NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/comp/sys/dec/6670

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-03 | 1.7 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wupost!waikato.ac.nz!comp.vuw.ac.nz!zl2tnm!toyunix!don
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: RD53s won't stay spun-up
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
From: [e-mail] (Don Stokes)
Date: 3 Jan 93 05:36:58 GMT
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[e-mail] writes:
> I have a pair of RD53s (real DEC-labelled RD53s) which I tried to put on a
> DOS machine.  I pulled the R7 jumper and set the drive select to 1, and
> managed to get one to format on the ST506 controller.  However it then started
> to exhibit a strange behavior:  It won't stay spun up.  When power is
> applied it spins up to what seems to be close to full speed; I think I
> hear the click indicating that the heads are being released; but then it spins
> down again.
>
> Same thing happened with the other drive even before I tried formatting it.
>
> What could I have done to these drives???

What's the R7 jumper?  (He asks naively.)

I pulled out an RD53 that my VAXstation didn't want to talk to any more,
set the unit select jumper and tossed it in a PC.  It formatted and it's
been fine ever since.  Try putting R7 back in....

Otherwise, is your power supply up to the task?  RD53s are hungry little
buggers.  (Actually, doesn't R7 drop the amount of power pulled by these
little guys on startup?)

--
Don Stokes, ZL2TNM (DS555)                        [e-mail] (home)
Network Manager, Computing Services Centre            [e-mail] (work)
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand              [phone]