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Q78898: Model LXT Maxtor IDE Drives Require Special Low-Level Utility

Article: Q78898
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 01-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 
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SUMMARY
=======

A low-level format of a Maxtor IDE hard drive with the model letters "LXT" can
only be safely done with a special low-level formatting file available from the
Maxtor Corporation. Using any other low-level format utility results in
unpredictable behavior from the hard drive, including losing the ability to run
Microsoft Windows correctly on the machine.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Maxtor technical support indicates that there is no inherent Windows
compatibility problem with Maxtor IDE drives that use a data buffer to transfer
information to and from the hard disk. According to Maxtor, application data
transfers to and from the hard drive through the data buffer or "fast cache" is
transparent to the application itself. In effect, the hard drive completely
emulates a ST506 MFM or RLL hard drive for which Windows is tested. However, if
a low-level format is performed by a utility from another manufacturer, serious
problems with the hard drive may result.

The latest version of the Maxtor low-level format utility, MFORMAT2.EXE, can be
downloaded from the Maxtor bulletin board service (BBS).

For additional information about this low-level utility, contact Maxtor technical
support.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft;
we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance
or reliability.

Additional query words: 3.0 3.0a 3.00 3.00a maxstore low-level 3rdparty max store KBHW

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11

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