Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!microsoft!brianw From: brianw@microsoft.UUCP (Brian Willoughby) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Re: Using innerdrive with a laser UDC drive Summary: We've got to do something... Message-ID: <7433@microsoft.UUCP> Date: 18 Aug 89 17:59:03 GMT References: <8908171728.AA27197@obsolete.UUCP> Reply-To: brianw@microsoft.UUCP (Brian Willoughby) Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA Lines: 50 In article <8908171728.AA27197@obsolete.UUCP> seth@pro-angmar.UUCP (Seth Itzkan) writes: >Network Comment: to #2857 by obsolete!pro-xy!jlink%bloom-beacon.mit.edu > >John, >I seam to having a similar problem, my laser drive with the UDC appears to >be putting bad sectors on my disks. Also, it does not work with my inner >drive which I just installed. In a quick summary of my problems, the UDC stops interfacing with the drive after a period of use. If you happen to be writing to the disk at that time, then what is written to the disk is garbage. If all of us are having problems, then why don't we all call Laser? (I know it costs money to call, but so does buying a new controller) Laser tried to say it was my Apple II Plus (which they "don't support"), but it seems that everyone's problems are machine independant. Laser also claimed that they don't handle the UDC design, Video Technology does. Anyone have their number? How about if everyone who is having trouble with their UDC send me mail detailing thier machine type, processor and list of peripherals used at the same time as the UDC. I'm interested in Apple, Laser and other clones, 6502, 65C02, 65C802, 65C816 procs, and cards like the TransWarp and/or other disk storage peripherals like the InnerDrive. A little data on how many errors are occurring over a period of use (try Copy II Plus disk verify) would also be welcome evidence. I think I have isolated my problems to be related to the UDC's use of the RDY signal (which perhaps the InnerDrive uses?), and its interaction with my 65C802, but I don't think the problems that everyone else is having is limited to the same conditions. > >Do you (or anyone), think I should just bag the whole UDC laser drive sytem >for something else? Should I try to get it fixed? I would like to find "something else" to replace the UDC, but I don't think anything exists. It's not that the technology is too difficult or anything. IMHO, getting the UDC fixed would have to entail a redesign of UDCs use of the Apple bus or at least a ROM re-write, followed by a warrenty fix from Laser or Video Technology. The UniDisk is unacceptable, because I already have two Apple 3.5 Drives, and besides, I wouldn't be happy upgrading to a GS with only UniDisks. Why doesn't Apple offer something like the UniDisk card for the non-GS CPUs, but which is more up to date and handles all SmartPort interface drives? I usually stick to Apple Co. products (like my drives), but they are getting beat in the interface arena. Brian Willoughby UUCP: ...!{tikal, sun, uunet, elwood}!microsoft!brianw InterNet: microsoft!brianw@uunet.UU.NET or: microsoft!brianw@Sun.COM Bitnet brianw@microsoft.UUCP