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From: Ethan Dicks <erd_at_infinet.com>
Date: Sun Feb 21 22:52:52 1999

>
> > One of these drives has a little switch inside which allows you to
> > use the drive either as an RL01 or as an RL02!
>
> That's an unofficial mod that is reasonably common. Basically, the switch
> changes the link settings on the logic and DC servo boards to make the
> drive behave as an RL01.
>
> Watch out, though. The RL02 heads write a narrower track than the RL01
> heads, and if you write to an RL01 pack in your drive, it's possible that
> a real RL01 won't be able to read it. Reading RL01 packs is safe, though.

The DEC FS guy that showed me a drive that he had mod-ed also mentioned
that the same set of switches he flipped, also included a "force write
protect" to prevent accidental writing of RL02-width tracks on an RL01
pack. Seems prudent. It no doubt paralleled the switch on the front panel.

Disclaimer: I have never installed this mod on any DEC drive, but it sounds
pretty safe. YMMV.

-ethan
Received on Sun Feb 21 1999 - 22:52:52 GMT

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