From: t1000@rogerwilco.org   
      
   On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 06:55:48 -0600, Mark Whitlock wrote:   
      
   >     Try the low level format utility, then if you get the bios screen,   
   > you will   
   > know that the interface (cables,IDE pins, & ROMS) are all working. If   
   > this   
   > works (probably 1/2 hour, to 2 hours) then try the regular format &   
   > install.   
   > The low level also sets up a parameter block (I think on the last   
   > track) to   
   > hold the info you input in case it has to virtualize. If the low level   
   > does not   
   > work then we know there is a communication error. The hang could be   
   > caused by the controller getting bad information from the block or   
   > even   
   > by it attempting to boot using a non tandy OS. The fact it tries is a   
   > good   
   > sign.   
   >     Please let us know how it is going.,   
      
      
   All good suggestions, gentlemen, but I'm not getting so far as to even   
   attempt a low-level format, in general.  As I mentioned in my original   
   post, I'm trying to boot from my floppy, and it is during the initial boot   
   sequence that the machine will generally hang.  If I do get lucky and get   
   a boot prompt (after booting from my floppy), on the very first access to   
   the drive, the system will hang with the HD selected.   
      
   And, yes, everyone who mentioned the low-level formatting particulars are   
   correct.  The DEBUG command 'G=C800:0005' is correct.  It kicks off the WD   
   BIOS formatting process.  As mentioned in my first post, though, I have   
   confirmed that this drive/controller combination work just fine in a   
   Leading Edge Model D.  The drive is formatted, and DOS 3.3 is installed,   
   ready to go.  It will boot my LE Model D without any difficulties at all.   
   So I know the drive and controller are working (at IRQ 5, at least) and   
   that the HD is bootable.   
      
   Now, back to the Tandy 1000A...   
      
   I'm starting to believe that it is *indeed* a DMA problem.  Turns out that   
   during one particular sequence when I *was* able to successfully boot from   
   the floppy, I did successfully get to the HD BIOS with DEBUG, exectued the   
   C800:5 format routines and all went fine.  No DMA events are used for   
   that, and the PC is just waiting for a functional return from the WD   
   BIOS.  Once I complete the format, and return to DOS, on my next attempt   
   to *read* anything from the drive (i.e., FDISK, DIR, etc.) then the system   
   will hang with the HD LED lit up.  I'm starting to think that the Tandy   
   BIOS is not really fixed.  The most recent comment from Willard suggests   
   that there actually were HD controller BIOSes specific for the T1000(A?).   
   Perhaps that's at the root of this.   
      
   Anyone have such a WD controller BIOS that they could dump?  I'd like to   
   burn it to a ROM and give it a try...   
      
   Many thanks,   
      
   Jared   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)