What Classic Computer are All About - A Lovers

From: jpero_at_mail.cgo.wave.ca <(jpero_at_mail.cgo.wave.ca)>
Date: Sat Jul 12 16:35:41 1997

Had to jump in to say few about these hds...from my years long
experience with them...

Those ST2xx series was the most number
produced in old days and I always have them in varying conditions
from good, to badly worn. My first test when I get like that
especially ST225/ST225R series is remove the logic board and gently
rock the motor rotor housing, if it makes clunks or moves, it's
junked. Next test is to spun them up and listen and feel the pack
for condition of the bearings, the spindle often "grinds or soft
ticking" at full speed. The ones that feel smooth and like new feel
is real rare!

Only advice when to asolutely avoid the seagate is those ST125
series, these always heads gets stuck on platters. If you have a
ST251 series, if working, handle them more gently because the spindle
with motor in it, that axle is not that strong, warps easily if
handled roughly. Very usual like that... :)

What else, if you find any different brands that is MFM/RLL, SCSI or
such that uses voice coil, they're very reliable and lasts
long time. Not those early ST4 series that uses linear voice coils!
If you see miniscribe drives, good luck, I have no positive
experience about them! What else is worst hd from different brands?

Tip: Most Unusual and I mean it: is ST212, uses 1 platter. 4 heads
to a platter, two heads per surface. What else?

>
> On Sat, 12 Jul 1997, Jeff Hellige wrote:
>
> > On 12-Jul-97, PG Manney wrote:
> >
> > >Some ST-506/412 -- e.g., the ST-225 -- drives lacked autopark heads, thus
> > >inviting problems.
> >
> > Yes, but in my experience these Seagate drives were real workhorses. I had
> > less problems with them, other than when they got bumped too hard while moving
> > a system, than with most other types of MFM/RLL drives.
>
> I opened one to see what was inside, and spun it up. I turned the XT off
> when I heard the grinding noise. Sealed it back up, fired up Norton, and
> it didnt lose 1 byte of data!

This hd that grates was from the arm hitting the adjustable track 0
stop that got bit different position becasue the top was unbolted
therefore the bottom part got UNwarped, when cover is bolted back on
warps back to correct position. :) YOUR'E LUCKY that you did get it
back working again. :-( ) My experience like that is not successful
and lose the data to LLF in order to remarry the controller and the
tracks back together if cover was removed/put back on.
Other thing, the constant slowly warbling grinding or more warbling
vibrations when the platter spinning shows that bearings are dead.

Yes, I was experimenting with lots of hds/models/brands which I got
some experience with them. If you have any questions about hds,
floppy drives, fire yours to me. :)

Jason D.
Received on Sat Jul 12 1997 - 16:35:41 BST