10 May
2014
10 May
'14
10:14 a.m.
I was a bit too fast there, I meant "universal
tester"! The one I think
I saw on ebay was in a small suitcase, maybe it was able to test hard
drives too! Can't remember any brand or so!
What you saw was probably a drive Exerciser (ExOrcisor?)
Those are devices that emulate a computer, in terms of being able to
start and stop the drive, step, and turn on and off the read and write
lines.
It's a handy tool, but in most cases, you can accomplish the same things
using a PC (which is a lot cheaper) and SOFTWARE.
Minimally, you need something on the order of a Dysan Digital Diagnostic
Diskette and a PC.
To do it right, you need analog alignment disk(s), a dual trace >20MHz
scope, and either a PC or an exorcisor.
You also need an understanding of the workings of a drive, and as much
technical data (and schematics) as you can get.
Any claims that a device can test the drive are inflated. YOU can test
the drive, with the right tools, which include such a device.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com