Re: Wanted: tech docs on original Iomega 8-inch full height 10MB Bernoulli drive (Alpha-10)
> On Oct 16, 2018, at 7:28 AM, David Schmidt via cctech > wrote: > > On 10/15/18 1:00 PM, cctech-requ...@classiccmp.org wrote: >> From: Michael Brutman >> Hi Eric, >> I have working 10MB and 20MB units here being driven by a PC XT with the >> Iomega specific card for them. >> I've had to puts lots of effort into cleaning the heads on them. I'm not [...] > > I've got a collection of 1/2 height 8" drives, and one among them (a 20 MB > unit) is able to come online with a cartridge inserted. Maybe head cleaning > is what is troubling the others - but I have no idea how I'd jam a cotton > swab in there and find the heads to attempt a cleaning. Iomega made cleaning cartridges that had a pad you could soak in cleaning solution and then insert, and there was a lever that stays outside that you can pull back and forth. Otherwise, yes, I think it would be kind of an adventure to get at the heads. I have at least one of these cleaning cartridges, but I haven't attempted to use it yet. Probably should. Also sounds like I should prioritize imaging whatever cartridges I have soon. -Paul
Re: Wanted: tech docs on original Iomega 8-inch full height 10MB Bernoulli drive (Alpha-10)
On 10/15/18 1:00 PM, cctech-requ...@classiccmp.org wrote: From: Michael Brutman Hi Eric, I have working 10MB and 20MB units here being driven by a PC XT with the Iomega specific card for them. I've had to puts lots of effort into cleaning the heads on them. I'm not sure if there is an oxide shedding problem or just 30 years of dust that I'm fighting, but they do seem to be very finicky at this stage. It also could be a media formatting problem; I think they have servo tracks that were laid down at manufacturing time, so if you have a read error on the servo track there is no way to fix it. Mike I've got a collection of 1/2 height 8" drives, and one among them (a 20 MB unit) is able to come online with a cartridge inserted. Maybe head cleaning is what is troubling the others - but I have no idea how I'd jam a cotton swab in there and find the heads to attempt a cleaning. I have a Bernoulli card in a PC that will lift the bits from DOS-formatted cartridges, and I hook the drive up to an old Mac with a SCSI card in it to image other arbitrary types (I've seen them used as audio recording devices as well as external storage for HP equipment). - David
Re: Wanted: tech docs on original Iomega 8-inch full height 10MB Bernoulli drive (Alpha-10)
Get a cleaning cartridge ... it's the easiest way. In theory the head is slightly recessed behind the polished plate that establishes the airflow near the media; remember, the media deforms and rises toward the head, making contact with the polished plate but not touching the head. So maybe a super long foam Q-tip can get all the way in there, but that's going to be tedious. On Mon, Oct 15, 2018 at 1:05 PM Eric Smith via cctalk wrote: > Hi Mike, > > The Bernoulli disks definitely do use servo, so as you say, if the servo > patterns are damaged the data is toast. > > Do you have any advice on head cleaning? The docs on the second-generation > drive (Alpha-10H) just say to use a cleaning cartridge, and I don't have > one. I've cleaned floppy drive heads with isopropyl and a lint-free swab, > but I'm reluctant to do this to the Alpha-10 without advice from someone > who's done it. > > Best regards, > Eric >
Re: Wanted: tech docs on original Iomega 8-inch full height 10MB Bernoulli drive (Alpha-10)
I can confirm that the media is starting to degrade - at least, it does if it wasn't stored properly. I have a couple of cartridges here that are shedding badly. You can manually open the cartridge by tripping the catches and sliding the door open, and look at it. Here's a picture of such a shedding/unusable cartridge after an attempt to read it: https://i.imgur.com/Pb4AyQo.jpg The oxide clogs the heads up pretty good - it's vital to keep the heads clean and to inspect cartridges before using them so you don't gunk them up. Look for dull/chalky looking media. Obviously any mold spots are bad as well. And if you do get a bunch of read errors (clunking noise), be sure to check and clean the heads before using a good cartridge. I'm not sure if the oxide buildup will damage otherwise good media, but I can't help but think it might. I do have a fully working 10MB drive