Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!texsun!letni!mic!cms2!tomf
From: tomf@cms2.UUCP (Tom Fortner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: RLL + Segate ST251-1
Message-ID: <352@cms2.UUCP>
Date: 9 Oct 90 21:40:08 GMT
References: <15090013@hpspcoi.HP.COM# <1105@cameron.egr.duke.edu>
Organization: Christian Medical & Dental Society
Lines: 38

In article <1105@cameron.egr.duke.edu# js@dukee.egr.duke.edu (Jeffrey A. Shorey) writes:
#From article <15090013@hpspcoi.HP.COM>, by dlow@hpspcoi.HP.COM (Danny Low):
#>>I'v heard some bad story about RLL controller and Segate ST251-1
#>>combination.  Could someone add more comments on this ?
#> 
#> Unless the 251-1 is certified for RLL it will probably work but there
#> is a slight chance that it will not work reliably. So do you feel
#> lucky?
#>
#I tried using an MFM drive with an Adaptec RLL controller some years back.
#I would format the drive and it would work great for about a week, and
#then I would start getting errors, like the data was fading out.
#
#From what I have heard, RLL drives have a higher quality media on them than
#the normal MFM drives, which I assume pertains to the type of magnetic film
#they lay on the platters.
#
#If you've got I combination that works, I would suggest making very frequent
#backups and reformat runs.
#

ST-251-1 and ST-277-1 are basically the same drive. One (ST-277-1) is certified
for RLL format, and one is not (ST-251-1). But I have formatted most Seagate
drives to 26 sector RLL without incident. By the way, Micropolis drives that
are not certified for RLL also work very nicely on RLL. And ALWAYS! ALWAYS!
back up you data weekly, so your tech doesn't die of frustration.
Tom

    Tom Fortner                        ** The greatest gift a man can offer 
    Christian Medical & Dental Society ** his Maker is a repentant committed 
    UUCP: cms2!tomf                    ** life and a disciplined, diligent 
    INTERNET: tomf@cms2.lonestar.org   ** mind.

-- 
    Tom Fortner                        ** The greatest gift a man can offer 
    Christian Medical & Dental Society ** his Maker is a repentant committed 
    UUCP: cms2!tomf                    ** life and a disciplined, diligent 
    INTERNET: tomf@cms2.lonestar.org   ** mind.