SCSI Problem Atlas 10K

[kglo]

Hi all,

I recently got a hold of some SCSI hardware and was trying to install them onto my computer, I have never worked with SCSI before. Here is what I got:

Controller: Adaptec AHA-3940UW
Harddrive: Quantum (Maxtor) Atlas 10K 9.1GB
Ribbon Cable: 68-pin with an LVD/SE Active Switchable Terminator (AMP brand)

I managed to boot up and get into Windows XP, formatted the drive and was able to move data to and from it. But I have experienced the following problems.

1) I can only boot up from a power off state. That is, whenever I RESTART (not from a power off state) the computer thru WinXP, the computer gets stuck when it is trying to recognize the Adaptec controller bios.
2) I can't seem to complete a Sisoft Sandra Benchmark on the drive. It was go on forever and I would have to kill off the process.

Is there any jumpers I should set on the harddrive? Right now, I have Termination Power and Delay Spin enabled. And have my SCSI ID at 0. Anything in the SCSI Controller BIOS that I have to set in particular?? The drive has been verified to be in good working order with Maxtor's SCSIMax Utility.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Zepper]

The 3940UW HA (host adapter/controller [sic]), is Single Ended. Your drive is probably LVD (backward compatible to SE). Some LVD drives autoconfigure to SE when connected to that kind of HA but others need to be jumpered. I always set the SE jumper if there is one just to be safe. I use a standard 68-wire cable with a good active SE terminator for drives set this way - IOW, never use LVD cables on an SE HA as cabling is always a picky issue with SCSI.
. Also set the data rate for the drive in the 3940 setup to 40MB/sec max and make sure the other device settings are correct for the device (sync negotiation-yes, wide negotiation-yes, etc.).
. For more good scuzzy info go to: http://www.scsifaq.org .
.bh.
Where's the :sun: ?

 

[kglo]

Thanx for your insights Zepper...but I am still unable to get around the issues I was having...it still wouldn't not be able to boot from a RESTART command...still only works when I power up from a power down state...
Maybe something is wrong with the controller?? I can get an Adaptec 2940UW to try out later...

 

[Zepper]

Why not get an LVD HA for that drive? I stole one on eBay a few months back. Brand new Tekram 390U2W in box w/ beautiful LVD cable, SE cables, terminators etc for less than $50.
. It was listed in the wrong category so I had little/no bidding competition.
.bh.
:sun:

 

[bozo1]

Assuming it's an LVD drive - there were Atlas 10K models that were UltraWide and not Ultra2+.

If your drive is not-LVD, the controller you have is fine but you should be using a standard SCSI cable (non-LVD) and have the drive terminated via the jumper on the drive.

If your drive is LVD, use the cable you have but get an LVD controller - you can get an LSI for under $70 at Hypermicro.

Either way, you shouldn't be using an LVD cable with the controller you have.

 

[mastertech01]

Is this a 68pin drive or SCA with an adaptor?

 

[kglo]

As I said...I am quite new to SCSI...but here is more info about the setup that I have...

1) The only controllers that I can get my hands on right now are either the Adaptec AHA-3940UW or the 2940UW (so these are both Single-Ended controllers?)

2) The drive is a 68-pin drive

3) The drive itself does not support on-board termination

And another question...how can I tell an LVD cable from a "standard" one??

Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

[Zepper]

I always use a good external terminator in the end connector on the cable (or the built-in terminator on the end of some SCSI cables). You can't be sure whether the internal termination on some drives is active or passive or of a good configuration. If you buy your stuff from good SCSI sources like HyperMicro or Granite et al., you can be sure of getting the right thing.
Regular SE scuzzy cables look like the IDE/floppy cables you're familiar with - flat parallel wires. Narrow SCSI has 50 large wires and wide has 68 fine wires (similar to the newer UATA/UDMA 80-wire IDE cables) An LVD cable has twisted/braided wires and looks very different from the drive cables you're used to but still has 68-pin connectors like the ones on the 68-wire SE cable.
.bh.
:sun: