Multiple Topics...

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_odin.phy.bris.ac.uk>
Date: Tue Aug 19 03:57:42 1997

> 4. Classic Computer HOWTO's. I've been sitting at home for a week
> inventing things to do and started writing a how to document detailing
> drive alignment for various disk drives (not even close to ready yet).
> Anyway, seems like a cool idea for those of you who know how to do things
> to detail them in a howto and help improve everyone's know-how. People
> keep asking, for example, how to convert TV to composite output. If
> you've got nothing better to do ;).

Count me in on this - if I can figure out _why_ I do things.

The latter is actually a big problem. Most of the time I do things
'because that's obviously the thing to do' - i.e. I've done it many times
before, and there are good reasons why (for example) the line output
transistor is the big one on the heatsink next to the flyback - but it's
difficult to remember this when you're writing a how-to.

Disk drive alignment : I've read many documents (and even a few books) on
how to do this without an alignment disk (typically by using a commercial
software master disk , finding where the signal falls off in each
direction , and setting the head midway between the two point). Without
exception, every method has failed. IMHO the only way to align a drive is
with the proper (expensive) alignment CE disk.

5.25" and 3.5" alignment disks are still available (but expect to pay $100
a time...). I can't find 3" (Amstrad, etc) or 8" alignment disks anywhere,
alas...

One day I'm going to rip apart an old 8" drive and put a micrometer on the
head assembly. I can then (hopefuly) record my own alignment disks using a
bit of simple electronics.


>
> Bill

-tony
Received on Tue Aug 19 1997 - 03:57:42 BST

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