*******************************DOS UTILITIES*********************************
This document provides information for 3 DOS Utilities, which are:
o Using the SCSI Low-level Format Utility
o Using the SCSI SYM53C8XX Config Utility
o Using the SCSI SYM53C8XX Verify Utility
Each section contains features, descriptions, and troubleshooting information.
****************** Using the SCSI Low-level Format Utility ******************
* * * * * * * * * * * Features * * * * * * * * * * * *
o Works with any ASPI-compatible host adapter
o Provides a graphical user interface (GUI)
o Supports multiple adapter/drive selection
o Supports multiple LUNs
o Supports Wide (16-bit) SCSI
o Provides automatic error retry
o Provides on-screen display of time elapsed
* * * * * * * * * * * Description * * * * * * * * * * *
This utility allows you to low-level format SCSI hard disk drives connected
to Symbios PCI to SCSI host adapters. It provides a friendly graphical user
interface (GUI), and help is available for any decision screen by pressing
F1 or selecting Help in the window.
Three files, located on your Symbios SDMS drivers diskette, are
required to run this utility. They are labeled ASPIFMT.EXE, ASPIINF.DAT, and
ASPI8XX.SYS (you may use another ASPI manager). It is recommended that you
place these files on a DOS bootable diskette, and run the executable file
from this diskette rather than from a hard disk drive. This minimizes the
possibility of interfering with your system.
To run the SDMS SCSI Low-level Format Utility:
1. Create a DOS bootable diskette.
2. Because a hard drive remains unusuable after a low-level format
until you execute the DOS FDISK and FORMAT command procedures, the
CONFIG.SYS file on this bootable diskette must also contain these
DOS files. Therefore, add these files to the diskette:
FDISK.EXE
FORMAT.COM
From the "Utilities Diskette:"
ASPIFMT.EXE
ASPIINF.DAT
From the "DOS Diskette:"
ASPI8XX.SYS
From the "DOS Diskette", only if you are formatting removable media
drives:
SYMDISK.SYS
3. Also create a CONFIG.SYS file to place on this bootable diskette
with the single line:
device=a:\aspi8xx.sys
If you need SYMDISK.SYS, include this line:
device=a:\symdisk.sys
4. Boot from this diskette and at the DOS prompt type:
aspifmt
and press Enter.
The recommended minimum memory requirement for this utility is 2 MB. You need
at least 500 KB of conventional DOS memory, and the remainder in extended
memory.
When you run the format utility, it scans the SCSI bus for all hard disk and
removable media drives. Then it generates a display showing the devices
found. You may select devices from this display for the utility to format.
It can take from several minutes to several hours, depending on the size of
the drive, to complete the format. If the format procedure is aborted for any
reason, the drive remains unusable until an entire format cycle is completed.
Caution: Use extreme caution when selecting a drive for formatting. The
format process completely removes all information on a drive.
* * * * * * * * * * Troubleshooting * * * * * * * * * *
The following are some potential problems and their suggested solutions:
* * * Problem * * *
Format does not complete and system is frozen.
* * * Solution * * *
a. Check to see if the drive still has power.
b. The only way to terminate the program is to reboot. If the format did
not complete, the drive remains unusable until a low-level format is
completed.
* * * Problem * * *
An unknown status code is received for a magneto optical drive.
* * * Solution * * *
Check to see if the media is present.
* * * Problem * * *
The utility screens are unreadable.
* * * Solution * * *
Check that your graphics card and your monitor match. For example, an
SVGA card, and a VGA monitor may not deliver the screens.
************ Using the SCSI SYM53C8XX DOS CONFIGURATION Utility ************
* * * * * * * * * * * Features * * * * * * * * * * * *
o Configures all DOS drivers
o Works for all Symbios SYM53C8XX PCI host adapters
o Provides a SCSI bus view showing all SYM53C8XX cards and attached peripherals
o Provides a graphical user interface (GUI)
o Provides online Help
* * * * * * * * * * * Description * * * * * * * * * * *
This utility provides a user friendly way to configure any of the DOS-based
drivers for the CONFIG.SYS file. It assumes the drivers are already installed.
