DEC machines that can't format a disk (Was: Good Trip/Score Dec

From: Christopher Smith <csmith_at_amdocs.com>
Date: Tue May 21 09:06:39 2002

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk [mailto:ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk]

> Not when there are _good_ techncial reasons for it (like the
> fact that
> the RL01 can't format a blank pack becuase to make a positioner that
> could step accurately enough without reading servo bursts from the
> platter would be rediculously expensive).

Well, that's different. :)

> But when it's done for marketing reasons (so you have to buy the
> manufacturer's expensive pre-formatted floppies, as was the
> case with the
> RX01, etc) then yes, of course it annoys me.

...but this is what I was talking about.

Didn't they have "diagnostic" programs available in some cases (to
field service) that would cause some of these systems to format their
own disks, anyway? I'm certain there was something to get a Qbus VAX
to format hard disks -- I mean, aside from a controller that would do
it in firmware -- but that's probably a little different.

Chris


Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
Amdocs - Champaign, IL

/usr/bin/perl -e '
print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
'
 
Received on Tue May 21 2002 - 09:06:39 BST