README - WDAT_IDE

This utility scans the media and remaps any grown defects on a Caviar drive.
It also provides performance data such as seek times and data access times.


COMMAND LINE OPTIONS:

To run the menu-driven test, type 'WDAT_IDE' from the DOS prompt.

The following options may be included on the command line after 'WDAT_IDE':
L = open log file WDAT_IDE.LOG (only use this option when
running the test from a floppy, since hard disk data
corruption will occur!!!)
1 = run quick scan of first drive with no menu
2 = run quick scan of second drive with no menu
S = skip pause at end of 'no menu' run

The 'L' option may be combined with either the '1' or '2' option. Either
'1' or '2' may be specified, but not both.

For a description of the command line options, type 'WDAT_IDE ?'.


PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS:

- runs with WDI13
- identifies drive models and number of drives
- if CMOS is set for no drives, sets CMOS to drive type 1 and issues
cold boot
- revectors INT41 and INT46 to new tables that contain physical drive
parameters
- menu driven
- preserves user data whenever possible (uncorrectable errors cannot be
recovered)


MENU OPTION DESCRIPTIONS:

MAIN MENU SELECTION:

0 - Quick Surface Scan ... 2-3 minutes
1 - Comprehensive Analysis ... 8-12 hours
2 - Performance Data ... Access and Xfer
3 - Select Drive ... 0 or 1
4 - Park Drives and Quit"


MENU SELECTION "0 - Quick Surface Scan" description:

1. READ VERIFIES, SEQUENTIALLY, A TRACK AT A TIME.
2. PERFORMS APPROPRIATE DEFECT MANAGEMENT.
3. UPDATE OR CREATES "GROWN" DEFECT LISTS.
4. SAVES AND RESTORES USER DATA, IF POSSIBLE.


MENU SELECTION "1 - Comprehensive Analysis" description:

1. READ VERIFIES, SEQUENTIALLY, A TRACK AT A TIME.
2. WRITES/READ VERIFIES, SEQUENTIALLY, A TRACK AT A TIME.
3. PERFORMS APPROPRIATE DEFECT MANAGEMENT.
4. UPDATE OR CREATES "GROWN" DEFECT LISTS.
5. SAVES AND RESTORES USER DATA, IF POSSIBLE.
6. WRITES TEN "WORST-CASE" PATTERNS AND ONE RANDOM.
7. READ VERIFIES TEN TIMES FOR EACH PATTERN, AND PERFORMS
STEPS 3-5 IF NEW FLAW IS DETECTED.

NOTE: IF A DEFECT IS FOUND, EACH SECTOR ON THAT TRACK IS TESTED
20 TIMES, WITH CACHE DISABLED, TO ELIMINATE "TRANSIENTS"
AND TO INSURE THAT REPEATABLE "SOFT" ERRORS ARE MAPPED.
AFTER DEFECT MANAGEMENT, THE TRACK IS RE-TESTED IN THE
SAME MANNER, BEFORE RETURNING TO THE "GLOBAL" TEST.


MENU SELECTION "2 - Performance Data" description:

1. TRACK-TRACK ACCESS TIME SEEK TEST (200 SEEKS)
2. AVERAGE ACCESS TIME SEEK TEST (1000 RANDOM SEEKS)
3. FULL STROKE ACCESS TIME SEEK TEST (200 SEEKS)
4. DATA TRANSFER TEST (AVERAGE FROM 200 TIMES)
NOTE: BLOCK SIZE IS THE SMALLER OF 32K OR 1 CYLINDER.



REVISION HISTORY:

rev 1.2 3/12/91 Supports piranha
Re-scans correct track after relocating a
sector (previous revision re-read wrong
cylinder, which sometimes caused drive
to park)
Waits for keystroke at end of 'no menu' run
so user can see results

rev 1.1 12/4/90 Doesn't open log file unless requested
Displays new menu order

rev 1.0 11/14/90 Initial release