Thanks Tony - I have swabbed it with Isopropyl alcohol - I assume that's the same thing. They're a real bugger as you have to pull the drives out to get to the heads because the things are so big. I figured an alignment disk was needed but was fishing a bit too as I suspect an 8" one is hard to find. Another theory I had was that I figured that Drive 0 has probably had a lot more use so I might try swapping them around if I can sort out the jumpers (if they have any) and see if I can get it to boot. +++++++++++++++++++ Kevin Parker Web Services Manager WorkCover Corporation p: 08 8233 2548 e: webmaster(a)workcover.com w: www.workcover.com +++++++++++++++++++ -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces(a)classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Tony Duell Sent: Wednesday, 25 August 2004 9:08 AM To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Drive alignment Take a known-good blank 8" disk and format it on one of your drives. If you can then read/write to it in that drive without problems, then the only thing that could be wrong with the drive is the alignment. If it fails, then you have other problems with the drive. To check the alignment properly, you need a CE (Catseye) disk and a 'scope. Basically the disk has a special patern recorded on it (this cannot be copied using a normal drive, BTW) and you look at the outputs of the read amplifier with a the 'scope. You see a pattern of 2 lobes on the 'scope screen -- if they're the same height the head is alighed, if one is larger than the other it's offset from the correct position. It's not hard to do, but the Catseye disk is expensive (I am still looking for the 8" and 3" ones, BTW...). My experience suggests that head radial alignment is not normally a problem unless you've replaced parts of the drive. More likely is a dirty head (you have cleaned it, right? With a cotton bud dipped in propan-2-ol, not one of those useless cleaning disks), a worn-out head, other mechnaicl problems, or an electronic failure. -tony ************************************************************************ This e-mail is intended for the use of the addressee only. It may contain information that is protected by legislated confidentiality and/or is legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are prohibited from disseminating, distributing or copying this e-mail. Any opinion expressed in this e-mail may not necessarily be that of the WorkCover Corporation of South Australia. Although precautions have been taken, the sender cannot warrant that this e-mail or any files transmitted with it are free of viruses or any other defect. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and destroy the original e-mail and any copies. ************************************************************************