Compaq Server drive in PC - remove bios partition?

[tcot13]

I have a new (never used) 9.1gb Compaq SCSI 80 pin drive - with an 80to68pin adapter and an Adaptec 2940U2. However I cannot format the drive - with 3rd party utils or Windows (install). I am told I need to remove the Compaq bios partition - but none of the utilities I have tried see it, and the SMART cd won't work on a PC. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Terry

 

[manikm]

what happens if you try to install an OS on it, say for example Windows 2000 - does it detect the disk....

 

[tcot13]

Yes, the OS does see it, and attempts to format the disk - but fails after 99% completion of the format. IT is almost like it is prevented from writing something to the drive?

 

[manikm]

Whats the model number of the disk?

 

[manikm]

have a look at this article,

http://www.geocities.com/astro_van_1985/compaq3xp.html

it may help OR:

a nice little IBM utility called Zap. It writes zeros to the first 128 sectors of a drive. It will clear the master boot record and first partition boot record. You can find it at

http://www.storage.ibm.com/techsup/hddtech/welcome.htm

 

[tcot13]

I attempted to download zap - but IBM has moved it's site over to Toshiba.

The drive model is Compaq #BD00911934

Thanks
Terry

 

[manikm]

you need to find a low level formatting utility mate, have a surf on the net for one....

i know MAXTOR do one, try there site....