Re: Xebec, Mercury Megabank. Help!

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

zap777 wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I just dug out this Mercury Megabank hard drive for my Apple and the
> hard drive no longer spins.  Underneath the drive is marked "Xebec
> 9710".  The controller checks out okay with the bundled diagnostics
> software but it indicates that the drive is not ready (no surprise
> there since the HD is not spinning :).  Anyway, I am trying to find out
> if anyone has or has ever heard of one of this drive or knows anything
> about either of these two companies.  I need to do some investigating
> here.

Before tossing the drive, try un-mounting it from the case.
Then reconnect the cables and turn it on.  Simultaneously,
oscillate the drive back and forth rapidly about its axis
of rotation (which is perpendicular to its largest area sides).

This can break the head stiction which frequently binds older
drives and keeps them from starting, expecially after a long
period of not running.

If the drive starts and calibrates, then plan on backing up
whatever you want from it *soon*.  ;-)

-michael

Music synthesis for 8-bit Apple II's!
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/

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