Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!UICVM.BITNET!U46050
From: U46050@UICVM.BITNET ("JOHN ZAFIRIS")
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: One hard drive problem resolved...
Message-ID: <8905202217.AA21318@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 20 May 89 22:02:51 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 23

I wrote a longwinded summary of problems I was having with my hard drive
some time ago.  The problems were sporadic write errors that crippled my
system.  Using the ICD driver, when I got a write error the handler
would register errors constantly until I rebooted. I thought the cause of the
problem was among other things the cable so I shortened it to 1.5 feet.

As it turns out, the problem was not with the drive or controller or any
other part of it.  It was a problem with my ST.  Not the ST really, just
my MEMORY EXPANSION.  To fix the problem I added a generous number of
decoupling capacitors and a couple of tantalum caps (for droop) to the
expansion.  This got rid of most of the errors.  I then wrapped the
expansion with some paper, then wrapped that in aluminum foil (alot of
foil: >7 layers; fewer are not enough) and insulated the outside of the
foil.  Today, I have a perfectly working system and have not had an
error since.  Incidentally, I lengthened the cable to 8 (eight) feet
(with an ICD host adapter) so that I could stick the whole drive in my
closet so I would not have to listen to the fan noise.  Even with the
long cable I have not had ANY errors.

This provided as a public service in the hopes that it might save
somebody's sanity.

                                                              ...John