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Scsi Fdisk Programs

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genocho

Experienced Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
63
Hi,

I´m trying to use an scsi hd on my 286.
I use a future domain scsi controller with no bios and powerscsi 4 drivers.

I boot the pc from the mfm propietary 286 hd, so the scsi don´t boot.

With the scsi util called fddsu I tested the scsi devices and detects the scsi hd, is a scsi quantum 1gb, but msdos dont recognize the hd like a logical unit.

What I have to do?

Fddsu says to need format the hd, msdos fdisk don´t recognize the scsi hd, perhaps I need any other util like fdisk for scsi devices to make the scsi visible and then format it.............

Sorry but I´m new with scsi devices, exists any special program for initialize, format and make visible in dos a hard disk???

All help are welcome, many thanks,

Genocho.
 
It may need to be low-level formatted, or "initialized" for use with that controller.
Most bootable SCSI controllers have a formatting routine in the BIOS.

When you boot the machine up, see if there is a HotKey announced on the screen to get into the SCSI card's BIOS - for example, Adaptec SCSI controllers, and Advansys as well, used the key combination of <Ctrl><A> to get into the SCSI BIOS on the card.


T
 
Also, I think some scsi cards need a driver permanently loaded if they are not the booting HD controller or do not have a built in ROM.

I'm not sure if you're actually loading a driver in config.sys, or just using a utility that probes the controller.
 
Yes,

I´m loading the drivers of powerscsi 4.1, the problem is that the msdos don´t assign an logic unit to the scsi hard drive, perhaps I need to format and make it visible in dos, but, wich program I need to make this in msdos with scsi devices????

Fdisk don´t detect anything.........
 
You'll need to install two drivers to get this to work. The first is an ASPI driver for the card and the second is a hard disk driver for ASPI. Neither will allow you to boot from the SCSI hard disk, obviously, but you'll be able to use it after DOS boots and the drivers load.

In my Adaptec EZ-SCSI kit, I have a program that works through the ASPI driver to perform an FDISK function, called AFDISK.EXE.

Fortunately, since Adaptec bought Future Domain, the controller should be supported by Adaptec software.

Which FD card do you have?
 
Yes, you´re right chuck(g).

The powerscsi 4 install program, install only drivers for my attached scsi cdrom.

But for hd drives, exist one .sys archive fdbios.sys (fixed disk bios), with this archive in the root and his file in the config (device=fdbios.sys) the hd is detected in the scsi bus, and msdos fdisk detects the hd.

The only thing that I have to do is mark the hd like a msdos reboot and then format with msdos format.

Now I have cdrom and a AWESOME BIG hd on my lovely first pc.

Sincerly I have no idea what I can to do with GIGAS in a XT :p

Thanks, for all, my next goal is make run a SYQUEST SQ555 in msdos,

any idea???

The device is not recognized, like the hd, I need more .sys drivers???

Any help is welcome, regards,

Geno.
 
Yes, chuck

I have loaded the aspi driver of the cdrom, I supose this driver works with sq555 drive, I don´t know what is wrong........

Looking the sq555 rear jumpers I see that there is nothing attached, perhaps I must plug a jumper to put the right id in the scsi bus.

A= id0
B= id2
C= id4

XandT reserved or not used

Jumper P enable parity checking (should be on)

I go to try with a jumper in A and jumper in P, perhaps this is the cause that the sq555 is not detected.........

What do you think ?
 
That would make it SCSI ID 1. What is your CD and HD set to, or are they disconnected when trying the sq555?

What about termination? both "ends" of the SCSI chain also need to be terminated.

If you have just external devices, the last deivce needs to be terminated, and the card needs to be terminated.

If you have just internal devices, then the last device internally needs termination and the card needs termination.

If you have both internal and external devices, there needs to be a terminator on each last device and no terminator on the card.
 
The cdrom is external and I remove the hd and put the sq555 in the internal port.

The sq555 go alone, and has his terminators in the pcb.....

I think is a driver problem, anyone have the sq555 msdos drivers ???
 
There's a SQ555 OEM manual on bitsavers.org that may help.

The rule of thumb is to terminate the devices at the extreme ends of the cable. That is,

Code: 
Device---Device---Controller
  term    no term      term

Device---Controller---Device
  term     no term     term

The SQ555 has a terminating resistor DIP plugged into the PCB at the rear. Leave it in if you need termination, otherwise remove it (I put my unused DIP terminators in small plastic bags taped to the rear of the drive, should I ever need them again.) If you're missing the terminator and need one, you can use an external terminator.

I seem to recall that the SQ555 has problems with the faster SCSI controllers if synchronous mode transfer is attempted. I don't think that's the issue here.
 
Sorry chuck(g)

I don´t understand the terminator schematic.

I have the sq555 plugged alone in the bus of the future domain like this

with a 3 element cable like this:

futuredomain internal 50pin-------nothing-------sq-555 id0 with terminator



the cdrom is external using a db-25 to centronics cable:


future domain external db-25---------cdrom external




The sq555 is configured like id 0, with no jumpers like says the manual, and the terminators ar plugged

The cdrom is external using the external db-25.

Using an hd in the place of the sq555 runs, so I think is a drivers problem, I need to find the msdos drivers to detect the sq555.

Any more idea???

Regards,

Geno
 
Last edited:
The last time I used a SyQuest SQ555, it responded to a SCSI INQUIRY command, so if your SCSI scan doesn't show it, you may have a bad drive.

But maybe not. Have you picked up the file "SyQuest_Utility.rar" from driverguide.com? It does include DOS drivers.
 
Today I try this thing with the sq555.

I start the pc without the disk inside the sq555. Without the disk the cam drivers of the future domain detects the sq555.

When I insert the disk,the drive spins make a click and stops.

In the front of the sq555 the green led blinks 5 times and the orange blinks 4.

That means in the error code table of the manual :

No servors found head 0 (head error).

So, I think the drive is faulty or perhaps the 44md removable disk........

I´m going to open it to take a look, any idea how to clean the lector heads or
the disk?

Thanks for all,

genocho
 
genocho said:
So, I think the drive is faulty or perhaps the 44md removable disk........

I´m going to open it to take a look, any idea how to clean the lector heads or the disk?
Click to expand...

Oh, this is not good. :shock:

If I were in your position, I would try one more cartridge. If the drive failed the same way, I would stop there and forget about the drive.

You see, many of the removable media hard drives can develop a problem where a bad cartridge can damage the heads. The heads can then go on to damage other cartridges, which then can go on to damage other drives.

You get the picture. The SparQ drives from Syquest had a reputation for this, as did the Iomega Jaz drives.

Sorry to hear of the problem.
 
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