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From: bbesler@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Brent Besler)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Dumpster diving pays off (sorta)
Message-ID: <143@vela.acs.oakland.edu>
Date: 21 Feb 90 18:13:40 GMT
References: <19768@nuchat.UUCP>
Reply-To: bbesler@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Brent Besler)
Organization: Oakland University, Rochester MI
Lines: 12

To install a hard disk in an ancient IBM PC is easy.  All you need is 
an 8 bit hard disk controller.   I would recommend the Western Digital(I
am a WD fan from experience) 8 bit RLL controller (WD 1002-27X model I think). 
You should be able to find it mail order for about $50-$60.  You then need an
RLL hard drive and cabling.  There are numerous mail order places that sell
hard drive kits for "XT's" which will work fine in the old IBM PC's.  If the
BIOS is really ancient, you won't be able to boot of of the hard disk.  Most
places will supply a small program for the old ones which allows the system
to use the hard disk after booting off of floppy.  I would upgarde the BIOS
on the IBM if it were super old.  Any authorized IBM dealer will swap the BIOS
for about $30-$40.
                                      Brent H. Besler