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From: guardian@laidbak.UUCP (Harry Skelton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: C: not a valid drive
Message-ID: <1148@laidbak.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 17-Sep-87 08:03:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: laidbak.1148
Posted: Thu Sep 17 08:03:02 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Sep-87 15:09:56 EDT
References: <239@tness1.UUCP>
Reply-To: guardian@laidbak.UUCP (Harry Skelton(E))
Organization: LAI Chicago
Lines: 41
Keywords: new Seagate 20MB hard disk, old IBM PC XT
Summary: Xebec controler ?

In article <239@tness1.UUCP> mechgam@tness1.UUCP (6958) writes:
>I just replaced my 10 MB Seagate (ST-412) with a new 20 MB ST-225 on my 
>5 year old IBM PC-XT.   The hard disk controller is a full length card made
>by IBM.  I have no documentation on this controller or anything else connected
>with this PC since it was already here when I took this job.  I can't get the
>new drive operational.  C: gives the message "Invalid drive specification."
>Fdisk gives the message "Error reading fixed disk."  Does anybody have any 
>ideas?  Possibly needs a low-level format?
>
>Gary Mink
>Southwestern Bell Telephone
>Houston, TX.
>(713) 521-6958

Well one thing you can do is get HDDIAGS.ARC from a local BBS in order to 
format your hard disk and get it operational.  I don't know how much you 
know of PC's but if the disk does not have DOS (or the incorrect version
of DOS) you have to do one or two things.  First see if FDISK will work
on the hard disk to create a DOS partition.  If that works then all you
have to do is format the drive with the DOS FORMAT utility (format c:/s/v)
and copy archived information to the drive.  If the FDISK has problems 
with your disk, try a low-level format.  This will be in the diagnostic
disk (newer machines) or you'll have to get a program like HDDIAG to do
it for you.  

If after the Low-level format, Fdisk does not work, you could have a 
Xebec controler with jumppers.  Take the controller board out and check
who made it, if no markings then it could be a Xebec (older cards only had
minor markings).  Call Xebec and get information from them as each of the
ROM's have different settings. Xebec will be able to help you as I had no
problems with them regarding my controler.

Have fun.
                          .---------.
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