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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!bbnccv!jlowry
From: jlowry@bbnccv.UUCP (John Lowry)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Hard Disk from Express Systems
Message-ID: <1057@bbnccv.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Dec-85 10:18:37 EST
Article-I.D.: bbnccv.1057
Posted: Wed Dec 11 10:18:37 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Dec-85 05:49:36 EST
Reply-To: jlowry@bbnccv.UUCP (John Lowry)
Distribution: net
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 44
Keywords: disk, hard, review


	This  is  a  report  on  my good experience with Express
Systems.  You have probably seen their advertisments in  DDJ  or
Byte.  They offer a hard disk kit (10Mb) for $395.

	The original order was sent via UPS and arrived in about
a week.  The instructions  were  clear  and  I  had  no  trouble
installing  the  drive and controller.  The controller was a DTC
and  the  drive  a  Microscience   10Mb.    Unfortunately,   the
controller was bad, fried itself in about 20 minutes.  The staff
at their telephone number were very responsive and helpful,  and
I  had  my  new  controller  via  2nd day air.  Again there were
problems, and again they were very helpful.   I  sent  back  the
whole kit, and got a new one via 2nd day air that works fine.

	I have a very old PC, and ordered  a  new  power  supply
from  them which is very noisy, but the drive is nice and quiet.
For $395 you get:

	o DTC controller (able to take a second drive)
	o internal half-height 10Mb Microscience
	      -	with either full template or half template and half bezel
	o Manual on installation, operation, warranty, diagnostics.
	o A diskette containing:
		A new FORMAT.COM  (a la DOS2.X but "better")
		HDINIT (for those with old BIOS ROMS)
		BBSAVE ( to record sectors marked bad already before reformat)
		BBRESTOR ( to write those sectors back after reformat)
		BADBLOCK ( to find new bad sectors. takes approx 45 minutes)
		And all of the above for the AT (DOS 3.1)

	The  disk  comes  preformatted  with  DOS  2.1  sys  and
command.com (PC) or DOS 3.1 sys and command.com (AT).  They also
support the Compaq.

	All in all I am very pleased.  In the future I intend to
order their tape streamer and I will let you know how that works
out.  Too bad about the power supply.  If anyone can let me know
of a nice QUIET power supply, please do.   This  ringing  in  my
ears is annoying everyone.

John Lowry
jlowry@bbnz.arpa
jlowry@bbnccv.arpa