Raffaele,
One of those links was very useful. (This piece of info)
MFM (ST412 interface) Finally, the MFM drives and their associated drive types are next. If the internal drive type table lists the exact geometry, great. If not, then check to see if a "Custom" or "User Definable" CMOS option is available. Also, some AT 16-bit MFM controllers provide an onboard BIOS which will allow the unique geometry of the drive to be dynamically configured (our Seagate ST21M/22M MFM controllers have this VALUABLE feature). Otherwise, a drive type match that is close but not exceeding either the cylinder or head values is the only choice left. An exact match in the head count is definitely preferred when getting a "close" match.
My WD controller HAS THAT DYNAMIC Option, but I don't really know what it means. Can't hurt to try it.
I found this one guy formatting his ST-506 Drive which is the same ST type, but different Geometry. He used this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I modified the entry for drive #7 (unused) to match the ST-506 as follows:
9900 (153 cylinders)
04 (4 heads)
8000 (reduced write current starts at cyl 128)
8000 (WPC starts at cyl 128)
0B (ECC burst)
00 (step rate = 3 ms)
FF (drive-ready timeout)
FF (format timeout)
FF (general timeout)
00 (always 00)
00 (always 00)
00 (always 00)
00 (always 00)
I also had to modify an unused byte (near the end) to take the 8 bit checksum to 00.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think think my best guess is for my KL330 Otagan RLL Drive:
ccc = Total number of cylinder [ 615 ]
h = number of heads [ 4 ]
rrr = starting reduce write current cylinder [ 128 ]
ppp = write precomp cylinder [ 128 ]
ee = max correctable burst length, default=11bits [11 ]
o = step rate, range(0-7, default=5) [3 ]
My case ANSWER TO BIO Dynamic Format Question:
615 4 128 128 11 3 (CR)
But the manual says the Controller BIO may include standard Drive Types.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
In order to continue, you will need to know the parameters of your drive. For your convenience, we have prepared a list of common hard disk drives and their parameters. By returning to the previous menu, you may access the drive list.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think whatever I do won't damage drive. I can try again till I get formatting write. That's what people have done, when they know nothing about their HD.
Rafaelle, yes the Hard drive Sector 0-6 is unreadable where MBR is.
That is the problem. If I try 10 times, I get a partial read.
When I write back, it works a bit but not stable enough to load Filesystem and activate a C: drive.
Low Level Format will fix that.
