[geeks] Seagate vendor-unique data?

[Bill Bradford]

On Thu, Feb 02, 2012 at 05:21:18AM +0000, Lex Landa wrote:
>Not some sort of OpenBoot-like FORTH thing?  But no, ADVENT would be
>good - it's a nice API.
>> You see three reallocated blocks here.
>> GET BLOCK
>With some effort, you manage to pick up block 291440.
>> THROW BLOCK
>The block sails majestically through the air, landing in an unallocated
>area on the other side of the platter.
>> EXAMINE AREA
>Which area, the reserved area, unallocated area or manufacturers' known
>defect area?
>> KNOWN DEFECT
>The drive is ashamed to admit that sectors 3154881 through 3154885 are
>unusable.
>> DRIVE, SPIN DOWN
>Are you sure?  I won't be able to communicate any more.
>> YES
>As you wish.
><whirr... k'clunk..>
>You scored 127/192, giving you the rank of Advanced Tinkerer.  Play
>again?

Thank you, I *needed* that laugh today.

>> XYZZY
>Nothing happens.

I remember reading something quite recently about manually setting drive
IDs on (DSSI?) hard drives on a VAX by talking to the drive's built-in
controller via command line directly...

Bill

-- 
Bill Bradford 
Houston, Texas