Hard Disk problem

[billh@hplsla.hp.com (Bill Harris)]

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.

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.

Thanks in advance.  Email is welcome; I will summarize if I get enough
response.

Regards,

Bill 

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.


Bill Harris
billh@lsid.hp.com      

Hewlett-Packard Co. 
Lake Stevens Instrument Division ms/330
8600 Soper Hill Road
Everett, WA 98205-1298