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Author Topic: **Need Setup HELP** with Classic Amiga 2000 HARD DISK (Bridgeboard)  (Read 222540 times)

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Offline ferrellsl

Quote from: wbrejnia;821298
Getting a new MFM drive working isn't my goal. ( My goal is to possibly read the contents of my MFM disk if the Drive Contents are still good )

I have avoided running the LOW LEVEL FORMAT since I don't know it's characteristics (I have looked and found some info, but don't even know which model ALOK Octagan MFM disk I have I have since not Labelled anywhere).

If I did know characteristics I could LOW LEVEL FORMAT since as this link says it is NOT A "Regular DOS type FORMAT", it would only lay down the tracks and sectors (which I don't know what they are structure wise). Laying down incorrect tracks/sectors would destroy access to contents.
https://kb.iu.edu/d/aaoa

Another solution I found is a MFM reader like shown here https://www.pdp8.net/mfm/mfm.shtml
But that is way too much work. Not sure it will work for $ spent. Still probably need DRIVE characteristics , and at the end I have nothing of value.

So goal is to figure out and get this A2000 Setup working, with some practice on the (ISA/XT/IDE Adapter)  with an (IDE Drive), or a (IDE Flash Drive), like a replacement MFM Disk.

At the end, I could use the improved AMIGA PC setup and throw out OLD MFM Drive.



You've seriously misunderstood leofoe's post.  He's trying to give you a clue that your current drive may be dead, and if so, you won't be recovering anything from it.  And to determine if it's really dead, he's suggesting that you install a known good MFM drive to rule out problems elsewhere such as your controller card or a software issue.  Basic troubleshooting.....
 

Offline ferrellsl

Re: **Need Setup HELP** with Classic Amiga 2000 HARD DISK (Bridgeboard)
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2017, 01:35:00 AM »
Quote from: wbrejnia;821305
so I can Safely do a Low Level Format.
 
 (I assume I can't try all 4 parameters and not loose data).


A low-level format will erase everything on the drive.  Incorrect parameters won't hurt anything.  In most cases using the wrong parameters will just cause the formattting application to fail or throw an error message.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2017, 01:40:23 AM by ferrellsl »