>I've low-level formatted many IDE/ATA drives, most in desktops, but also in >my 1.3GB 1400.
Well, color me crazy. I just tried to LLF an IDE drive in my beige G3. Drive Setup won't let me. (Since I don't have multiple IDE drives in my laptops, and since you can't re-initialize the boot disk, i can't confirm on my 5300ce or Wallstreet at the moment) Open Drive Setup. Click on the drive you want to initialize. Select the "Functions" -> "Initialization Options..." menu. "Low level format" is definitely not available as an option. It is greyed out and not selectable. I'm suspicious that you were able to do this in any desktop mac. Unless you've got one of those Turbo66 or other Sonnet IDE cards (which only allow this through the fact that they are 3rd party controllers and not "known" to Drive Setup - also some of them identify IDE disks as on a SCSI bus). But I'm pretty sure I've heard horror stories on the PowerComputing list about people who LLF'd IDE drives connected to these cards... >I can understand what you say about ATA drives being 'dumb', but if that is >the case, surely drive setup would do the thinking for it? "write this here, >and that there" etc etc...? AFAIK, Drive Setup cannot do this. Drive setup cannot redefine the sectors of an IDE hard drive. So, to those who say that they have successfully LLF'd an IDE drive, I declare shenanigans! :-) For the disbelievers: <http://freepctech.com/pc/001/007.shtml> <http://www.appletechs.com/archives/00000055.html> <http://modecideas.com/faq45.htm?faqsubpar> Peace, Drew -- Author of ClassicStumbler email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> web: <http://homepage.mac.com/alk/> Want to know if your neighbor has Wi-Fi? Find out with ClassicStumbler! <http://homepage.mac.com/alk/classicstumbler/> -- PowerBooks is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PowerBooks list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/powerbooks.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/powerbooks%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
