			   X-ATA Version 1.5.0
			    by Marco Pistella
			   mpistella@libero.it

				CONTENTS

   1.  Introduction
       1.1.  What is X-ATA?
       1.2.  Characteristics
       1.3.  SMART (Self Monitoring Analysis Report)
   2.  How to use X-ATA
   3.  Examples
   4.  Limits
   5.  Requirements
   6.  Usage License
   7.  Download new version of X-ATA
   8.  How to Contact the Author


   1.  INTRODUCTION

   1.1.What is X-ATA?

   X-ATA is a DOS/W9x/NT utility  program  which  gives the  user the
   possibility	 to  retrieve  and  display  the  large   amount   of
   information	which is managed and internally stored	by  ATA/ATAPI
   devices such as Hard-disks, CD-ROMs, Tape-Units, etc..
   ATA	and  ATAPI  stand respectively for "AT Attachment"  and  "ATA
   Peripheral Interface".

   Once  invoked,  X-ATA inspects the specified device(s)  trying  to
   detect standard information and the following special features:

   For ATA devices (Hard-disk):
     - UDMA 66/100/133 device
     - Large Hard-disk devices (48-bit addressing)
     - Automatic acoustic management
     - S.M.A.R.T. Status
     - Detect devices on external ATA/ATAPI RAID controller
     - Show temperature and bad sectors info on supported devices
     - Detect Hard-Disk rotational speed
     - Execute internal SMART short and extended diagnostic routines
     - Erase first cylinders on ATA devices
     - View any sector on ATA devices

   For ATAPI and ASPI devices (CD-ROM,CD-R,CD-RW,DVD-ROM, etc..):
     - Compatible with Win9x/Me/2k/XP and ASPI Layer
     - Compatible with SCSI devices and ASPI Layer
     - UDMA 33/66/100/133 device
     - CD-R/RW,DVD-ROM,DVD-R/RW,DVD+R/RW,DVD-RAM device
     - CD-Text device compatibility
     - Detect Buffer underrun free recording
     - Erase CD-RW/DDCD-RW media
     - Read MCN-ISRC
     - Read ATIP
     - Read detailed TOC info
     - Read any sector on CD-ROM media in RAW mode
     - Read CD-Text info
     - Detect RAW-Subcode reading capabilities
     - Detect DVD-CSS Protection scheme
     - Detect DDCD-R/DDCD-RW Disc
     - Store ATIP info on a database
     - Detect Reading error control capabilities
     - Detect Write modes on CD-R/RW disc
     - Detect DVD Regionalization status
     - Detect and view all MMC profiles and features
     - Detect MRW devices (Mount Rainier)
     - Read ADIP on DVD+R(W) devices
     - Read manufacturer and recording power on DVD-R(W) devices

   1.2.Characteristics

   X-ATA  makes it possible to easily browse the information gathered
   from  an  ATA/ATAPI	unit. The information retrieved  out  of  the
   device  can be saved in an image file which can be accessed	later
   on  still through X-ATA. Furthermore, X-ATA allows you to  specify
   any	base  address  for the controller to which the	device	under
   inspection is connected.

   1.3.SMART (Self Monitoring Analysis Report)

   The	new  generation ATA devices allow to monitor  their  internal
   functioning status and implement alarms for the user in case a pre-
   failure  condition is detected. Besides gathering this information
   (status and alarm), X-ATA can also retrieve the attributes (up  to
   30)	of  the  SMART device; each attribute is characterised	by  a
   threshold  value (a number ranging from 0 to 253)  and  a  working
   value (ranging from 1 to 253). When the working value of any given
   attribute  drops below the threshold then the device is  facing  a
   pre-failure situation. X-ATA gives thus the possibility  to	trace
   the internal decay of the device although not yet in a pre-failure
   condition.


   2.  HOW TO USE X-ATA

   On Windows  environment double  click  on  INSTALL.BAT file.  This
   batch file create a icon on Windows desktop to launch X-ATA. On MS
   -DOS environment type  the "X-ATA.COM" command to  start X-ATA and
   to  select one  of the available device. Command line options are:

   /L:NAME Display  device  data  previously stored  in "NAME"	image
	   file.
   /F:xxxx[,yyyy] Set an  external controller  at exadecimal  address
	   xxxx and optional yyyy address for control register.
   /B:NAME Browse ATIP database stored in file "NAME".

   While browsing the  data, use the  Left/Right keys to  scroll  the
   information pages, use CTRL+HOME,CTRL+END to jump at the first and
   last page. Use  the F2 key to save the information in FILExxxx.ATA
   image file (xxxx is automatically assigned and never overrides any
   existing file).  Use the F3 key  to select another device. Use the
   F4 key  to activate	ATA/ATAPI/ASPI	Command/Display menu.  At any
   time you can create a TXT screenshoot by  pressing F6  key.	Press
   ESC	to terminate  your  browsing  session. When  the  F4  key  is
   pressed the following commands are available:

   Get all mode sense pages:
       Retrieve all mode sense page RAW  information. This command is
       availble only on supported device.

   Blank disc:
       Quick  erase a CD-RW media. This command  is available only on
       CD-RW device.

   Load/unload disc:
       Load/unload disk in the selected device.

   Get disc information:
       Retrieve  information on current  CD-ROM media including  ATIP
       (CD-ROM media manufacturer). This command is available only on
       CD-R/CD-RW device, not on CD-ROM device.

