From: bbrown@infonode.ingr.com (Bailey Brown) Subject: Re: ll format IDE to install linux Date: 25 Sep 1992 18:49:27 GMT
gryphon@openage.openage.com (The Golden Gryphon) writes:
>bbrown@infonode.ingr.com (Bailey Brown) writes:
>>I had trouble trying to install linux on the second of two
>>Western Digital 40 meg IDEs I have on my system. Someone
>>suggested that I should low level format the drive.
>>a. has it ever been decided if it is safe to ll format ide?
>>b. where can I get a program to do this? I checked in
>> dskutls on simtel and found only the asm source for
>> a ll format program. It did not mention ide, so I
>> am not sure it would be safe to use it.
>As a general rule you should NEVER try to format an IDE. The drive is
>formatted at the factory and never needs it again.
>You may not have the master/slave setup correctly for these disks.
I got wdformat from simtel. The utility was written by WD, so I
assume it is safe. I ll formated the drive. Then booted linux.
Of course, linux did not list that drive when I had it print partition
information (it did before I formated it). So I booted dos and put
a dos primary partition on it taking up the whole disk. I booted
linux again, and still, it did not show up. So I booted dos and
ran dos (hl) format on the drive. I then ran Norton Disk doctor
on the drive (D:) and it did not find any problems. I then booted
linux and it shows up as hd1 when it boots up, but the partition
is not listed when I tell it print the partitions out from fdisk.
Also, I saw the "hd interrupt 0x18" error message again.
============
Bailey Brown "Above all else, confusion reigns."
Intergraph Corporation
bbrown@casca.b11.ingr.com Procol Harum