Combining MFM and IDE drives

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3 total messages Started by Bob Hood Mon, 14 Dec 1992 04:07

#820

Author: Bob Hood
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 04:07

19 lines
1255 bytes

I am in a situation where I need more disk space in my PC, and I have
a CONNER 3.5", 120MB IDE drive in my '486 with one of those all-purpose
controller cards (SERIAL, FLOPPIES, HDD, etc).

I also have a Seagate ST-251 40MB MFM-based hard drive sitting here staring
me in the face.  I have fiddled with some MFM controller cards in my machine
(along side the IDE controller), but can't seem to get the two to peacefully
co-exist.

I'm not (yet) asking for a method of making it work, I would just like to know
if it is possible to intermix these two hard drive types in the same computer.

Please reply via email, unless you think this topic merits a public response.

Bob

P.S.  I am aware that this may not be the appropriate group, but, of the 10
groups I subscribe to on my home PC, it was the closest.  Unless you have an
exceptionally clever flame, save the bandwidth...

Re: Combining MFM and IDE drives

#840

Author: Kevin Spousta
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 01:45

19 lines
1388 bytes

@arrakis.denver.co.us (Bob Hood) writes:

>I am in a situation where I need more disk space in my PC

What would you POSSIBLY want with more disk space?  <grin>

>I'm not (yet) asking for a method of making it work, I would just like to know
>if it is possible to intermix these two hard drive types in the same computer.

YES!  It can be done..  You'll need a special controller for the IDE and will
have to boot from the MFM.  (blech!)  Adaptec makes a controller called an
ADP-60L that will read the drive params from an IDE and make it fly.  I use
one of these cards in one of my servers because the thing is so old it won't
recognize a 210m drive.  I set the ADP as the secondary controller, the drive
type for the 2nd (210m) drive as type 1 and off I go.

Maybe an MFM controller that'd let you set it up as the secondary controller
would work.  Just a thought.

Re: Combining MFM and IDE drives

#842

Author: Swa Frantzen
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 09:54

50 lines
2697 bytes

In article <kspousta.724643101@qualcom>, kspousta@qualcom.qualcomm.com (Kevin Spousta) writes:
|> @arrakis.denver.co.us (Bob Hood) writes:
|> 
|> >I'm not (yet) asking for a method of making it work, I would just like to know
|> >if it is possible to intermix these two hard drive types in the same computer.
|> 
|> YES!  It can be done..  You'll need a special controller for the IDE and will
|> have to boot from the MFM.  (blech!)  Adaptec makes a controller called an
|> ADP-60L that will read the drive params from an IDE and make it fly.  I use
|> one of these cards in one of my servers because the thing is so old it won't
|> recognize a 210m drive.  I set the ADP as the secondary controller, the drive
|> type for the 2nd (210m) drive as type 1 and off I go.
|> 
|> Maybe an MFM controller that'd let you set it up as the secondary controller
|> would work.  Just a thought.
MS-DOS woudn't find it, even if you cleared all IRQ and adress conflicts.

These is a real cheap solution:

3drvs110.zip (on an ftp site near you (simtel20 has it))
shareware $20

You'll need :

MFM controller (the good old one works)
with 1 or 2 MFM disks !

IDE controller with "moveable adresses"
(so you could set it up as secondary controller)
The readme in the zip file describes a seagate controller (ST07A or ST08A)
I tried it succesfully with an DTK PTI 227 (jumper settings are at home)
just - disable the floppy drive (if any)
     - move the adresses of the harddisk (170 range)
     - disable the IRQ (if any).

any IDE drive (one supported in the shareware version
up to two IDE drives for the commercial version).
The setup of the PC will contain the drive types for the MFM drives,
no info on the IDE drive(s)
The driver reads the params form your IDE drive and sets it up.
It does this by reading the Master Boot Record on the IDE.
You can LOADHIGH the driver, so you won't waste any memory <640K

-- 
Swa Frantzen
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven          Tel: ++32 (0)16/20.10.15 ext 3604
Departement Computerwetenschappen       FAX: ++32 (0)16/20.53.08
Celestijnenlaan 200 A
B-3001 Heverlee (Leuven)                E-mail: Swa.Frantzen@cs.kuleuven.ac.be
BELGIUM

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