-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 8:31 PM
Subject: Re: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.
>Having aligned about 25 8" drives over the last 6 months, I can tell you
>that if your drive is "eating" your diskettes, the problem isn't with
>alignment. If it's damaging your diskette emulsion, it's likely that it's
No.. My "eating" implies I am sticking in original IBM software disks to old
IBM minis and writing over the data on them. :-(
>either missing the headload pad, or the head penetration is misadjusted. I
>don't know what the procedure for head penetration adjustment on your
>particular drive is, but most drives seem to require a couple of feeler
>guages and some glyptol to make sure it doesn't move when you're done.
>
>Before I'll consider LENDING anyone one of my no longer readily available
>alignment diskettes, I want to be dead certain it won't be chewed up as
>might happen with the misadjusted head penetration or missing headload pad,
>or written on as might happen with an inappropriately set-up drive or
>controller. Even a $1k deposit won't ensure I get back a thoroughly
useable
>diskette, and I've not seen one for sale in over 15 years.
The *moment* I get this drive up I'll be making IBM alignment disks for the
planet!
>
>Dick
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: John B <dylanb_at_sympatico.ca>
>To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
><classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
>Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 5:38 PM
>Subject: Needed: 1 IBM 8" alignment disk.
>
>
>>Before I find the highest building to jump off of, I though I might ask
>here
>>first....
>>
>>I have a Sykes 7150 8" floppy drive (negibus PDP-8I) that I have invested
a
>>half and hour in and have solved *most* of it's problems... It finally
>talks
>>to the PDP and I can select tracks, reset, read status, etc... once in a
>>while read a sector.
>>
>>I need a single sided 128 byte record alignment floppy.
>>
>>When I do a read now, the drive stays busy forever looking for the sector
I
>>asked it for. (even if the head is on top of it). Since it was made in
1974
>>with TTL chips it is only bright enough to sit there and *wait* for the
>>correct data to come by. An alignment disk would make life a lot easier.
>>
>>Anyone have one available? Please e-mail.
>>
>>P.S. The sooner the better.. this thing is eating original IBM software
>>diskettes from the early '70s
>>
>>
>>PDP-8 and other rare mini computers
>>
>>http://www.pdp8.com
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Received on Mon Nov 29 1999 - 18:37:05 GMT