[net.micro.trs-80] Adding second hard disk

jpn@teddy.UUCP (03/10/86)

I am looking into adding an 20Meg external hard disk to my Tandy1200.
The mail order prices on hard disks are extremely attractive right now.
The Tandy1200 is an IBM XT VERY close lookalike, that comes with it's
own controller and 10 Meg internal hard disk.  It comes with MSDOS 2.11,
but can also run PC-DOS (actually, I will probably upgrade to PC-DOS 3.1
at the same time).

The controller that comes with the machine has a connector for a second
hard disk (actually two more connecters:  a total of four - I suppose these
are data and control busses), and the documentation talks about adding a
second drive as D: When I talked to someone at a Tandy computer center,
I was told that Tandy will NOT SUPPORT a second hard disk (I considered
buying the external 10 Meg drive they sell for the Tandy 1000)  Actually,
the salesman was ready to sell me anything I wanted, until he talked to a
technical support person, then he told me he couldn't do it!

Does anyone have experience adding a second hard disk to a PC or PC lookalike?
Both horror stories, and success stories solicited.  I would prefer to keep my
Tandy hard disk controller, to maintain servicability for my machine, but
I will substitute another controller board if necessary.  Please send MAIL,
and I will summarize any items of general interest to the net.

John P. Nelson (decvax!genrad!teddy!jpn seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!teddy!jpn)