#A question to Arlen..
8 messages in this thread
Bryan,
Based on my conversations with you here, adaptec, Corel and HDSS (the mail
order vendor), I ordered Archive Turbo Python DAT drive (DDS SCSI-2 Model
4324MP, internal) 4-8 GB DAT and Adaptec 1542C (ISA, SCSI-2, Fast SCSI) with
the SCSI Master Plus kit (which included Corel SCSI!?) from HDSS.
I have a 486DX-66/256KCache/16MB memory/8 ISA (2 VLB)/ 512 MB
IDE(ISA)HD/Trident SVGA system.
I installed the internal tape drive (with default factory switch setting, SCSI
ID 0), the Adaptec board (SCSI ID 7, Port 330, DMA 5, IRQ 11, BIOS addr CC000),
both terminated, using a 50-pin internal SCSI BUS cable. These two are the
only two SCSI things on the cable (as as in the PC).
I installed adapatec ASPI manager driver ASPI4DOS.SYS in my config.sys as the
first thing (even before QEMM.SYS/HIMEM.SYS) with parameters /P330 & /D.
After rebooting, installed the DOS and windows versions of the Corel utilities
that came in the SCSI Master plus kit. As I did not have any SCSI CD-ROM or
hard-disks in the system, it did not install in my config.sys any additional
device (driver) lines.
After rebooting, I tried the Corel tape backup program for DOS, CTBACKUP.EXE
that came as part of the Adaptec SCSI Master Plus kit. First thing I tried to
do was to try to format a DAT tape. I got a big red screen with the error
message "selected device can not be recognized!"
I tried the Corel tape backup program for Windows, WTBACKUP.EXE, that came with
the Adaptec SCSI Master Plus kit. That also gave a similar message.
Seems that the DOS and Windows programs Corel tape backup (that Adaptec
provided in their SCSI Master Plus kit) are programmed to look for a
"recognizable" tape drive and they see the tape drive but do not seem to
recognize the tape drive that they do see!
I say this because, a strange thing later happened. When I invoked the DOS
tape backup program CTBACKUP.EXE with a parameter "?" on the command line it no
longer gave the error message and started working normally. Out of curiosity,
when I tried the same thing with different characters on the command line, the
program worked OK as long as I typed SOMETHING on the command line after the
command ctbackup!
I called Adaptec tech support hot line late yesterday (11/11). The guy I
talked to did not have much experience with SCSI tape drives and asked me to
download the latest version of ASPI4DOS.SYS from their bulletin board. Last
night, I did that and tried the latest (v 3.22) version. Did not help any!
Do you have any idea what I can do next? Will appreciate any help. If
possible, please call 908-463-8765 and leave a voice msg or CIS MAIL to this
Compuserve ID (72350,3234). Thanks. –Piyush Majmudar
p.s.: The CTBACKUP.EXE is 200257 bytes (5/19/92 15:41:04) and the WTBACKUP.EXE
is 140080 bytes (5/12/92 01:11:00).
Piyush,
The version of our software that is bundled with the SCSI MASTER PLUS kit is
equivalent to 1.01f. There have been quite a few changes in the software. You
are able to upgrade to the latest version of CorelSCSI free of charge plus
shipping. You may even at this point consider a nominal upgrade fee to
CorelSCSI version 2.0. The backup software contained in this version is brand
new and is much more robust. This of course does not explain the problem that
you are having. Normally for DAT drive running CTBACKUP /MASK=0 solves the
unrecognized drive problem.
Either way, you should upgrade the software.
I hope this helps.
Laszlo
Laszlo:
Thanks for the reply.
I called your 800 sales# fro the upgrade (to 1.2?). They need the serial # and
my Adaptec SCSI Master plus kit diskettes are at a different location (home!)
so I will have to order this tomorrow. R2.0 does not seem to be out yet (may
be in a week or so?), but I will upgrade to it as soon as it is available (for
$79?). I do have the invoice of the purchase of Adaptec 1542c with the KIT.
Could have speeded up things if they would have accepted a FAX of it! Oh
well…!
Hopefully Adpatec did not butcher the Corel serial numbers for the Corel
software included in their kit and hopefully the R1.2 will solve all my
problems with the DAT backup <g>.
Thanks again. –Piyush (daytime phone: 201-822-7136)
Laszlo:
Some questions/comments to your last post to me….
(1) Would the /MASK=0 parameter (that you mentioned) for my v1.14 (your v1.0f?)
CTBACKUP also work for the WTBACKUP (v1.11, 140,080 bytes, dated 5/12/92
01:11:00) that I currently have? or is there something else I need to use for
it to not give me the "Unrecognized drive" message for my Archive Turbo Python
DAT?
(2) Where can I find these & other program parameters/options documented? I
received, with my Adaptec SCSI Master Plus kit, a copy of the Corel SCSI manual
(also marked as: ASW 500 user manual, specially developed for Adaptec!) dated
April 1992. But, I did not find the above parameter there! Does Corel maintain
help files here on this forum that can provide us the latest work-arounds for
known bugs and other useful tips? Where? Pls let me know.
(3) This morning, I called Corel sales number and ordered the upgrade to 1.2.
They were nice and agreed to rush it. Hope I will get it soon! Will order 2.0
upgrade to it as soon as it becomes available!
(4) By the way, does Corel maintain, in this forum's libraries, text/zip files
containing new release bulletins that provide descriptions of the new features
and bugs fixed in each new release? If so, pls let me know where.; If not…,
pls consider this as a suggestion that will whet our appetite for the new
releases and make more money for Corel via more/earlier upgrade orders!
Thanks. –Piyush Majmudar (weekdays: 201-822-7136)
The libraries here are filled with information, bug fixes, update info,
etc. They are keyed to the section subject, so things about CorelSCSI will be
in LIB3 since CorelSCSI is Section 3; similarly, Draw4 files/fixes will be in
LIB6, since Draw4's support section is Section 6.
You might take a look at a shareware utility called TAPCIS (GO TAPCIS). Not
screen pretty, basic DOS, but it not only automates your online sessions so
that most of the work, including sending and receiving mail and forum messages,
is automatically done after the reading and composing is done OFFLINE (no
charges). This program can also automatically compile a descriptive catalog of
the files in each library of interest and then allows you to mark and then
download the ones you find of interest.
Thanks for the kind pointers. I will look in the Lib3. BTW, I use OZCIS and
just simply love it! Find it much much easier to use then TAPCIS. (I am new to
this forum, but have been using CI$ off & on for a while). -Piyush
Piyush,
The MASK switch was never documented as it was though that it would never be
useful. The same option for WTBACKUP is /DRIVEMASK=0. This line is placed in
the WTBACKUP.INI file. Since I am new here in the forum, I do not know what we
have listed in the way of help files, ZIP and downloads. It is one of the
things that I have to check on this week.
I hope this helps.
Laszlo
Thanks for the reply.
Last night, after a bit of frustration in trying WTBACKUP, I tried the hacker
approach. Brought up my old outdated WTBACKUP.exe under Norton Disk Doctor in
Hex, found the SCSI device-id strings table in the EXE file, and Changed the
Archive Python entry there to match the string returned by my new Archive Turbo
Python, and saved it! As the two DATs are 100% compatible, everything worked
fine. (God, i am getting too old for these stunts now!).
I will try your suggested /DRIVEMASK=0 .INI file entry tonight with the
unpatched version of WTBACKUP.EXE just for the kicks. My 1.2b upgrade from
Corel should be in by the weekend…any way!
Thanks again. –Piyush