anderson@uwmacc.UUCP (Jess Anderson) (11/26/86)
I spent about an hour and a half last night installing a hard disk in my Zenith 158 (two-floppy model). I had posted a request for info about hard disks to the old newsgroup in September, and a very helpful guy named Bob Cole at Indiana University sent me some real help, the kind that gets you what you want *and* it worked perfectly the very first try. In the process I had a very positive mail-order experience. I've tendered my thanks to Bob by e-mail, but the mail-order story I'd like to share with the net, and to encourage people who may be interested in this modification. The equipment was an ST238 with an Adaptec 2070a (plus cables, plus Y-adapter for power). This gives you 30MB in a half-height drive that fits right under the two floppies. The guidance I'd gotten mentioned breaking off the lower plastic tabs (under drive B), which I decided not to do, after seeing that the drive would work fine just sitting on the bottom of the box. It *is* true that you can't put the four screws that hold the HD in (though you could if you wanted to drill or file the holes in the cage into slots -- I didn't want metal chips or dust to contaminate the area), so I just took very thin, very strong steel wire and strapped it in so it wouldn't wiggle. This may be a bit insecure for a machine being shipped somewhere, but it's on a rock-solid table, and its own vibration is next to nil. You will also realize that you can't see the HD's LED, it's behind the front bezel of the box. Minor loss, I think, and one that a handy person with the inclination could do something about, probably. You need a debug routine to set up the soft format, but what Bob sent me worked without a hitch. If you need it, e-mail me for a copy. Since I'm employed by the State of Wisconsin, I can make a private-use purchase for cash on the State's discount contracts (actually, just slightly higher) from any vendor having such a contract and willing to sell that way. As it happened, I dealt with Cal-Abco, 6041 Variel Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367, 800/321-4484, ext. 276, Dave Gilbert. The stuff arrived on day 6 (2 of which were a weekend), with no money up front. Payment was by cashier's check, COD to UPS, $454.45 total for drive, adapter, two ribbon cables required, y-connector for power, shipping, and insurance. *Totally* pleasant transaction, best anything I ever got by mail! Even if it hadn't worked right away, the dealer would still be super. I'm wondering what else they sell (we don't even have a copy of the contract, which is brand new, yet!). Disclaimer: I have no connection with any of these entities, apart from gratitude to Usenet, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Gilbert, and as a satisfied customer of Cal-Abco. -- ==ARPA:====================anderson@unix.macc.wisc.edu===Jess Anderson====== | UUCP: {harvard,seismo,topaz, 1210 W. Dayton | | akgua,allegra,ihnp4,usbvax}!uwvax!uwmacc!anderson Madison, WI 53706 | ==BITNET:============================anderson@wiscmacc===608/263-6988=======