I need a ST-419 hard drive

From: Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net>
Date: Fri Feb 19 21:43:16 1999

At 09:12 PM 2/19/99 +0000, you wrote:
>> >Are you sure you're really doing a low-level format?
>>
>> No, I'm not sure. I'm just using the initialize command in HP BASIC and
>> the format command in HP CPM. That's the only "tools" they give you. I
>> have no idea how to do a low level format on these.
>
>Hmmm... It sounds to me like you're only doing a high-level format.
>
>Incidentally, does anyone know what the internal DIP switches on a 9133,
>etc, do? I've heard that you can put larger hard disks in to these units
>and set the DIP switches correctly, and it'll work. Never managed to
>figure out how, though.

    I do one some models. The jumpers on the back of the board on the V and
XV models determine how it's "partitioned". I think the settings of the
jumpers are the only difference in the V and XV model. Some systems like
the HP 150 and HP 85 can't handle a full 5 meg drive so changing the
jumpers makes the drive look like four 1.15 Meg drives.

  I have seen some other models (possible the H model) of the 9133/9134
that have jumpers marked 10M/20M. Those look like they're to select a 10
or 20 Meg hard drive but I haven't tried it. You need to know what drive
geometery it expects before you could upgrade it. You should be able to get
the service manual for the drive from HP. FWIW I've started keeping record
of the drives that I find inside the boxs, that may eventually shed some
light on this.

   BTW anyone have a Vertex V130 drive to spare? I need one for a 7958A. It
has some strange geometery, something like 980 cylinders and 3 heads.


>And the idea of disassembling a few K of 6809 code (there's a 6809 in
>these machines) doesn't appeal either ;-)
>
>> >The 251 is (AFAIK) soft-sectored. The 17 sectors is something that's
>> >specified when you low-level format it.
>
>That's really part of the low-level format IMHO. The ST251, etc has
>nothing recorded on any surface at the factory. You can essentially put
>what you like there as part of the low-level format.

  If it has to be LL formatted then I'm screwed! Even if I found another
419 it may not work. I suppose there may be a device dependent command to
LL format it but I have no idea what it is. If I knew what the command was
then I could send it using the HP-IB bus analyzer.

   Joe
Received on Fri Feb 19 1999 - 21:43:16 GMT