Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!Ric_I_Clayton From: Ric_I_Clayton@cup.portal.com Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: (re: CONNECT YOUR OWN HARD DISK + ONE QUESTION) Message-ID: <9160@cup.portal.com> Date: 16 Sep 88 18:23:51 GMT Organization: The Portal System (TM) Lines: 90 XPortal-User-Id: 1.1001.4324 Remco Bruyne writes: [stuff deleted] >The problem is: when I try to format a second hard disk (logical unit >number = 1 instead of 0, which is the first HD), the disk starts >formatting but when the last track is done, the formatting process >starts all over again, so partitioning is not done. >I *can* format the second disk when I strap it to be LUN=0, but I >still cannot access the disk as a second hard disk from the desktop. > >Question: Is this a software problem or does it have something to >do with the ATARI host adapter board ? [closing stuff deleted] Hmmm... Assuming the entries in ICDFMT.DAT for your controller and disk drive are correct and you aren't having any cable problems, I would guess its the Atari Host Adaptor that's causing you grief. There's a known problem with the PAL chip on Atari's Host Adaptor that causes it to respond to all LUNs, even if only one drive is present as LUN=0. Maybe this problem also interferes with operating more than 1 drive. There's a couple of possible remedies you could try. First, you can buy a replacement PAL chip that's supposed to fix the problems with the Atari Host Adaptor. One such chip is available for about $20 (US) from: Berkeley Microsystems 360 Oakland Avenue, Suite 5 Oakland, CA 94611 (415) 465-6956 Second, you could purchase ICD's Host Adaptor board. This will not only fix the LUN problem. It also gives you a battery-backup clock, a DMA Daisy-chain port, and greater immunity to cable noise. The latter allows you to run a 36" DMA cable to the drive. The ICD Host Adaptor goes for around $135 (US) and is available from: ICD 1220 Rock Street Rockford, Il 61101-1437 voice: (815) 968-2228 modem: (815) 968-2229 fax: (815) 968-6888 Here's my Hard Disk Story: I had an Atari SH204 20Meg Hard Disk. I needed more disk space and didn't want to spend another $600 for 20megs. (Not to mention the fact that the SH204 has no Daisy-chain port.) This is what I ended up with: (From my SH204) o Seagate ST225 20Meg Hard Disk o Adaptec 4000 Controller (From my local Hard Disk Dealer) o Seagate ST251 42Meg Hard Disk (From ICD) o Host Adaptor Board o 5 1/4 Hard Disk Case (w/HDA Mounting Kit & Cutout) o Controller-to-Disk Cable Set o 36" DMA Cable Using the ICD format software, I'm able to get 22.2 Meg from the ST255 and 44.4 Meg from the ST251, for a total of 66.6 Meg of Hard Disk. Total cost was about $650 (US), about the price of another SH204. I've been using this setup for around 4 months without a hitch. I also feel much more comfortable using the ICD HD software with it's read-after-write verify. The only problems I had were with the Hard Drive Case. Some of the drive bracket mounting holes were miss-aligned and had to be re-drilled, the hardware-kit (screws,etc) didn't have the right hardware, and space is _real_ tight inside the case. Nothing a drill and a trip to the hardware store wouldn't solve. Also, saving the leftover SH204 parts gives me a head-start on my next storage increase. By just adding an RLL controller, a 96Mb drive, and replacing the PAL chip on the Atari Host Adaptor board, I'll have more storage than I'll possibly need. :-) :-) Hope this helps, Ric Clayton *************************************************** * The above comments are my own and nobody elses. * * No criticism is intended or implied. * **************************************************************************** * "Don't touch that, you never know what it might be connected to." * * --Buckaroo Bonzai talking to 'New Jersey' during brain surgery-- * ****************************************************************************