19 Dec
2003
19 Dec
'03
6:37 a.m.
Look, I hate Big Oil as much as the next guy (probably more so), but
there's no reason to turn down good money.
--
Yes there is. There are archivists who work FOR the collecting community
(not just me) that can't find legacy tape drives to read historically
significant tapes. Every drive that goes into "data recovery" black holes
will never see one second of use to help us.
You've struck a raw nerve with this.. I've spent years rediscovering data
recovery techniques that have been known for twenty years because no one
in the business will talk about it.
Take a look on the web for things related to data recovery, file and sector
formats, etc. and you won't find squat except for the stuff individuals have
reverse engineered.
--
19 Dec
19 Dec
8:28 a.m.
On Fri, 19 Dec 2003, Al Kossow wrote:
Look, I hate Big Oil as much as the next guy (probably
more so), but
there's no reason to turn down good money.
--
Yes there is. There are archivists who work FOR the collecting community
(not just me) that can't find legacy tape drives to read historically
significant tapes. Every drive that goes into "data recovery" black holes
will never see one second of use to help us.
First of all, I'm not advocating the sale of rare tape drives to "'data
recovery' black holes". I can guarantee you that if I had to decide
between selling a 7-track drive to a company offering lots of money or
giving it to Al Kossow, the drive would go to Al Kossow. I think the
dearth of 7-track drives is genuine, and I think you think this too.
You've struck a raw nerve with this.. I've
spent years rediscovering data
recovery techniques that have been known for twenty years because no one
in the business will talk about it.
Perhaps because no one asked? Or perhaps because business didn't think
anyone else could possibly benefit from such archane knowledge? We work
in a bubble here. Most of what we deal with is archane knowledge that no
one cares about, with the rare (and sometimes potentially lucrative)
exceptions.
Take a look on the web for things related to data
recovery, file and sector
formats, etc. and you won't find squat except for the stuff individuals have
reverse engineered.
Because all that stuff was written and published before the web, and it's
waiting in your piles to be scanned ;)
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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21 Dec
21 Dec
2:41 p.m.
Perhaps because no one asked? Or perhaps because
business didn't think
anyone else could possibly benefit from such archane knowledge? We work
in a bubble here. Most of what we deal with is archane knowledge that no
one cares about, with the rare (and sometimes potentially lucrative)
exceptions.
I think this is the case, but I don't think "we" are the only ones living
in a bubble. I am on a few lists devoted to various types of older
technologies, and some knowledge that is thought of as "lost" is common
knowledge in the other. For example(s), amongst the classic computer
group, I have come across several people that think that the tube technology
of first generation computers is lost. Not so on the tube collectors
list. On the flip side, on that same list, some thought that the IBM
unit record punch card technology is lost. I also find "lost knowledge
concerns" amongst the old military radio and radar folks.
The information is out there, it just needs to be unearthed. And the
bubble popped...
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org
7672
days inactive
7674
days old
2 comments
3 participants
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