-=> on 02-27-05 12:23, WAYNE CHIRNSIDE wrote to TOM WALKER <=-

 -> I wouldn't expect it to. MicroSlimes Windows scrambled the
 -> Partitioning information becasue of the Wrong version of FDISK used.

 WC> I was brought up to speed on this... the day after receiving
 WC> an e-mail suggesting I "was so cautious it bordered on paranoia."
 WC> It was then I proceeded against my instincts.

I had a little HDD accident myself around first of the year, and now
can't find an email where I said that, but it sounds familiar, so - -

The "paranoia" comment was over your dogged insistance on worrying about
the Promise card not supporting ATAPI devices, (because those particular
words did not appear at the Promise website) despite having been sent
several pieces of info which clearly indicated that it will, and
evidence that the IDE and ATAPI specs were combined back in 1998.

Of course, the card _does_ support ATAPI devices, _after_ the Windows
driver is loaded. (I know this, because I did it here). Back at that
time, we both thought the card might give CDROM support using the M$
DOS-based CDROM drivers (it does not), and I was _trying_ to encourage
you to give that a try, as a "simple hardware check."  _That_ is what
you were bordering on paranoia about, back then.

 TW>> But the Western Digital Diagnostic program, OR the LINUX program
 TW>> soemone mentioned can recover the Drive by zeroing out the MBR.

 WC> No if Linux can't see the drive.
 WC> Wrote Roy's command down but if fdisk -l and fdisk /dev/hde fails
 WC> I don't see the dd command working either.

For HDD connected to the Promise card, I think the main concern is
whether the BIOS on the card autodetects the drive, as shown on a splash
screen during POST. If the HDD is scrogged so badly that the card no
longer autodetects the HDD, I think you will need to take the HDD to a
newer machine, and if the BIOS on that machine will autodetect the drive
and its CHS parameters, then may be able to zero it out and proceed to
fdisk, repartition and format it.  Since old Win98 FDISK scrogged the
drive, I'd start with the new Win98 FDISK, rather than the Linux
version, but that is just me. YMMV (and it usually does).

 WC> Drive's still in the machine but power and cable unconnected.
 WC> I'd need to slip the I/O card in again too to try again.

 WC> Due to my circumstances all this must be done laying on my back
 WC> with the computer on a roll cart and a light shining into the case.

So why not make it easy on yourself, and stop taking the card in and
out, in and out, to the point of recently starting to fret yourself
about yet another Waynesworld concern - worrying that you may be wearing
out your PCI slot?

- - -  JimH.

... "I did not know that." - - Johnny Carson
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