CompuServe Thread

#PAR Crash — Once Again

10 messages in this thread
#168311From: alec jasonMay 5, 1995 3:30 AM
Dave, My PAR has _always_ been unreliable. I never know when the whole disk will go bad after doing a simple "delete frame" or an optimize. I've learned not to trust it and I back up all my animations before doing any work (a real pain.) But now I've got a new problem: I optimized the drive and find that virtually all the animations on my 1.7 gig disk are ruined (as usual). I reformated the drive as I always do after a PAR crash but this time I can't get a "root" directory. The only directory showing is an " " " (which is a "O" with a " ' " over it). If I try to rename the O, I get the "Rename" window but I get a solid blue line starting from inside the "Enter new name:" window and extending all the way across the entire screen. Then if I enter "root", the blue window goes away but the blue line remains on screen. If I try several things, I get a crash back to DOS. I'm using the 1.5 software. Alec Jason
#168562From: J. D. WILSONMay 6, 1995 1:51 PM
PMJI, Mega DITTO to your PAR message. I would really like to hear something from the digital (PAR creators) people. We bought the Conner drive on the recommended list. We even called DPS and confirmed the selection. NOW they say they only recommend the Micropolis. We WOULD have bought whatever THEY said. THEY had the Conner on their list. Totally bugged. I COULD love this machine, however…… —JD
#168607From: sherwood egbertMay 6, 1995 8:56 PM
i use the microp, and if fails also , you never know when , just that it will happen at any time. kind of like an earthquake, could be next minute or next year , but you know it going to happen. sollution ? back it up , often ! , so far the software is still unstable , don't let anyone tell you it is . sherwood animations
#168972From: J. D. WILSONMay 8, 1995 9:30 PM
Thanks for the reply! Yes we are trying a DPS listed Micropolis drive and with the same results. JD
#169359From: KENN MACINTOSHMay 10, 1995 6:28 AM
MEGA BUMMER. NOW I'M TOTALLY CONFUSED. I'M INVESTIGATING THE WORLD OF 3D AMIMATION AND WOULD LIKE TO GET DEEPLY INVOLVED, BUT TECHNOLOGY IS ZIPPIN' SO FAST IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP. AUTODESK RECOMMENDS THE PAR CARD BY DPS TO DUMP TO VIDEO. DPS (TECH SUPPORT – SCOTT,,,1-606-371-5533) RECOMMENDS BOTH THE MICROPOLIS 2217A (1.6 GIG) AND THE CONNER CFA1275A (1.27 GIG). IS DPS PAR THE WAY TO GO????? I UNDERSTAND DPS HAS A NEW CARD ON THE BURNERS 'PVR' PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER, WHICH I BELIEVE PLUGS INTO A PCI BUS AND ALLOWS YOU TO RUN SCSI HARDDRIVES AND NOT RESTRICT YOU TO A MEASLY 1.6 G…….SHOULD I HOLD OUT????? HOW DO YOU LIKE THE PAR CARD OTHERWISE? WORK GOOD? LET ME KNOW IF I'M WAISTING MONEY. THANKS FOR THE HELP KENN MACINTOSH
#168564From: J. D. WILSONMay 6, 1995 1:57 PM
PMJI, Once again, I just found out the DPS person, one of our employees contacted them, and they "dared" to suggest they never suggested the drive. The drive we used, upon DPS approval and recommendation, is not the drive to use. He was obviously very pious in his response to the questions from our employee. We are becomming very disappointed in the DPS Par system and the company. JD
#168585From: Alan L. HarringtonMay 6, 1995 6:03 PM
Alec, Wish I had read your letter a week ago. Had my first schizophrenic PAR breakdown yesterday–chomped nigh everything on my Micropolis 2217a 1.7 gig drive, more or less a gig down the tubes, after optimizing. Is that the same drive you're using? Wish I had made the backups that you've gotten into the habit of making. Just thinking about all the re-rendering and re-editing time makes me want to pick up my monitor and chuck it through this large window in front of me and run out screaming into the street. What frustration. It scares me that this is a regular happening with you. I don't look forward to more of the same. What I want to know is, is this a common occurrence generally with the PAR? Have other people out there experienced the same thing? What's going on and what can I do? I'm using the 1.5 software, too. One other note: one time soon after the "crackup" when I booted up the PAR I got a red message "Drive [E:] data integrity failure. Press any key…" When I pressed a key it hung. That's the only time I got the message. Now I'm stuck waiting till Monday to talk to DPS. Uggh. Alan Harrington
#168797From: David WhiteMay 8, 1995 9:05 AM
I have not worked on the PAR for over a year so I wont try to answer this thread but I printed all the messages and have sent them the the US VP for action. In the mean time you should contact Scott or Gary at (606)371-5533. Dave
#169381From: James Coulter[Mindscape]May 10, 1995 8:57 AM
> Then if I enter "root", the blue window goes away but the blue line remains on screen. If I try several things, I get a crash back to DOS. < Alec, did you try the partest.exe? When my first Micropolis fried, it consistantly failed the PIO test. If your drive fails one of the tests repeatedly, you probably have permanent damage to the drive. Fortunately, it has a 5 year warrenty! I wonder what Micropolis was thinking when they put that warrenty on it? I'll bet they've replaced thousands by now and its been only about a year since they were available en mass. — James — Choreo Motion —
#169471From: alec jasonMay 10, 1995 4:50 PM
James, Yes, I tried the partest.exe. It has always shown that everything is okay. The problem is, I belive, deeper than the drive. Thanks, Alec Jason