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From: mlelstv@immd4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de (Michael van Elst )
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: HardDrive Surface Defects
Message-ID: <498@medusa.informatik.uni-erlangen.de>
Date: 14 Sep 89 12:06:59 GMT
References: <0761.AA0761@tronix> <2415@abaa.UUCP>
Organization: IMMD IV, University of Erlangen, W-Germany
Lines: 28

esker@abaa.uucp (Lawrence Esker) writes:

>In article <0761.AA0761@tronix> rwm@tronix.UUCP (Russell McOrmond) writes:
>>In the same manner, some formatting software for the PeeCee will automatically
>>map out Defects while it is formatting, and does not require the entering in
>>of the Defect list ...

>1) Does Amiga Format map out errors on hard disks?  Am I sitting on a data
>   integrity time bomb?

Amiga Format does not map out errors. If error mapping is done it is a
task of the device driver. Nevertheless it could remap bad tracks on the
fly during the Format program, but there would be problems with replacement
track allocation AND of course bad track detection, since Format and the
driver don't get any information about this.

The normal thing is to remap bad tracks during the low level formatter
(that is 'prep').

>2) Just what is the definition of offset and how do I know what to use since
>   my drive does not give the numbers?

The offset is the bit position of the flaw counted from the index pulse.
Anyone that knows how to convert sector number to bit position ?

				Michael van Elst

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