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From: "John S. Dyson" <toor@dyson.iquest.net>
Message-Id: <199608300420.XAA01980@dyson.iquest.net>
Subject: Re: strange error with WD family disk
To: dubois@primate.wisc.edu (Paul DuBois)
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 23:20:36 -0500 (EST)
Cc: dyson@freebsd.org, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
In-Reply-To: <199608300352.WAA29674@night.primate.wisc.edu> from "Paul DuBois" at Aug 29, 96 10:52:56 pm
Reply-To: dyson@freebsd.org
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> >> Sort of dumb question, but you are kidding right?
> >> 
> >> If not then  how does someone get the updated microcode?  Or do we have 
> >> to return the drive to Western Digital?
> >> 
> >I have an RMA about to ship 2 of 'em back now (a 1.6GB, and a 2.5GB) that
> >have completely failed.  They do have a download with which you can effect
> >the microcode update (their term for it is an "overlay".)  Before applying
> >the patch, you need to scan the disk for bad spots (and I guess it does
> >bad block forwarding.)  Unfortunately, you need to run MS-DOS to perform
> >the update :-(.
> >
> >Again, this is not definitive, but WD appears to know about the problem,
> >and there is "something" wrong.
> 
> Do you have the URL for this update?  I just went poking around on
> ftp.wdc.com but I'm not sure what I'm looking for, and there weren't
> any obvious clues that I saw.
> 
I have not given that info on purpose so that you'll talk to WD
tech support if you think that you need the patch -- I am simply
a clueless user :-).  I don't take any responsibility for what
happens if the re-flashing causes problems.

However, with that disclaimer, the files reside in:

ftp://ftp.wdc.com/drivers/hdutil

The files specifically of interest include:
	wd_clear.exe
	overlay.exe
	wdatide.exe


Best wishes and luck!!!
John