From: Nick Robinson <notch_at_engineer.com>
Date: Wed, 08 May 2002 15:12:21 +0100

George,

In my experience, the ATAPI interface is fairly robust, and must current
limit when two outputs are connected together, otherwise I would have many
many dead drives!

Nick.


At 16:01 08/05/2002 +0200, you wrote:
>George Styles wrote:
>
> > Sorry if im out of place speaking, as I am not contributing to the
> > coding at all (time restrictions).
>
>You're not out of place. Feedback and ideas are welcome from everybody,
>not just us hardcore geeks currently getting our hands dirty.
>
> > Am I right in saying that as the ATAPI->USB is handled by a hardware
> > chip, I can still access the HDD via USB and remove any failing
> > firmware?
>
>Yes.
>
> > also, I heard somewhere that its possible to set registers so two
> > outputs are connected together, thus blowing the ATAPI interface. Does
> > anyone know if this is urban myth?
>
>It sounds unlikely. Remember we are talking signal levels here, not power
>lines. Having both the USB and CPU access the ATAPI interface will
>probably only result in bugging software and possibly data corruption.
>
>(That said, we have been surprised by the hardware design before so I will
>definitely not guarantee anything.)
>
>--
>Björn
Received on 2002-05-08