CDC Sabre 8" SMD blues

[Guy Sotomayor]

> On Jan 28, 2016, at 12:52 PM, Ian Finder <ian.finder at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi folks,
> 
>       I recently picked up a Symbolics system built around an 8" Control Data Corp. Sabre hard drive.       
>       Some files read when I show the FEP directory listing but many show as "Error reading file header, wrong pkid read" which I assume is some sort of FEP FS integrity check.       
>       In short, the drive becomes ready and much of the data appears still there, but I have some brand of consistent read errors that preclude the machine from booting.       
>       It's not a software issue as the machine was deinstalled in a working condition.       
>       Anyone familiar with these terrible drives? Am I totally up the creek? I tried a couple different orientations.       

Too bad.  They were the only other option on the G-Machines vs ST-506.

I have experience with only 2 different types of SMD drives: Fujitsu Eagles and CDC-9766.

TTFN - Guy