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Date:	Sat, 25 Oct 2003 15:05:03 PDT7
From:	Steve Carter <scarter@vcnet.com >
Reply-To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
Subject:	SCOUG-Help: Re: Precautionary Low-Level

Content Type: text/plain

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On 10/25/03, Jordan Fox wrote, in part:
>======================================
>I think it may have been Steve Schiffman (?) who told me
>it was advisable, when you first hook up a bare SCSI drive,
>to re-low-level it for the controller that will be driving it,
>using the controller's built-in utility.

I have received that advice from Adaptec tech-support when
I could not boot from a previously Unix drive, but could
read the files on it just fine. It did solve the problem
and I've done it conscientiously on EVERY new installation
ever since. Perhaps it was an Adaptec peculiarity, but it
seems like a worthwhile precaution when setting up a
new HD before installing ANY OS.

I then make a bunch of FAT partitions and run Spinrite on
the partitions for several days (or as long as it takes)
before committing my data to the drive. It seems like
a lot of preparation, but I don't have to do it very often.

True, SpinRite does not recognize HPFS, but then I only use
SpinRite to verify surface integrity BEFORE the _real_ installation.
Once HPFS is installed, it's really too late for SpinRite.
SpinRite is a really neat tool, and I've bought every
version since the dawn of time.

>Does any such advisable consideration exist for EIDE / ATA hard drives?
>
>I don't think there is any such built-in utility for the IDE
>controllers, so you'd need something from the H/D mfr.,
>or to purchase SPINRITE. >Jordan

In general, there is no true LL formatting utility for IDE drives.
In some cases you may be able to obtain a special LL formatting
utility from the HD manufacturer, but regular LL IDE formatting
commands do not really perform a LL format, merely a sector
verify, if they work at all.

--Steve

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