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Hard Drive Initialization Error

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wilkmanracing

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Apr 1, 2022
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I have a Vendex Headstart III computer from the 1991. It is not a Windows computer, just DOS. When I attempt to boot it up I get the error message "ERROR ENCOUNTERED INITIALIZING HARD DRIVE" Does anyone know of a fix for this? I live in Riverside California. Does anyone know of vintage computer repair service in my area?
 
Do you hear the hard drive spin up? I'm guessing CMOS battery died or hard drive failed.
 
The HeadStart III is a 286 system. Press Ctrl-Alt-Esc when booting to enter CMOS setup. Then you can enter the hard drive parameters.

Hsiii1.jpg
 
The 5.25 floppy covers the hard drive. I removed it to reveal the top of the hard drive. There is a sticker reading ST-138. Beyond that is a sticker with some data on it. Under CYL1 are the figures 206, 180, 181, 216, 609. Under HD are the figures 1, 1, 1. 4, 4. Under BFI are the figures 603, 6809, 6807, 8397, 104. In Setup Mode on the computer, there are figures for DISK 1 and DISK 2. The figures are Under the headings CYL1. HEADS, SECTORS, and PRECOMP. I am not a technology geek, so I don't know what to enter under these headings. Hope this information is helpful.
 
For DISK1, put in:
CYLS = 615
HEADS = 6
SECTORS = 17
PRECOMP = 65535
 
Depending on the BIOS, the pre-comp can also be set to zero, or one above the drive's number of cylinders (in this case, 616). Either way it's not a critical setting for getting the drive to work.
 
Thanks for your input! Turns out that the parameters are set automatically based on the size of the hard drive. Mine is 31 mb. Based on this the cyls are 918, heads 11, sectors 17, and precompiled is none. The computer still won't boot to the C drive. I also can't save to the hard drive. When I enter the dir command, I get the error message "sector not found reading drive C."
 
I don't think those parameters are correct for the ST-138. The math works out to 88MB but that drive is 32MB. Is there a way to manually input the parameters?
 
It is not possible to manually change the parameters. They come up automatically when you specify the size of the hard drive. The figures I gave you before were for a 31 mb hard drive. If I change to a 32 mb hard drive, the figures are cyl 925, heads 9, sectors 17, precomp none.. With these figures, I still get the sector not found error message. Also, it still is not possible to boot to the hard drive.
 
"precompensation", as in "write precompensation". The ST-138 doesn't need any; 0 (or any number > 615) will be correct for this drive.

the parameters are definitely incorrect for the ST-138. the numbers you read off the label are a map of surface defects. the parameters provided by Plasma are correct. If there is no type that matches, pick the one that's closest without going over any one of them. Prioritize heads (try to get a drive type with exactly 6 heads, even if that means using one with fewer than 615 cylinders) as this will "waste" the least amount of space. the drive type number has nothing to do with its capacity.

also, the drive might just be faulty. but I wouldn't conclude that just yet.
 
Last edited:
wilkmanracing said:
It is not possible to manually change the parameters. They come up automatically when you specify the size of the hard drive. The figures I gave you before were for a 31 mb hard drive. If I change to a 32 mb hard drive, the figures are cyl 925, heads 9, sectors 17, precomp none.. With these figures, I still get the sector not found error message. Also, it still is not possible to boot to the hard drive.
Click to expand...
If it has a predefined list of drive types to choose from, then you need to look for an option that has the correct cylinders, heads, and sectors, not just the correct total capacity.

According to the list for an Award BIOS on this web page, drive type 3 is the closest match for your drive:

 
So you have a 2-cable (ST506/MFM) version of the 138, correct? (The 138A is IDE; the 138R is RLL--the "R" version has only 4 heads).

If that's the case, then 6 heads, 615 cylinders, 17 sectors/track, according to my copy of the "Hard Drive Bible)
 
wilkmanracing said:
Thanks for your input! Turns out that the parameters are set automatically based on the size of the hard drive. Mine is 31 mb. Based on this the cyls are 918, heads 11, sectors 17, and precompiled is none. The computer still won't boot to the C drive. I also can't save to the hard drive. When I enter the dir command, I get the error message "sector not found reading drive C."
Click to expand...

As others have said, I think you are confusing drive type and drive size. The drive type is just an arbitrary identifier for preset parameters. You don't want drive type 31 or 32, you want the drive type with the parameters that (most closely) match your drive.

See if you can select drive type 47 or 48 and manually input the parameters (CYLS = 615, HEADS = 6, SECTORS = 17, PRECOMP = 65535, -1, 0 or 616). If that doesn't work, then try selecting drive type 3.
 
To get close to the parameters you list, I select DISK 1 = 3. With that, all the parameters you list are the same, except PRECOMP = 300.
 
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