Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!van-bc!
From: lphillips@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca (Larry Phillips)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: A2091 Performance, and A2090A Problems
Keywords: hard disk B2000 help
Message-ID: <1240@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca>
Date: 13 Mar 90 11:20:13 GMT
Lines: 65
Return-Path: <lpami!lphillips>
To: van-bc!rnews

In <2419@cpsc6a.att.com>, crs@cpsc6a.att.com (Chris "I'm Outta Here!" Seaman) writes:
>First, when I set up the 2091, I received the standard 'This may
>take up to 30 minutes' warning when I selected low-level format, but
>in reality the drive was only accessed for about 15-20 seconds (if even
>that long). [ ... ]
>
>Question #1:  Is the above condition normal?  The drive has acted
>normally in every way since I formatted it, but I am still curious.

Yes.  The Quantum ProDrives, when asked to do a low level format, say "Yup, Ok.
Done" right away, and don't actually do the format. In the case of drives that
do this, it is A Good Thing, since the drive knows more about the condition of
the formatting than any program could. There is usually a way to force it to
low level format, but unless you really need to, it is best left to the
discretion of the drive.

>Also, I noted that the default partitioning split the drive (a Quantum
>Prodrive 105S) into two equal partitions.  I thought about this, and
>it occured to me that this might be a Good Thing, since it might
>slightly improve the performance of the partitions, plus it would
>reduce the possibility of data corruption if/when disk errors occur.

It doesn't reduse the possibility of corruption should something untoward
happen. It does reduce the time it will take to recover from the corruption.

>Question #2:  Is there any performance improvement using 2 partitions
>versus 1 large partition?

It really depends on what is on the partitions, and how it is being used. For
example, to access two files, one on each partition, you are guaranteed a
fairly long seek to find a file, to about the middle of the disk where the root
block starts. Caching reduces this somewhat, but you get the idea. Partitions
eat memory, and only you can decide how you want to do things, after weighing
the pros and cons. My feeling is to have as few partitions as possible, but
some folks are more comfortable with a few per drive.

>Finally, I attempted to install my old A2090A controller and Rodime drive
>in my brother's 2000, with little success.  He has a motherboard stamped
>Rev 4.1, but it has a sticker over it that reads 'A2000 Rev 4.3'.  I
>don't know which is correct.  The machine is still at Kickstart 1.2.
>The symptom I get is a slow cycling of the power LED, with no WB prompt.
>
>Question #3:  I realize that this machine won't be able to autoboot, but 
>why won't it boot at all?  Should I remove the Autoboot ROM?

It will not be able to autoboot, and the ROMs will make no difference at all.
What you do need to do is put the hddisk.device into the expansion drawer of
your boot disk along with its icon. You will also need to ensure that
icon.library is in the LIBS directory of the boot disk. Don't know what the
problem could be in your case though, as you should get to at least the 'Insert
WB' hand picture. Try it in a different slot, double-check the seating of the
board. The metal plate at the rear of the board can hang up and cause the board
not to seat properly.

Good luck.

-larry

--
Entomology bugs me.
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|   //   Larry Phillips                                                 |
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