Formatting 40Gb

[JaXanim]

Is there a good Tutorial anywhere on formatting large (40Gb say) drives into one or two logical units using the PowerFlyer interface?

I use a PowerFlyer/OS3.9/BB1+2, but however many times I read the PF manual, it leaves me in the dark. No matter what I do, I can't get the FastATAPrefs to allow the 'No-Split' mode when I use HDToolbox. I really do not want nine or ten units on this drive! (I'll use SFS filesystem).

Cheers,

JaX

[JaXanim]

Hello x56h34,

That sounds easy enough! I'll give it a shot.

Cheers,

JaX

[JaXanim]

@x56h34

Yes, I seem to have got it sorted, thanks to your excellent advice. It seems the selection of 'Use' for the amended FastATAPrefs is more applicable here than the 'Save' option.

I couldn't get HDToolbox to run after booting from my Emergency Disk, so I tried just clicking on the 'Use' option under standard Workbench. This popped up a warning that I was about to modify the drives' existing settings and did I wish to proceed? (Never seen that before). Then, after OK'ing the warning, I loaded HDToolbox. This then showed the new drive as a single entry, instead of the nine or ten logical units I was seeing before (as created by the FastATA 'Split' function and which seemed almost impossible to avoid).

I then divided the drive into the larger units I wanted and formatted these with SFS filesystem. On rebooting, there were still icons for the original unwanted 'Splitted' logical drives, so I cleared their RDBs using the old HDInstToolbox. On rebooting again, all the dross disappeared and I had the big logical drives I wanted. Great!

The FastATAPrefs system seems not to be very friendly to say the least! I'm blowed if I can understand the manual on this issue and I'm awaiting Elbox's suggestions on the problem.

Anyway, I seem to have got it fixed and learned a little bit more on the way. Many thanks.

JaX

[JaXanim]

Just received Elbox's advice (sent at midnight - those Elbox guys are just superb!)

Basically, they said I should use the 'Use' option rather than 'Save'. So, we're all on the right track!

They said if I was still having problems, to send my RDB data and they's advise further. First class or what..!

Cheers,

JaX

[JaXanim]

@Mugo

Yes, you're right. HDToolbox still shows all those unwanted devices even though they don't appear on Workbench. The strange thing is that the drive which I've divided into units of around 12Gb still shows up as a 3.9Gb unit in HDToolbox along with umpteen others. Knowing which is the 'real' drive is also a problem.

The 'partitioning' of this unit shows 12Gb divisions but the LUN size is only 3.9Gb. This has certainly worried me, especially if the write limit really is 3.9Gb on an apparent 12Gb drive. Workbench Info also shows 12Gb per unit.

Don't know if this is a cause of the problem, but Elbox said I should delete the RESIDENT switch in my Startup-Sequence:

C:ATA3.driver RESIDENT QUIET
C:Stack 8192

This is for version 7.1

Haven't had time to check this out yet, but it may explain why we have difficulty getting away from the 'Split' mode in FastATAPrefs.

Cheers,

JaX

[JaXanim]

@Mugo

My new drive is a Maxtor 40Gb/7200/2Mb cache. I've also had the same problem with an old Fujitsu 4.3Gb and a Samsung 40Gb. I don't believe it's anything related to the drive type. I think it's a software issue.

I will try to get more information from the Elbox people. They are very helpful.

They suggested I send them the RDB file of my drive so maybe they can see what the problem is. (Haven't done yet)

I think I will ask them why HDToolbox shows 3.9Gb drives when I made 12Gb units after using FastATAPrefs 'Use' option.

Cheers,

JaX