The first SyQuest, the SQ306 3.9-inch cartridge disk drive had an ST506 (MFM) interface - big issue was unmodified DOS could not deal with a cartridge change but as I recall that problem was fixed by taking control of INT13 after boot The next 5ΒΌ-inch SyQuest generation was SCSI.
There were other such early cartridge disk drives in various diameters with dumb data bit serial interfaces such as SMD and most were MFM. Tom -----Original Message----- From: Jim Davis <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:25 AM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <[email protected]> Subject: [cctalk] Re: MFM Hard Drive & 8" Double Side Drives I probably have 10 MFM drives, I don't expect any to run. I took one apart, It had crud on the platter from the air bleed filter. Smallest I have maybe a couple 20 Mb, Classic seagate ST220?, up to a 100 MB maxtor XT1105. I have time to test and all the old toolds, I'll give it a try, I need to dig out a old PC, Goodwill was good to me in the early 2000's I was stupid and passed on a datapoint 2200, No where to store. Also a old hammond organ, Classic. and cringe. Probably after Christmas, Might want to consider an alternative. Just got a new toy (hantek 2d10) scope that is not working right, Op malfunction? . Rigol was pissing me off. Fortunately, Got two, one for a gift, So, a reference or another turd. Was anything MFM or RLL with a removible cart build in the 80's-90's? I never heard of such a thing, Carts were scsi early 90's Syquest and others?... On Wed, Oct 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM Mike Katz via cctalk <[email protected]> wrote: > I just purchased an old Gimix computer (now if only I can get it from > Orlando to Chicago before my friend goes down there for Christmas). > > It has an OMTI 20C-1 MFM hard disk controller with a IMI 5018 19MB > hard disk drive in it. > > I am thinking of trying to upgrade the hard drive. The Gimix System > that I worked on had a half high 20MB drive and a Syquest removable > 5MB drive. > > Does anyone have an old MFM drive laying around (half high or full > height but larger than 18MB) and/or an MFM removable cartridge drive > with cartridges? > > I am also going to try to rebuild a Vector Graphic Dual Store Dual 8" > drive enclosure that I picked up at VCFMW. It suffered some dampness > damage and I'm not sure the drives will come up. If you have a dual 8" > drive setup (double sided drives, and enclosure) that you need a good > home for, please let me know. > > I'm in the Chicago Area. > > Thanks, > > Mike > [email protected] > > >
