compaq portable plus problems

[Roy J. Tellason]

On Sunday 03 February 2008 13:37, Paxton Hoag wrote:
> > > does anyone know the correct incantation to low level format an MFM
> > > drive, a rodime 351, driven by a Compaq controller board.
> > >
> > > I,ve tried with debug G=C800:5 to no avail.  there is no format program
> > > there!.
>
> The Adaptec 2070A controller used G=C800:CCC and it is an 8 bit HD
> controller of that vintage.
>
> I have had several of the Compaq II Pluss in the past and ISTR that
> the Format SW is on the Diagnostic disk, but it has been too many
> years to be sure.

One Compaq we have around here,  while somewhat later (I think it's a P60 or 
somesuch) had a separate diagnostic partition on the original 500M drive.  In 
trying to stuff another drive in there I was able to download all sorts of 
stuff from their web site,  which may or may not be possible with something 
as old as what's being talked about here,  but it's something that might be 
worth a shot...

They did seem rather fond of that sort of thing,  and a utility rather than 
the more common debug route wouldn't surprise me in the least,  particularly 
if they've got their own ROM in the controller.

-- 
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