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Altos ACS8000

ArchaicAmusements said:
I still don't think that the disk format is the problem. I've tried testfdc that comes with image disk and I get NoAdrMark errors. The drive does respond to imagedisk and the actuator moves in both single and double steps. I'm wondering if the drive is out of alignment?
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Well, I the format is at least part of the problem. If you're drive were out of alignment, it wouldn't matter, as you'd be writing/formatting at the same misalignment as that when you're reading (the error, if any, would cancel).

Exactly what does your testfdc output look like?
 
I did the test in 1.2mb mode and for everything I get NoAdrMark(0). I can hear the drive head motor turning and the track indicator changes. That list - I have a HP Vectra VL400DT, but when I tried it the BIOS only supported 3.5" drives, I've tried it in 1.44mb mode and I get NoAdrMark errors. I agree that the image is part of the problem but I don't think the drive is working correctly.
 
I'm afraid that I need a little more information that that. Please run testfdc using the R=file option to get the report file and attach it to your next post.

I'm assuming that you can hear the "clunk" of the head load solenoid (it's quite loud) and see the activity light when the drive is accessed.
 
Chuck(G) said:
I'm afraid that I need a little more information that that. Please run testfdc using the R=file option to get the report file and attach it to your next post.

I'm assuming that you can hear the "clunk" of the head load solenoid (it's quite loud) and see the activity light when the drive is accessed.
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Head loads and I can hear the heads moving about and the access light is always on when the heads are loaded. I've done the report and it doesn't give much detail (n.b. The clock on the motherboard is wrong):

Report on FDC capabilities, issued 20/09/2010 10:31:46:
Single-Density at 250 kbps ............................ Not tested
Single-Density at 300 kbps ............................ Failed
Single-Density at 500 kbps ............................ Failed
Double-Density at 250 kbps ............................ Not tested
Double-Density at 300 kbps ............................ Failed
Double-Density at 500 kbps ............................ Failed
Double-Density at 250 kbps / 128 byte sectors ......... Not tested
Double-Density at 300 kbps / 128 byte sectors ......... Failed
Double-Density at 500 kbps / 128 byte sectors ......... Failed
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Thanks for the help, I'm lost on this one. I tried the vectra (in 1.44Mb mode) again too, same errors as this Pentium II machine.
 
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Well, it doesn't sound good--almost as if the heads aren't contacting the media (which is why I asked about head-load sounds). I'll assume that you've cleaned the heads and checked that they're actually in contact with the disk when loaded.

You may want to drop Lorne a line--I helped him get his external drive set up on a PC and don't remember the details. I don't particularly want to repeat the work all over again.

In particular, you'll want to check the settings of jumpers--the SA800 has a pile of them.
 
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