[chbot] Old computer stuff

[Volker Kuhlmann]

On Sun 25 Sep 2016 23:31:28 NZDT +1300, Helmut Walle wrote:

> There's one potential issue to be aware of when using old floppy
> drives that have been sitting around unused for a longer time pretty
> much anywhere in NZ

Yes, anywhere where there are people in the room. Dust collects in the
drive. You push in a flexy disk full of expectations. All you hear is
head movements. You take it out again, observe the big scratches on the
floppy that weren't there before, and reach for the next floppy. That
one doesn't work any better, without the scratches, because the previous
exercise scratched the head clean. I wrote off two drives with that
towards the tail end of their aera when they got very little use, before
realising what was happening and carefully using the drive clean kit
first.

I agree with other suggestions of trying for other methods of data
transfer first, but I would concentrate on those first that do not
require booting up or messing around with the old box too much.
Connecting just the disk would be my choice.

Be aware that big 5.25 drives need a loto f power, and you need to
supply that somehow but not from a USB adapter. The boot sequence of
disk, adapter connection and host PC is important, it doesn't always
work so change order of things and the delays. 3.5 disks basically
always work, but if they're powered up with the USB adapter there are no
timing issues.

Volker

-- 
Volker Kuhlmann
http://volker.top.geek.nz/	Please do not CC list postings to me.