+------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Subject: | Using the MXTFMT.EXE Low Level Format Program | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Nr: |TN-9512-003 | Revision: | 03 | Date: | 29 March 1999 | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Model: | MXT-540A Hard | Product: | MXTFMT.EXE | | | Drives Only |---------------------------------+ | | | Version: | 1.2 | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Summary: | This Technical Note describes the steps to be | | | followed to perform a low level format on a Maxtor | | | LXT series hard drive using the MXTFMT.EXE program | |------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Disclaimer: |This Document is provided as is without any warranty| | |of any kind, either expressed or implied. In no | | |event will MAXTOR CORPORATION be liable to you for | | |any damages, including any loss of profit or | | |savings, arising out of the use or inability to use | | |the information contained in this document. Maxtor | | |Corporation makes no representations or warranties | | |with respect to the contents hereof and specifically| | |disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability | | |or fitness for any particular purpose. | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Y2K Ready | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The functionality of Maxtor utility programs are not affected | | by the date (year). None of these programs use calendar dates, | | therefore they are not affected by the coming century date | | change. | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ The MXTFMT.EXE program is ONLY to be used with Maxtor MXT-540A Series Hard Disk Drives. The MXTFMT.EXE program will Low Level format the hard drive and restore the media to its original factory format. NOTICE: The MXTFMT.EXE program is provided as is without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the program is with the user. In no event will MAXTOR CORPORATION be liable to you for any damages, including any loss of profit or savings, arising out of the use or inability to use this software. Maxtor Corporation makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. ! WARNING ! ----------- All data on the drive will be lost when using this utility. Back up your data before running this utility. Maxtor recommends removing any other hard drives from the system before using this utility. MXTFMT.EXE should ONLY be used if these criteria are met: --------------------------------------------------------- · The Maxtor hard drive is a MXT-540A IDE/AT Series hard drive. · The hard drive MUST be installed on the primary port of the system. NOTE: The MXTFMT.EXE utility is effective SOLELY on Maxtor MXT-540A hard drives. Contact Maxtor Technical Assistance (1-800-2MAXTOR option #1) for available low-level format utilities and/or diagnostics for other Maxtor products. MXTFMT.EXE can be obtained from the following: ---------------------------------------------- · Maxtor Utilities Diskette (MUD) version 7.0 or higher · Maxtor's World Wide Web Site. Download the file named "MXTLLF.EXE". NOTE: MXTLLF.EXE is a self-extracting file containing the MXTFMT.EXE file. Please see "Extracting MXTLLF.EXE" for proper file extraction procedures. Extracting MXTLLF.EXE: ---------------------- This file is compressed, and self-extracting. Prior to extraction, Maxtor recommends that user's copy MXTLLF.EXE to a formatted, DOS (5.0 or higher), Windows 95, or Windows 98 3.5" floppy diskette. 1. Insert the floppy disk containing MXTLLF.EXE in the appropriate floppy disk drive and establish operations at that drive's DOS prompt. 2. At the command prompt, type "MXTLLF" and press the [Enter] key. At this point, two files will be extracted to the floppy disk: · MXTFMT.EXE - Low Level Format Utility for Maxtor MXT-540A hard drives · MXTFMT.TXT - Text file giving procedures to run MXTFMT.EXE NOTE: MXTFMT.TXT is this document. Technicians Overview The following is a brief synopsis of how to run the MXTFMT.EXE utility: · Clean boot the system to the A: prompt · Insert the floppy diskette containing the MXTFMT.EXE · Change to the appropriate directory path containing the MXTFMT.EXE utility · Type MXTFMT and press the [Enter] key · Type (B) for "Format Drive" and press the [Enter] key · Type (A) for "Format Certify, use P and G lists" and press the [Enter] key. · If the format completes with No-Errors, partition and high level format via the operating system. If any error is encountered and the MXTFMT.EXE returns an Error Code, the drive is no longer usable, verify the hard drive's warranty status and contact Maxtor Customer Service (1-800-2MAXTOR option #2) for Out of Warranty Upgrade options. OVERVIEW COMPLETE =================================================================================== Step by Step Procedure The following is the step by step procedures to Low-Level Format the hard drive via MXTFMT.EXE: 1. Clean Boot to A:\> prompt with a DOS system disk. 2. Insert the Maxtor Utility Diskette or the diskette containing the downloaded uncompressed file in the 3.5 inch Floppy Disk Drive and establish operations at that drives prompt. 3. If using the Maxtor Utility Diskette type "cd llfdiag\mxt" and press the [Enter] key. The DOS prompt will change to {drive}:\llfdiag\mxt>. 4. Type "MXTFMT" and press the [Enter] key. This will execute the low-level program and the following screen should appear: M X T - A T L O W - L E V E L F O R M A T U T I L I T Y Drive Address 1F0 hex Rev. 1.2 C. Stone 08-17-93 A) Read Drive ID B) Format Drive C) Read Defect List D) Toggle Drive Address X) EXIT 5. Type (B) for "Format Drive" and press the [Enter] key. The following screen should appear. FORMAT DRIVE HDA Format Features A) Format Certify, use P and G lists 00 hex B) Return to Main Menu Enter Selection 6. Type (A) for "Format Certify, use P and G lists" and press the [Enter] key. 7. If the low level format completes with No-Errors, partition and format the drive with the operating system. If any error is encountered and the MXTFMT.EXE returns an Error Code, the drive is no longer usable. Customers may wish to contact Maxtor Customer Service (1-800-2MAXTOR option #2) if interested in Out of Warranty Upgrades.