Re: Hard Disk problem

["Seth D. Kadesh" <sk2f+@andrew.cmu.edu>]

billh@hplsla.hp.com (Bill Harris) writes:
> I have a TMS Shadow hard drive (120 MB Conner) and RamFAST Rev. D I got in
> December.  It has had 2 problems that Big Red (where I bought it) can't
> reproduce (or fix):  
> 
>         When I first turn it on for the day, it takes about 5-10 minutes
>         before it will work.  Prior to that, booting won't work; I get
>         messages about various files that are missing.
> 
>         After it starts up, if I do a File Validate, it occasionally fails.
>         Retrying (sometimes after rebooting) is usually successful.  When
>         it fails, sometimes it tells me a file name, and sometimes it
>         crashes into some blank graphics screen that requires power cycling
>         to restart.
> 
> I sent both the RamFAST and the disk back to Big Red once.  They
> reformatted it, tested it for 4 hours, and didn't find a thing.  I got it
> back, booted it, did a File Validate and got a problem right away.  I then
> write-protected all of the partitions (last time I had it, it ended up
> messing up the directory) and have used it for several days, with both of
> these symptoms continuing.  
> 
> I called TMS, and they will take it back, reformat and test it.  However,
> there is a small charge if the only problem is that the software was
> somehow misloaded.  They suggested I clean the disk off, reload system 6
> and start over to see if that makes it go away; I may try that first.

tms has changed policy slightly.  when i had problems a year and a
half ago, they didn't charge me to take a look at my setup....

> Has anyone heard of this happening?  If so, what fixed the problem?  I am
> running this on a ROM01 with 1.25MB of RAM (I had the Seq. Sys. 4MB card
> in, but I took it out to ensure that it wasn't part of the problem.  It
> (the 4MB card) did fail the AWGS memory test, but Big Red says that the
> AWGS test will fail on a good Seq. Sys. card and that I should trust the
> Seq. Sys. memory test --- have others seen that, too?).
> 
> Also, can anyone offer any observations on disk maintenance software?  I
> have heard of ProSel 16, Salvation, and Unify (I think that's the name).  I
> suspect I will need to purchase one of them soon.

prosel is very good, but i'll leave the recommendation of software to
other people (i find that prosel does everything i need).

the problem sounds like it could be either your scsi cable, or your
ramfast.  check to make sure that the cable is securely attached to
the drive and the card, with no breaks.  make sure everything is
properly terminated.

> PS: I did get a RamFAST memory error (03?) twice the first time I had the
> system, but Big Red didn't see it, and I haven't either in the few days
> I've had it back.

having check everything else, it's time to suspect the ramfast.  i had
similar problems (file corruption) with mine when i first got it, and
tms couldn't find anything.  i ended up sending it back to cv tech,
where they found that the scsi controller chip was bad.  talk to the
guys at cv tech.

> Bill Harris
> billh@lsid.hp.com      
> 
> Hewlett-Packard Co. 
> Lake Stevens Instrument Division ms/330
> 8600 Soper Hill Road
> Everett, WA 98205-1298 

  seth ---> sk2f@andrew.cmu.edu
and his amazing signature!