CompuServe Thread

#Daisy Chaining PROBLEMS

4 messages in this thread
#27983From: H.L. Fuller\VTOct 3, 1992 5:31 PM
Help! I just bought a CD-Technologies CDROM Porta-Drive (it uses Toshi 3301 drive mech.) and attempted to install it in my Northgate Slimline '386-20MhZ. I had already installed an Always IN-2000 SCSI host adaptor to accomodate a Maxtor SCSI drive. Always just published its CDROM driver here on CIS and I downloaded it here and installed that too. My problem is this: no matter how I configure the two devices chained to that host adaptor, I can't seem to get both the CDROM and the harddrive to both work consistently together. That is not to say I have NEVER had both operative at the same time; I have. That's what's so confusing. I had both up and running for a period of about 14 minutes, and then windows hung up on me and when I rebooted, the SCSI harddrive was MIA. After disconnecting the CDROM, the harddrive came back again. I suspect some sort of an interrupt conflict, but I can't put my finger on it. Can anybody suggest any strategies I might pursue? Thanks! — HLF
#27988From: Clarke FerberOct 3, 1992 7:23 PM
Dasiy, I would think that yor problem is more of a termination problem than one of IRQ's. The only IRQ in use by the SCSI system is the one for the controller. On a SCSI bus, there should be a termination resistor on either end of the bus. If you had a hard disk installed and the controller then both devices would have the terminator installed. Depending on where on the cable you installed the CD-ROM drive, you would either have to remove the terminator from the CD-ROM drive or from the Hard Disk. SCSI Controller ———–CD-ROM————Hard Disk Terminated No-Terminator Terminated Refer to the documentation for the location of the termination resistors. On the CD-ROM it maybe a switch or jumper you can remove. -Clarke
#28013From: H.L. Fuller\VTOct 4, 1992 11:11 AM
Clarke – Thanks for the clear discussion of termination resistors. I have been scratching my head over this, as the various manuals have cryptically conflicting verbiage on the subject. The CD ROM drive has no built-in terminator; it's merely a matter of pulling off the terminator adaptor/plug thingy they seemed to be asking me to attach to the cable. Which I will now log off and try… — H.L. Fuller/VT
#28044From: Clarke FerberOct 4, 1992 11:04 PM
H, glad to know that I could help clear up some of confusion. I have the same adaptor thingy on my CD-ROM as well. Let me know if you need additional assitance. -Clarke