Date   : Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:44:22 -0500
From   : jules.richardson99@... (Jules Richardson)
Subject: happy bunny

Alex Taylor wrote:
>> I think the hard disc in these are Rodime SCSI drives. They usually seize up
>> if not run for some time. I've been able to get them spinning again by using
>> the handle of a screwdriver to tap the top of the drive spindle.
> 
> It depends on the drive, and I've freed a few off by tapping the top,
> but I've also come across a few drives where there's a visible
> spinning part of the spindle showing underneath, that I've been able
> to free up by forcibly turning the spindle with a screwdriver. I can't
> remember if the Rodime ones fall into this category.

Seems to be a common issue with a lot of drives of that era. I've rescued data 
from more than a few by pulling the lid off and freeing things up, just done 
in as clean an environment as possible (and as quickly as possible!)

Aside: sometimes powering the drives on a "known good" PSU in isolation can be 
a useful test (I've seen old ST506/412 drives go dead-short and nuke a PSU a 
few times, so a "sacrificial" junk PC PSU is handy) - but be aware that some 
old drives have a solenoid friction brake which doesn't operate until the 
drive thinks it's plugged into a machine (that caught me out once because I 
thought the drive was faulty until I hooked up the data cables and it all 
sprang into life)

cheers

Jules