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Conference noted::ibmpc-95

Title:	IBM PCs, clones, DOS, etc.
Notice:	Intro in 1-11, Windows stuff in NOTED::MSWINDOWS please
Moderator:	TARKIN::LINND

Created:	Tue Jan 03 1995
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3023
Total number of notes:	28404

1903.0. "CMOS problems & questions" by BHAJEE::JAERVINEN (Ora, the Old Rural Amateur) Mon Oct 16 1995 08:15

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1903.1	Loose connection?	ODIXIE::GARABO	physically ph-f-f-f-t in Orlando	`Mon Oct 16 1995 15:58`	11
1903.2		BHAJEE::JAERVINEN	Ora, the Old Rural Amateur	`Tue Oct 17 1995 07:54`	11
1903.3	It happen to me too !	VMSNET::F_HARRIS	old hardware hacker	`Fri Oct 20 1995 13:19`	8
1903.4	CMOS erased D: apparently	JULIET::HATTRUP_JA	Jim Hattrup, Santa Clara, CA	`Thu Feb 13 1997 09:40`	20
	For some reason, my CMOS reset to defaults and I lost all my disk setup info. The BIOS is an old AMI, 1992 version. My problem is that although I was able to set up my C drive again (I had written dowm the cylinder, heads, sector data), I do not have that for my 540MB D drive (which is somewhat too big for my BIOS to see all of). I have tried a number of different parameters such as 1120, 16, 59 1024, 16, 64 1006, 16, 64 1091, 16, 59 1024, 16, 63 Nothing completly works. I am running Windows 95. Of the above settings, only the first two result in me even seeing the D: disk in "My Computer" or with FDISK. FDISK indicated that the disk was 503 MB physical, so I used that to guess (unsuccessfully) at some other settings. Is there any utility available so help me restore this drive? Or is it just FDISK, FORMAT, and reload the entire drive?
1903.5	a couple of thoughts	RAYNA::SEGER	This space intentionally left blank	`Thu Feb 13 1997 11:06`	9
	I'm a little puzzled by your question. Clearly you need to get the correct BIOS settings for your drive before proceeding, but then you asked a question about running fdisk/format. I don't see how you could until your BIOS is properly set up - nor should you. I'm not sure if the settings necessarily vary by manufacturer, but I know most vendors have settings available on thier web sites. I'd start there... -mark
1903.6		CSC32::B_GRUBBS		`Thu Feb 13 1997 11:59`	10
	Sounds like you'll need the correct BIOS setting to go with the Disk Manager software you intend to use. On my old 486/33 (1992 AMI BIOS), there's a predetermined BIOS setting for the drive that doesn't in any way match the 540Mb size of the drive. That BIOS setting combined with ONTRACK Disk Manager makes the whole drive seen by windows. --Bert
1903.7	Corrupted? Any utilities that might fix it?	JULIET::HATTRUP_JA	Jim Hattrup, Santa Clara, CA	`Thu Feb 13 1997 19:16`	19
	Re: .4-.6 The drive document (Quantum LT 540) indicates 1120/16/59 which lets Windows 95 see the drive (as 514 10242 MB = 540 10002 MB) , but non of the files on it. I had assumed that was because those particular CMOS settings were not the same as what I had before (which I thought were below the 503/528 MB threshhold of regular IDE). I now think the new VLB E-IDE DTC 2278-E controller I was installing may have corrupted the drive. It initially worked (a few minutes), and everything worked OK. Then the system wouldn't even boot to CMOS -just a blank screen. Putting the old IDE I/O module back in got the system up - but that was when it looked like I lost my CMOS settings. I assume I will have to FDISK and Format the unit. I still am not clear on the CMOS / BIOS / FDISK / FORMAT limitations for IDE (none E-IDE) 'systems'. I am thinking when I initially set the drive up that FDISK or FORMAT did not like it over 503MB (but that was a long time ago :-) ).