Drive alignment tool, diskettes - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

28 Mar 1999

I don't know how much a couple of hundred bucks is worth to you.  You can
use an operational S-100 computer running CP/M, or even an 820 to run the
drive for alignement.  Though I've had an alignment tool for many years, I
usually use a computer.  It's the alignment diskettes that are scarce.

If you have a digital alignment diskette, made by Dysan, among others, and
the software to run one, it makes alignment easy.  If you need to read a
5-1/4" floppy, a drive you can buy today won't help you much.  I keep a half
dozen of the old DS minifloppies around.

regards,

Dick

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe &lt;rigdonj(a)intellistar.net&gt;
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
&lt;classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu&gt;
Date: Sunday, March 28, 1999 9:14 PM
Subject: Re: Drive alignment tool, diskettes

...
 At 07:08 PM 3/28/99 -0700, you wrote:
>If you have to align an 8"drive, the alignment diskette is pretty
essential,
...
  i.e. you
can't really do well without it. 
  Yes I know, I used to repair and alignment drives.   What I wanted to
know is what the whole setup is worth and weather I should buy it.  He
wants a couple of hundred bucks for it.  He said it cost ~$3500 new.

 The 5.25" diskettes are about as
>easy to manage with software and one of the "digital alignment diskettes"
if
...
  you can get
them. 
   I doubt 5.25" drives are worth reapiring, even if you could get the parts.
...

   Joe
>
>Dick
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Joe &lt;rigdonj(a)intellistar.net&gt;
>To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
&gt;&lt;classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu&gt;
>Date: Sunday, March 28, 1999 6:46 PM
>Subject: followup: Rinky dink hamfest
>
>
>>   Today I went to see a couple of the people that I meet at yesterday's
>>hamfest. One of them used to service XEROX computers.  He told me that he
>>threw out three rooms full of old XEROX computers less than a year ago. :-(
...
 >> He gave me part of the stuff that he had left,
I have to take a Truck
>>(note capital) back to get the rest (estimated at two cubic yards but no
>>complete machines).  So far I've found lots of docs and 8" flopppy disks
>>for the 820 and 16/8.  The 16/8 looks pretty interesting, it ran CPM,
>>CPM-86 and MS-DOS.   Does anyone have one of these?  What's your opinion
of
...
 >>them?
>>
>>  He has a floppy disk drive control box to manual operate 3.5", 5.25"
and
...
   8" drives during alignment.  Anyone have an idea
of what one of these is
worth with the alignment disks and manuals?

  Alos found a Lisa mouse to go with the Lisa that I got yesterday.

   Joe