ufh.ac.za)