Re: Disk drive advice wanted

[grover@emunix.emich.edu (Grover Thomas)]

>The local grade school for whom I consult on computers, has a 3.5 inch Apple
>drive with a problem. The upper head has come loose from the plastic arm 
>designed to support it. This does not look like a d-i-y repair due to 
>allignment of the head. 

     When my drive got messed up, I ended up finding an old 800k Mac drive
(which wouldn't work on my GS) and swapping the entire head-assembly into
my GS' drive.  The alignment was difficult, but I finally managed to get
it working reliably by simple trail-and-error.
     Still, I got real lucky in finding the Mac drive for $50.  I doubt
many people could get a decent price for the parts, or be willing to muck
about with the innards of their drive.

>	I have seen this discussed but do not recall the recommended 
>solutions. Do they buy another from Shreve and junk this one? Do a swap
>with Shreve? Can this drive be easily fixed for only a small fist full of
>dollars? 

     I think the swap price is around $135 (if you send in your old drive).
This is probably the easiest, most reliable method aside from buying a
ridiculously priced new drive from Apple.
     Like I said, if you have the skill, then replacing the heads is the
cheapest way to go, if you can find a burned-out Mac drive (with good heads)
or something real cheap.

-- 
Grover Thomas       grover@emunix.emich.edu   (Nifty quotes currently down)