   Read sub channel:
       Detect disc MCN, and ISRC for any CD-ROM track.

   Read TOC:
       Display detailed information of the TOC for the current CD-ROM
       media (sessions, tracks, etc..). On multisession CD-ROM detect
       the ATIP (available on CD-R/CD-RW and any CD-ROM device).

   CD explore:
       View any sector on  the current CD-ROM media in RAW mode (2352
       bytes per sector).

   Set CD Speed:
       Try to set  the CD-ROM  device speed using  "Set CD-ROM speed"
       command, and report any available CD-ROM read/write speed.

   Read CD-Text:
       Display CD-Text information on current Audio-CD.

   Read ATIP Info:
       Display ATIP information on current CD-R(W) disc. Press F2 key
       to add this info to X-ATA.DB file (ATIP database file).

   Browse ATIP database:
       View ATIP database of all CD-R(W) disc saved in the "Read ATIP
       Info" option.

   Scan supported error codes:
       Display all error  recovery modes. Useful  to detect fast skip
       error capalities.

   Scan supported write-modes:
       Display all available write-modes for the selected CD-R(W).

   Get device configuration:
       Display detailed information (features and profiles) for a new
       MMC device.

   DVD Regionalization status:
       Reports RPC (Regional  Playback Control)  status of a  DVD-ROM
       device.

   Read DVD Structure:
       Report all available information on DVD-ROM/DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+R
       /DVD+RW/DVD-RAM media disc.

   When an ATA device is detected there are the following commands:

   Detect Hard-Disk RPM
       This command  detect the number	of Rotation Per  Minute of an
       ATA device

   HardDisk Explore
       View any available  sector on the current Hard-Disk  using CHS
       or LBA addressing mode

   Erase first cylinder
       This command is useful  for completly erase exotic  partition,
       demaged Partition Sector or unremovible	Boot Block virus (all
       data on HDD will be lost)

   Execute SMART diagnostic
       This command recall internal HDD short and extended diagnostic
       routine	(more  reliable  then  SMART  status  routine).  This
       internal  diagnostic can  take  several	minutes for  complete
       execution.

   When browse a FILExxxx.ATA file there are the following commands:

   Display all mode sense pages:
       Display all mode sense  page RAW information stored in  an ATA
       file.

   Browse ATIP database:
       View ATIP database of all CD-R(W) disc saved in the "Read ATIP
       Info" option.

   Display device configuration:
       Display detailed information (features and profiles) for a new
       MMC device.


   3.  EXAMPLES

   X-ATA.COM /F:8400,8480
       Sets an external controller at  hexadecimal address '8400' and
       an address '8480' for control register.

   X-ATA.COM /L:FILE_OUT.ATA
       Recalls data out of the file FILE_OUT.ATA and displays it.


   4.  LIMITS

   X-ATA must be launched in MS-DOS or Win9x/NT environment. X-ATA is
   the first and only  software that bypass  the W9x/NT I/O  trapping
   from a 'Real Mode' application. If  X-ATA detect Windows 9x/ME/NT/
   2k/XP, try to use also internal Win9x ASPI manager to execute SCSI
   /ATAPI packet commands. For use of direct I/O port accessing under
   Win9x/NT  you  must	disable the  CD-ROM  autoinsert  notification
   feature. Some cache intelligent controllers can refuse to  execute
   the identification commands.
   However,  in  general, X-ATA is capable of handling all  ATA/ATAPI
   devices  either  belonging to a past or to a new  generation.  If,
   while  using  X-ATA, you encounter anomalies or malfunctions  with
   one	or  more  of  your  peripherals, please  contact  the  author
   following the procedure described in point 8.


   5.  REQUIREMENTS

   To use X-ATA you mast have: an IBM PC compabible, Intel 386 CPU or
   above processor, 142 Kb of free conventional  memory, ATA/ATAPI or
   ASPI device, MS-DOS version 5.0 or above, a color display adapter.
   For use of X-ATA under Windows 9x/Me  you won't need ASPI manager,
   but for Windows NT/2k/XP is	highly recommended the use of an ASPI
   manager. A free ASPI manager could be found at: ftp://ftp.adaptec.
   com/software_pc/aspi/aspi_v470.exe.

   6.  USAGE LICENSE

   This  program  is freeware. Nothing is due to the author  of  this
   program  for  the usage of X-ATA. No manipulation nor modification
   of  it  are	permitted. This document is an integral part  of  the
   release of X-ATA and must always accompany the executable file.
   The	author	of  this  program disclaims  any  responsibility  for
   damages that may be caused using X-ATA.
   The use of X-ATA implies the acceptance of this license.


   7.  DOWNLOAD NEW VERSION OF X-ATA

   New version of X-ATA could be found at: ftp://ftp.elf.stuba.sk/pub
   /pc/utildiag/x-ata???.zip (??? is the version number).


   8.  HOW TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR

   The author can be contacted directly at mpistella@libero.it.
   Anyone  can	contact  me  to suggest improvements  that  could  be
   implemented	in  future  releases or to  let  me  know  about  any
   inconvenience,  error or malfunctioning they have  encountered.  I
   will  be grateful to any of you that will Email me the information
   related  to his own ATA/ATAPI devices;  to do this start X-ATA.COM
   and in the select device window (initial  window) press the F2 key
   to  create the  image files, and then  attach  all of  them in the
   message you will send me.

						       Marco Pistella
						  mpistella@libero.it