README - WDTBLCHK


PROGRAM SUMMARY:

    This program reports the number of drives physically detected and
    also the number of drives accessed by the BIOS and also some 
    additional drive table information.
    
    This program was written so end users can report their system
    configuration to WD tech support personnel over the phone
    when discussing disk drive issues.


TO RUN THE PROGRAM:

    To run the program, type WDTBLCHK at the DOS prompt. 


TO QUIT THE PROGRAM:

    To quit the program, hit ESC.

    To scroll through the different screens, any of the following keys
    can be used: PGUP, PGDN, HOME, END, ENTER, TAB, BACKSPACE.

    At the end of the program, the user is asked if a log file 
    should be created. The user can respond with Y for YES, or
    N or ESC for NO.


COMMAND LINE OPTIONS:

    None

    
LOG FILE:

    When quitting the program, the user is given the option to store 
    the results to log file WDTBLCHK.LOG. This log file contains
    the same information displayed on the screen.


ERROR LEVELS

    Always 0.


DRIVES SUPPORTED:

    All AT-IDE interface drives.


ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:

    Does not change any drive or system settings so this program can
    safely be run on any system.

    Only issues Identify (direct I/O) and Read Verify (INT 13)
    commands to the drives. 


SUMMARY OF INFORMATION REPORED BY THIS PROGRAM:

    DRIVES PHYSICALLY DETECTED - Number of drives found at primary
    and secondary baseports. A count in the range 0-4.


    DRIVES REPORTED BY INT 13 FUNCTION 8 - A count in the range 0-4.


    DRIVE INFO: Drive model, firmware, cyls, heads, spt reported
    by Identify cmd for each drive.


    INT 13 INFO: Drive cyls, heads, spt, and size (bytes) for each drive.


    INT 41/46 INFO: 

       Logical cyls, heads, and spt. 

       Drive cyls, heads, and spt (drive values only valid for 
          enhanced drive table).

       Signature byte (A in upper nibble indicates enhanced table).
  
       Checksum (only required for enhanced tables - reported as valid
          or invalid.

       Enhanced Table: NO or YES (YES if signature byte upper nibble = A).


    TRANSLATE MODE FOR EACH DRIVE:

       One of the following messages is reported for each drive:

       DRIVE NOT ACTIVE - drive not active according to INT 13.

       DIRECT - Translation is C/H/S to same C/H/S.

       LBA - BIOS is issuing commands to the drive with LBA addresses.

       OTHER - Some other type of translation (besides DIRECT or LBA)
          is being used.


REVISION HISTORY:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
rev 1.00, 6/8/94, dms

Initial release.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
