Re: Problem with AE Vulcun 40MB HD

[gdr@eddore.myrias.com (Devin Reade)]

In article <jpflores-2007972128240001@dfbfl6-52.gate.net>,
Jason Paul Flores <jpflores@chopthisoff.gate.net> wrote:
>[...]
>What I do know is that most of the blocks that came
>up bad the first time come up again.  Some don't and
>some new ones show up.  After several checks I have found
>about 25 bad blocks that don't check out bad at the same time.
>They all are on what I assume to be Head 3.

If you don't already have it, I suggest getting and using ProSEL,
available from Charlie's Appleseeds (see the FAQ for contact info).

If you have already been using ProSEL for this and it doesn't 
record all the bad blocks at one time, then I suggest recording
the bad block lists from a few runs (or however you're determining
that they're bad) and using the set as your bad block list. 
I cannot remember if ProSEL allows the user to specify which 
blocks are bad, or if you have to go and block-edit the BAD.BLOCKS
file entry in the root directory.  To do the latter, you need
the ProDOS Technical Reference or similar information.

If you are still having problems, it may be possible that your
"key" blocks are bad; ProSEL cannot handle bad blocks if they
occur in the two loader blocks, the volume directory blocks, or
the blocks containing the volume bit maps.

To get around this problem, you definitely need the info from
the ProDOS Tech Ref.  The general idea is to select partition
sizes so that no bad blocks fall into these critical regions.
For my Vulcan, that implies that I have a small (1 Meg) partition
in the middle of my drive that is marked as inactive.  Depending
on the size of your drive and the target size and number of your
partitions, you may be able to get away with just using a BAD.BLOCKS
file after changing your partition sizes.

>Any ideas.  Can head three just be eliminated some how?  Will
>a new drive need to be installed?  Does any one have a HD
>drive they are willing to sell or trade.

If all else fails, you can replace the drive.  The problem is that
the Vulcans only work with certain manufacturer/models, and I suspect
none of those are made anymore.  Common options are to continue to 
use the Vulcan case, but either use a TurboIDE/IDE or a RAMFast/SCSI
combination (both of which imply that you will be changing both
the drive and the controller.)

Devin
-- 
	"Very funny, Scotty.  Now beam down my clothes."