Rotating memory data recovery

From: Tom Jennings <tomj_at_wps.com>
Date: Sat Sep 11 16:20:17 2004

OK, I'm very close to needing to suck the data off the main memory of
this LGP-21 before I reform caps and all that electronicky stuff.

It would be nice to have a 16-bit MHz A/D system, but I don't. Any
*practical* suggestions for someone with an extremely limited budget? I
also don't have time to build one, though it's within my skills.

(The LGP-21 I have has a rotating magnetic main memory; bit-serial 80KHz
clock, 64 physical tracks (128 logical), 4096 31 (32) bit words, NRZ or
NRZI. I figure A/D sampling of the raw head signal at 8 to 10 times the
original clock rate will allow offline data recovery, should I smash
data on later CPU powerup.)

The platter is driven by an AC motor. It powers up completely
independently of the rest of the computer, so I can easily do all this
before I begin the restoration. I planned on rigging up a fast opamp
buffer/amp, clip-leading it onto each head in turn (the heads are low-Z;
I do know about ground, common-mode, etc), and taking 2, 4 or a dozen
snapshots of each track. I'll make the track snapshots available to
anyone who wants them.

If there's anything there, it would be really nice to see
41-year-old-data.

Practical suggestions appreciated...
Received on Sat Sep 11 2004 - 16:20:17 BST