LSI Logic Home PageHomeBuild Driver DiskettesInstallation InstructionsUtility InformationProduct InformationContact InformationTable of ContentsAbout This CD
The Communications Company (tm)
      

SDMS™ SCSI Low-Level Format Utility

This document describes how to run this utility and includes these topics:

Features

The SCSI Low-Level Format Utility supports these features:

  • Works with any ASPI-compatible host adapter
  • Provides a graphical user interface (GUI)
  • Multiple adapter/drive selection
  • Multiple Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs)
  • Wide (16-bit) SCSI
  • Provides automatic error retry
  • Provides on-screen display of time elapsed

back to top

Description

This utility allows you to low-level format SCSI hard disk drives connected to LSI Logic PCI to SCSI host adapters. It provides a graphical user interface. Help can be accessed for any decision screen by pressing F1 or selecting Help in the window.

The SDMS Software Device Drivers and Utilities CD-ROM contains three files to run this utility. They are labeled ASPIFMT.EXE, ASPIINF.DAT, and ASPI8XX.SYS (you may use another ASPI manager). Refer to the instructions section for more details about running this utility.

LSI Logic recommends that you place these files on a DOS-bootable diskette, and run the executable file from this diskette rather than from a hard disk drive. This minimizes the possibility of causing interference with your system.

back to top

Instructions for Running the SDMS SCSI Low-Level Format Utility

  1. Create a DOS-bootable diskette by using the FORMAT command at the C:\ prompt. For example, FORMAT A: /S. Be careful when using the FORMAT command to target the correct disk.
  1. Because a hard drive remains unusable after a low-level format until you execute the DOS FDISK and FORMAT command procedures, add these files to the diskette:

    FDISK.EXE

    FORMAT.COM

    Then add these remaining files and drivers, which are located in two separate directories: 

    {CD-ROM Drive Letter}:\UTILITY\DOS

    ASPIFMT.EXE

    ASPIINF.DAT

{CD-ROM Drive Letter}:\DRIVERS\DOS

ASPI8XX.SYS

SYMDISK.SYS

  1. Also create a CONFIG.SYS file to place on this bootable diskette with the single line:

    2. device=A:\ASPI8XX.SYS

    If you need SYMDISK.SYS, include this line:

    device=A:\SYMDISK.SYS

For more information about this driver, refer to the documentation about SYMDISK.SYS.

  1. Boot your system with this diskette and type at the DOS prompt:

ASPIFMT

  1. Press Enter.

The recommended minimum memory requirement for this utility is 2 Mbytes. You need at least 500 Kbytes of conventional DOS memory, and the remainder in extended memory.

When you run the format utility, it scans the SCSI bus for all hard disk and removable media drives. Then it generates a display showing the devices found. You may select devices for the utility to format from this display. 

It can take from several minutes to several hours, depending on the size of the drive, to complete the format. If the format procedure is aborted for any reason, the drive remains unusable until an entire format cycle is completed.

Caution: Use extreme care when selecting a drive for formatting. The format process completely removes all information on a drive. Only 512-byte sector size is supported.

back to top

Troubleshooting

Some potential problems and their suggested solutions are:

Problem: Format does not complete and system is frozen.

Solution:

  • Check to see if the drive still has power.
  • The only way to terminate the program is to reboot. If the format did not complete, the drive remains unusable until a low-level format is completed.

Problem: An unknown status code is received for a Magneto Optical drive.

Solution:

  • Check to see if the medium is present.

Problem: The utility screens are unreadable.

Solution:

  • Check that your graphics card and your monitor match. For example, an SVGA card combined with a VGA monitor may not display the screens.

back to top

MS-DOS IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF MICROSOFT CORPORATION