and controller, and the ability to image cartridges. I'd love to find more actual technical documentation on these drives as well, everything I know about them is from getting mine to run. I'm also always looking for more cartridges. -Ian On Sun, Oct 14, 2018 at 9:59 PM Michael Brutman via cctalk wrote: > > Hi Eric, > > I have working 10MB and 20MB units here being driven by a PC XT with the > Iomega specific card for them. > > I've had to puts lots of effort into cleaning the heads on them. I'm not > sure if there is an oxide shedding problem or just 30 years of dust that > I'm fighting, but they do seem to be very finicky at this stage. It also > could be a media formatting problem; I think they have servo tracks that > were laid down at manufacturing time, so if you have a read error on the > servo track there is no way to fix it. > > > Mike > > > On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 9:34 AM Eric Smith via cctalk > wrote: > > > Does anyone have the user, technical and/or service manual for the original > > 10MB Iomega Bernoulli drives? Bitsavers has the manuals for the later > > half-height 10.0/10.5 MB "Alpha-10H", but I'm looking for docs for the > > original model, which was full-height with a SASI (pre-SCSI) interface. > > > > I have the drives, about 20 cartridges that I want to image, and some > > additional scratch cartridges. > > > > I've never used Bernoulli drives before. These drives and cartridges were > > last used around 1986. I'll disconnect and test the power supply before > > powering up the actual drives, but is there anything else I should be > > concerned with? > > > > Does anyone have known-working 8-inch Bernoulli drives? > >
Re: Wanted: tech docs on original Iomega 8-inch full height 10MB Bernoulli drive (Alpha-10)
Hi Mike, The Bernoulli disks definitely do use servo, so as you say, if the servo patterns are damaged the data is toast. Do you have any advice on head cleaning? The docs on the second-generation drive (Alpha-10H) just say to use a cleaning cartridge, and I don't have one. I've cleaned floppy drive heads with isopropyl and a lint-free swab, but I'm reluctant to do this to the Alpha-10 without advice from someone who's done it. Best regards, Eric
Re: Wanted: tech docs on original Iomega 8-inch full height 10MB Bernoulli drive (Alpha-10)
Hi Eric, I have working 10MB and 20MB units here being driven by a PC XT with the Iomega specific card for them. I've had to puts lots of effort into cleaning the heads on them. I'm not sure if there is an oxide shedding problem or just 30 years of dust that I'm fighting, but they do seem to be very finicky at this stage. It also could be a media formatting problem; I think they have servo tracks that were laid down at manufacturing time, so if you have a read error on the servo track there is no way to fix it. Mike On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 9:34 AM Eric Smith via cctalk wrote: > Does anyone have the user, technical and/or service manual for the original > 10MB Iomega Bernoulli drives? Bitsavers has the manuals for the later > half-height 10.0/10.5 MB "Alpha-10H", but I'm looking for docs for the > original model, which was full-height with a SASI (pre-SCSI) interface. > > I have the drives, about 20 cartridges that I want to image, and some > additional scratch cartridges. > > I've never used Bernoulli drives before. These drives and cartridges were > last used around 1986. I'll disconnect and test the power supply before > powering up the actual drives, but is there anything else I should be > concerned with? > > Does anyone have known-working 8-inch Bernoulli drives? >
Wanted: tech docs on original Iomega 8-inch full height 10MB Bernoulli drive (Alpha-10)
Does anyone have the user, technical and/or service manual for the original 10MB Iomega Bernoulli drives? Bitsavers has the manuals for the later half-height 10.0/10.5 MB "Alpha-10H", but I'm looking for docs for the original model, which was full-height with a SASI (pre-SCSI) interface. I have the drives, about 20 cartridges that I want to image, and some additional scratch cartridges. I've never used Bernoulli drives before. These drives and cartridges were last used around 1986. I'll disconnect and test the power supply before powering up the actual drives, but is there anything else I should be concerned with? Does anyone have known-working 8-inch Bernoulli drives?
