U46050@UICVM.BITNET ("JOHN ZAFIRIS") (05/21/89)
I wrote a longwinded summary of problems I was having with my hard drive
some time ago. The problems were sporadic write errors that crippled my
system. Using the ICD driver, when I got a write error the handler
would register errors constantly until I rebooted. I thought the cause of the
problem was among other things the cable so I shortened it to 1.5 feet.
As it turns out, the problem was not with the drive or controller or any
other part of it. It was a problem with my ST. Not the ST really, just
my MEMORY EXPANSION. To fix the problem I added a generous number of
decoupling capacitors and a couple of tantalum caps (for droop) to the
expansion. This got rid of most of the errors. I then wrapped the
expansion with some paper, then wrapped that in aluminum foil (alot of
foil: >7 layers; fewer are not enough) and insulated the outside of the
foil. Today, I have a perfectly working system and have not had an
error since. Incidentally, I lengthened the cable to 8 (eight) feet
(with an ICD host adapter) so that I could stick the whole drive in my
closet so I would not have to listen to the fan noise. Even with the
long cable I have not had ANY errors.
This provided as a public service in the hopes that it might save
somebody's sanity.
...John