Re: Question: Hardware differences between Unidisk 3.5 and 3.5Drive?

[Wayne Stewart <waynes@intergate.bc.ca>]

MirageESO wrote:

> I have a dying Unidisk 3.5 drive.  It reads ok (I think) but writes junk.

If head cleaning doesn't do it then it's repair or replacement time

> I understand that there are two different 3.5 drives for the //e.  If true,
> what
> are the differences between them? Can both use the same I/O card?

Assuming you're using the UniDisk (Liron) card then the only drive that works
with that card is the 3.5" UniDisk. However it's likely the drive mechanism
that's
failing as opposed to the electronics inside the drive. That drive mechanism can
be replaced with an 800k mechanism from an early mac,(Plus, Classic, SE, MacII)
or from an external drive such as the A9M0106 or the M0131
Replacing the drive mechanism is fairly straitforward but a bit scary the first
time
a person does one.

> Also, where could I find detailed information (possibly including Apple

> part numbers) on hardware that is compatable with the //e?

There's basically 3 cards that aren't ridiculously rare that'll let you use a
3.5"
drive on a IIe. From commonest to scarcest we have the

The UniDisk(Liron) card which will let you use the 3.5" UniDisk only

The UDC(Universal Disk Controller) card which will generally urn any apple
compatible 400k or 800k 3.5" drive. Though some versions won't run the 3'5"
UniDisk. Will also work with 5.25" drives if you wanted

The SuperDrive card will let you use 1.4mb, Platinum 800k and 3.5" UniDisk drives

    Wayne