Fasttrak 100 cannot format my 2 harddisk on dos....

[jtch74]

Anyone got any idea on why I can't format both my harddisk while in dos mode. The Fasttrak card is tweak from a ultra 100. I wanted to format so that I can try the raid mode 0 configuration. Thank..

 

[kly1222]

Did you fdisk it first?

 

[Stembolt]

I'm not sure what you have tried, but first create the array in the Promise bios. Then fdisk and create partitions if desired and reboot. Now you should be able to format.

If you have already tried this, please post back. Good luck.

 

[jtch74]

yes....cos I combine 2 harddisk into an array so that i can take advantage of mode 0. So I use fdisk to partition the 1 virtual harddisk into 2 partition.....but after i reboot i can't format the drive...

 

[kly1222]

After the fdisk, does DOS see the two partitions?

How doesn't it not want to format? Need more details...

 

[jtch74]

When I try to format drive c, it will format until 68% after which it will prompt drive not working, process terminated. After that, I try to program drive d, but this time round it let me format without fail.
After this first attempt, I redo the fdisk and try again but this time it let me format drive c but not drive d. so what can be the program.

 

[kly1222]

Hmmm...sounds like a pain in the rear.

Check your cables and settings, delete the partitions, and do another fdisk. Partition the drive again, and try formating once again.

What drives are these and have you ever had problems with them?

 

[jtch74]

hi kly1222, I am using the old ata33 ibm 10.2gb, there is no problem encountered when I format in using the mobo ide. by the way i have also check the cables and settings, delete the partitions, and do another fdisk, repartition the drive, but i still can't format the 2 drive. but can only format 1 drive but the other drive will fail either at 1% or 68%...

 

[kly1222]

Wow, I dunno what to say. I'm stumped. Maybe someone else here can help you out. I personally have a FT66. I've never tried partitioning a raid array before, but it should work (have heard of others doing so). Is the bios updated to the latest one available? Does it format if you just partition it as one drive?

BTW, what are you doing with 2 ata33 drives on that FT100? You should get a couple 75GXP's on that baby

 

[quadcells]

Try this, when you fdisk just make one large partition and then restart and then format. You do know that the mode 0 array is seen as one big hd in dos and windows.
Hope this helps

 

[Dameon]

there was another thread on this topic. Make CERTAIN NO CARDS are sharing an IRQ with your controller. Pull all the cards from the system save the video and this card. See if it works then.

 

[jtch74]

Hi guy, i have already try to partition it as one drive but the result is still the same. there is nothing else except a sound card and a video card nothing else. but this time round the format will stop at 1% and the error is drive not ready, format terminated. but if i were to separate the two harddisk into two array, it work fine.

 

[Taylorm]

kinda off topic but..

I am gettin a abit kt7 raid mobo and 2 ibm 75gxp hd's soon.

Do i need to format the new hd's before i put them in raid 0?

thanks

 

[Davegod75]

make sure you dont'e have anything hooked up to the ide controllers on the mobo when you try to format ...I had problems with stuff plugged in while using fdisk..unplugged them everything worked fine. After you fdisk and format it safe to plug everything back in. Worked for me. I actually narrowed it down to my zip drive. go figure. I left the cd-roms attached and everything worked

 

[bryan2010]

I have a moddem Ultra66 so... You could try to reflash the BIOS and see how that goes. Also, what opitons are you choosing to FDISK?
You can partition a RAID, atleast RAID 0 which I have done. No problems what so ever.
Taylorm: You will lose all your data when you put disks into RAID 0, so a format isnt needed before hand.
On a side note, 2x 75GXP's RAID 0 are fast as h*ll!
Bryan
EDIT: I remember reading about how FDISK detected Zip drives as regular hard drives- causing errors. You have one?

 

[jtch74]

I don't have any zip drive but have a cdrom and cdrw attach to the ide Pri.

 

[kly1222]

Taylorm, just put the two drives on the raid controller, build the array, fdisk the array, and then do a regular format. After that, you'll be good to go.

Jtch74, if you can, try assigning the fasttrak it's own irq. That way, nothing will touch it. Some pci slots on your motherboard may share irq's. That gives me another idea. Try putting the fasttrak in another slot. Sometimes the motherboard or the card can be picky to where it is.