My old computer (which believe it or not, I still use to this
day), is starting to call it quits on me..

I was given a HD not too long ago because I never had an
HD for this computer.. As far as I know, it's MFM, but has
the controller built ONTO the HD (proprietary connector to
the motherboard, for this model computer)..

The HD will sometimes make a "bump" sound, like the HD
is parking, then says "General failure reading drive C", or
"data error reading drive C", and if I hit retry long enough,
it will continue running.. if it's writing and does this, the
data it wrote will be corrupt..

how can I fix this? the HD came pre-formatted from
yeaaarrrrsss ago (1992 to be exact)..

someone said I should do a low-level format, but I tried
scan-disk first.. Scandisk when doing a surface scan,
would hang up, do it's thing, but no error is produced,
and scandisk never marks that cluster as bad... so, what
can it possibly be? it's always at a specific part on the
disk.. like, if it's writes a file like this, it will read the same
file ALWAYS like this... (it almost seems that a certain
cluster is bad, a couple of them).. but if scandisk don't
mark them bad, how do i fix this?

someone in my technical college recommended a low-
level format, or an unconditional format, but will the latter
be enough? (and how the heck do i do a low-level format,
without a disk to go with the HD specifically?)

oh, the HD is 20MB's... as old as this computer is, i would
like to see it still run well, because well, it's my first PC,
and i still rely on it doing tasks for me..

I would FDISK (this used to be call low level format), and create a new partition, then FORMAT the HD, which should mark any bad clusters.

The sound makes me supect the HD has a physical damage.

As a sidenote, 20MB seems a small HD for a PS2, but that could be my memory getting bad.

Maybe someone else has other thought.

Nigel

I support Bigger feet for rabbits

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knowing it's a model 25, i think the 20MB was standard with
this model (though as i said in the OP, i cheeped out for a
while without one XD)

you sure FDISK is the original low-level format? I always
thought it was more intense than that, literally dangerous...

If you can not get a utility disk specific to the HD and if there is no LLF in the HD BIOS, your best bet is probably Spinrite. I don't remember ever using it on MFM but it's very well made and I'd expect that if it can't do that drive, it will tell you.

"NEC V30"

SHEESH! I had one of them once.

=====================================
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

the NEC V30 was installed today actually.. i had an Intel
8086 before.. this is an "upgrade", as it's like a 286
overdrive, just without the protected modes.. (and it has Z80
support too, which i think is sweet!)

i'll give spinrite a shot...

I think those older IBM's had a setup (reference) floppy disk that did the equivalent of the CMOS setup.

yea, i have one of the disks, but it doesn't have a low-level
format option.. it just has a HD Diagnostics mode, which
says my HD passes... (when it runs, it sounds like it's just
running a servo test)

Spinrite is my very first vote here, and yes it will work with MFM and RLL...
I have been using it for about 20 years and there is nothing like....
If you do go with it run the DEEP PATTERN test,
it can take hours but does have a chance of breathing life back into an older drive....

Keep the old stuff running

FDISK is a partition tool. Nothing to do with LL or any other format.

=====================================
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

ok, i just had contact with a friend of mine last night, he
knows that in order for me to trigger my HD's low-level
format utility which is built INTO it's own controller, I need to
use the DEBUG command..

But for an IBM Model 25 PS/2, what's the command? (it's
different between controllers)

At the debug prompt >

g=c800:5

This is a Low Level debug format that I all ways used

Keep the old stuff running

ok good, thanks, i'll try that one when i backup everything...

This page may also have some useful info as well:

http://www.walshcomptech.com/ps2/co...