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From: pete@octopus.UUCP (Pete Holzmann)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: RLL on standard disks (and a program to keep it working well).
Summary: I've had good luck with ST251. ST4096 is modern; probably ok.
Message-ID: <219@octopus.UUCP>
Date: 15 May 88 03:24:28 GMT
References: <10831@steinmetz.ge.com>
Reply-To: pete@octopus.UUCP (Pete Holzmann)
Distribution: na
Organization: Octopus Enterprises, Cupertino CA
Lines: 43

In article <10831@steinmetz.ge.com> davidsen@crdos1.UUCP (bill davidsen) writes:
}I have a system which needs a bit more disk. One possibility would be to
}use an RLL controller, the other to place a full height disk externally
}to replace the half height currently in use. For controllers I would get
}the Adaptec 2732 (1:1 RLL) or the WD1006 (1:1 tk buf MFM).

Try Adaptec 2372?

}The disks I have are ST4096 (80 MB formatted) and ST251 (42MB
}formatted).

I've used both the ST251 and the St251-1 for a while without trouble. Both
the St251 and 4096 are recent designs using plated media. If it works well to
begin with, I wouldn't expect any trouble.

}I have heard all sorts of rumors about using normal disks with RLL,
}ranging from "unreliable" to "melts the coating off the disk." Has
		^^^^ could be,		^^^^^ *silly*!!!
		depending on
		drive/ctrlr.

}someone already *tried* this who can give me some real info. The only
}hard data I have is my local clone maker who tried this with the ST225
}(super slow 20MB) who reported "every f***ing one of them stopped
}working after about two weeks."

Sounds about right for the ST225, a cheapo drive if there ever was one.
(But hey, they've sold a zillion! I can't knock success!)

}	bill davidsen		(wedu@ge-crd.arpa)

One last thought on using RLL: If you want to make SURE that you won't
get in trouble with it, get a disk-format-renewer program. Disk Technician
is one; SpinRite is the best I've seen, is cheap ($60?) and getting better.
If you run SpinRite once a month, it will re-do your low level format without
requiring a backup; this will eliminate any soft errors that have cropped up.
A nice insurance policy to have around....

Pete
-- 
  OOO   __| ___      Peter Holzmann, Octopus Enterprises
 OOOOOOO___/ _______ USPS: 19611 La Mar Court, Cupertino, CA 95014
  OOOOO \___/        UUCP: {hpda,pyramid}!octopus!pete
___| \_____          Phone: 408/996-7746