A Sick IBM 5170 AT

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A Sick IBM 5170 AT	by Bill Degnan - 11/15/2010 19:20
The IBM AT Model 5170 front-left Display when the system was working perfectly, all software running normally. I removed the battery. Now the system does not recognize the hard drive, and the display mode is in 40-columns. Unlike the IBM PC/XT, the system configuration is stored in memory ROM requiring battery power. The IMI 5012H is I am told a clone of the Shugart ST-512, which is a type 1 drive. I verified that the jumpers on the motherboard were OK. I was not able to find the manual for the IMI 5012H. NEXT: Run the AT diagnostics, guess/assume that the drive type is "1", and see what happens. If it's not a type 1, it could be a type 2. I could also try running Spinrite to extract the drive type if needed. I can't imagine that the hard drive just crashed because I removed the battery. It was probably just about dead, and removing it cleared what charge remained. I need to replace the internal battery. Until then I will have to re-initialize the system each time I do a cold boot. Let's see if I am correct. pics Reply
How to determine IBM Drive Type Number	by Bill Degnan - 12/23/2011 16:44
I found a shareware program that will ID an IDE hard drive, so that one can determine the IBM drive type number. ================================================================ Company: Micro House International Author: Vasu Raman 4900 Pearl E. Circle #101 Boulder, CO 80301 (800) 926-8299 Sales (303) 443-9957 BBS ================================================================ Program Title: IDE Indentify v1.40 Compile Date : 12-04-92 Previous Version: 1.20 Category: Utilities, Hard Drives Keywords: IDE, DISK, HARD, CMOS, PARAMETERS BBS Name: MH-IDE.ZIP (formerly IDEID.EXE) ----------------------------- Program Description: ----------------------------- IDE Identify v1.40: Returns info on all IDE hard drives attached to your (286+) system. Shows head, cylinder, and sector counts for CMOS setup parameters. Drive only needs to be hooked-up, does not need to be prepaired. (Date 12/04/92) Req: 286+CPU. Freeware from Micro House International. -AV Download IDE Indentify v1.40 NEXT - With the info obtained from IDE ID, visit the following page to determine the IBM drive type: http://www.minuszerodegr..._type/5170_hdd_type.htm This page is very useful for IBM PC/XT/AT class systems. Hopefully finally I can finish this project. Reply
IBM AT 5170 update	by Bill Degnan - 08/26/2012 17:51
Tried 5 hard drive controllers, none worked. The symptom is strange. I boot the system and it correctly holds the configuration, counts up the RAM, and boots to disk, eventually. System checks drive A and then drive B. System freezes for about three minutes. Eventually a misc hard drive error (1780 or 1790) is returned by the system, cannot boot from or read hard drive. I tried a few known working drives that I also knew the correct drive number. So after a lengthy bit of research and testing I have given up for now, and set the system as a dual disk drive, no hard drive config. The original hard drive was returned and left disconnected. For a future time I suppose. When I get an AT to compare it to I will try this again. Reply