Epson Equity 386SX Product Support Bulletin page 14

Subject: Using High Capacity ESDI and SCSI Hard Disk Drives with the Current
Equity Series Computers
Date: 10/10/90
Page(s): 1 of 2
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide some specific examples of how to install
high capacity ESDI and SCSI hard disk drives in the current Equity Series computers.
The largest drive directly supported by the ROM BIOS (ver 220) in the Equity II+ and
Equity Ill+ has a capacity of 130Mb, while the largest supported directly by the ROM
BIOS in the Equity lIe, 386SX, 386/20 and 386/25 is 153Mb. To allow our units to be
used in stand alone and especially network environments that require higher drive
capacities, the use of the Adaptec ACB 2320 controller (available with the Equity
386/20) with the optional ACB-BIOS (available from Adaptec) will provide support for
a variety of ESDI drives up to 314Mb. The AC&BIOS also has the ability to read the
ESDI drive parameters from the drive itself. This will allow it to configure virtually any
ESDI drive.
NOTE: The Adaptec BIOS ROM should be installed in location U25. In
order for it to work, the jumper J13 pin 1 must be installed. Caution
should be used when ordering the BIOS ROM as problems have
been experienced when using version B. Versions A and C
perform normally.
The WD1007V-SE1 controller is another option that can be used with high capacity
ESDI drives that are not supported by the ROM BIOS drive tables. When using this
controller' make sure that all pins on jumper on W1 are open. You can run SETUP
and use Type 1 for the drive type or let the controller automatically set it at the end of
the low level format routine provided by the controller's BIOS. To start the WD-BIOS
Format Utility, run DEBUG and enter G=CC00:5. This will bring up a menu listing the
operations that are available. Run the low level format and either enter the defective
blocks listed on the drive by hand or let the program enter them automatically.
Continue with the "Verify" and "Surface Analysis" utilities and finally finish with the "Set
Drive Type and Exit". At this point there are 5 options from which to choose using the
"+" and 'I-" keys to toggle through the available choices. Select the 'Translation
Option-63 SPT (Sectors Per Track)" if the hard drive has more than 1024 cylinders or
"Non-Translation" for drives with less than 1024 cylinders.
PSB No: S-0091A
Originator: PNM