Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!gatech!linus!mbunix!ted
From: ted@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Edward J. Ede)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Help with Seagate ST238 and WD RLL controller
Message-ID: <39434@linus.UUCP>
Date: 31 Aug 88 18:59:19 GMT
Sender: news@linus.UUCP
Reply-To: ted@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Ede)
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Mass.
Lines: 36

About 15 months ago I purchased a 30 Meg hard drive for my Leading
Edge Model M.  At that time, I did not give much thought to the drive
& controller; I just plugged it in.  The other day I was pulling the
machine apart and noticed that I had an ST238 (Normally 30 Meg) and an
RLL controller.  I know RLL can pack more data onto a disk than MFM,
my question is, can I get more than 30 Meg out of the ST238?  Will it
be reliable?  I'm only using 20 out of the 30 meg, so space isn't an
issue yet, but if I can get more (with no decrease in reliability),
why not?


Here's my setup:

- Leading Edge Model M
- Seagate ST238
- Western Digital WD1002-27X controller
  (RLL Format Revision 1.0)
  - 56784321 has a jumper at 6
  - W4,W8,W6 have jumpers between 2 and 3
  - W3 has a jumper installed
  - W9 has no jumper
- IBM PC DOS version 3.1


Also, what's a good backup to use for this type of drive?  Currently,
I only backup "critical" data directories using DOS backup, other SW
can be re-installed from floppies.  I was thinking about FastBack, but
heard that it only works with MFM controllers.  Can anyone recommend a
reliable/efficient package to use with my setup?

Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Ted Ede -- ted@mitre-bedford.arpa -- The MITRE Corporation -- Burlington Road  
| linus!mbunix!ted -- Bedford MA, 01730 -- Mail Stop B015 -- (617) 271-2524 |
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