The ASPI8XX.SYS driver must be present and loaded for this utility to run.
On-line help is available at each step for each screen you encounter. You may
press F1 at any time for a list of all the help available.
Several files are required to run this utility. They are:
o CONFIG.EXE
o CONFIG.DAT
o 8BITBUS.PCX
o 16BITBUS.PCX
o ADAPTERS.PCX
o LUNVIEW.PCX
o TILE.PCX
o VIEWIT.PCX
o ASPI8XX.SYS.
If ASPI8XX.SYS already exists on your system and is pointed to by the driver
line in your CONFIG.SYS, you do not need it in the same directory as CONFIG.EXE.
It is included here in case an install of the drivers has not yet taken place.
If this is the case, add the line DEVICE=[path]ASPI8XX.SYS to the CONFIG.SYS file.
Then, reboot for it to take effect. The path specified in the above line is your
choice (C:\SYMBIOS is recommended), and ASPI8XX.SYS must be copied to that [path]
location.
If you wish to configure the SYMDISK.SYS or SYMCD.SYS DOS drivers, they also
require installation prior to running the SCSI BIOS Configuration Utility.
To do a full installation of all the DOS drivers, run the SYM53C8XX
installation utility.
The recommended minimum memory requirement for this utility is 2 MB. You need
at least 500 KB of conventional DOS memory, and the remainder in extended
memory.
* * * * * * * * * * * Troubleshooting * * * * * * * * * *
The following is a possible problem with its suggested solution:
* * * Problem * * *
The utility screens are unreadable.
* * * Solution * * *
Check that your graphics card and your monitor match. For example, an SVGA
card, and a VGA monitor may not deliver the screens.
****************** Using the SCSI SYM53C8XX VERIFY Utility *****************
* * * * * * * * * * * Features * * * * * * * * * * * *
o Provides a system check for our SDMS 4.0 software
o Detects any vendor's adapters and ASPI managers
o Shows detailed device information found on these adapters
o Provides a graphical user interface (GUI)
o Provides on-line Help
* * * * * * * * * * * Description * * * * * * * * * * *
This utility troubleshoots your system by systematically testing and checking
various hardware and software components. No changes or side effects occur to
your system as a result of running this utility. There is a help button on
the first screen that explains in detail exactly what tests and checks are
performed on your system.
A majority of the information received by this utility is via ASPI commands.
Therefore, this utility is most helpful if an ASPI manager is loaded at the
time it is run. Although some limited information can be found without one,
an error is reported if it does not find an ASPI manager. Note that any vendor's
ASPI manager suffices.
The following files are required to run this utility: SYMDIAG.EXE and
Z_VER.DAT. Also, ASPI8XX.SYS is included with these files in the event that it
is not already installed in the CONFIG.SYS file. If ASPI8XX.SYS already
exists on your system and is pointed to by the driver line in the CONFIG.SYS
file, you do not need it in the same directory as SYMDIAG.EXE. It is included
here in case an install of the drivers has not yet taken place. If this is the
case, add the following line to the CONFIG.SYS file:
DEVICE=[path]ASPI8XX.SYS
Then, reboot your system for it to take effect. The path specified in the
above line is your choice(C:\SYMBIOS is recommended) and ASPI8XX.SYS must
be copied to that [path] location.
The recommended minimum memory requirement for this utility is 2 MB. You need
at least 500 KB of conventional DOS memory, and the remainder in extended
memory.
* * * * * * * * * * * Troubleshooting * * * * * * * * * *
The following is a possible problem with its suggested solution:
* * * Problem * * *
The utility screens are unreadable
* * * Solution * * *
Check that your graphics card and your monitor match. For example, an SVGA
card, and a VGA monitor may not deliver the screens.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.