Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!burgundy!jborza
From: jborza%burgundy@Sun.COM (Jim_Borza)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Low-level formatting of hard-drive
Summary: Watch out for Adaptec!
Message-ID: <81133@sun.uucp>
Date: 12 Dec 88 17:12:41 GMT
References: <1988Dec10.094859.18130@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu> <5082@bsu-cs.UUCP>
Sender: news@sun.uucp
Distribution: na
Lines: 21

In article <5082@bsu-cs.UUCP>, pervect@bsu-cs.UUCP (Barrett Kreiner) writes:
> If this OMTI follows standard controller protocol, then this little beaut 
> should do the trick.
> (pay attention now, tricks like this will get you labeled a "power user" :-])
> 
> execute debug from you floppy disk.
> at the '-', do this:
> -g=c800:5
> on 90% of all hard disk controllers, this points to the assembler code for a 
> low level format.  You should be prompted (different for all controllers)
> on how you want to format the disk, including disk unit and interleave ratio.
> 
> I have not had experience with RLL controllers, so this is a "best guess".
> I KNOW this works with hard disks from Segate, those that come with Zenith
> and AT&T computers, and flashcards. 
> 
> Anyone know different?
> 
Just a word of caution: Adaptec controllers, for some reason known only
to Adaptec, have their entry point for the on-board format routine
at c800:0ccc (at least on those I've encountered).