12 Aug 2003, 10:49, Wayne Chirnside (1:275/311), wrote to Matt Mc_carthy:

Hi Wayne.

 WC>> 433 running Win 98 with a 6.4 Gig Quantum drive :-)
 WC>> Previously I'd thought the drive electronics defective but it
 WC>> turned out to be just the cable :-)

 MM>> Good to hear!  When you suspect an expensive problem, don't 
 MM>> overlook the cheap parts connected to it!   :-))

 WC> Yeah but the darned thing was so intermittet it drove me NUTS :-(

Keep that word "intermittent" in mind for future clues!  These
new drives either work, or they are dead, VERY little in-between.   :-((

 WC> I reflowed the power supply leads as it seemed to be failing to
 WC> reach operatig speed, then I swapped a Seagate drive with Win 3.1
 WC> on it and all appeared well for a time.

Swapping in a drive doesn't always give the expected result (as you are now
aware).  For unknown reasons, the cable socket pins are NOT always the same
size, even though there ARE standards.  On some drives the cable fits
loosely, while on others, you have to pry it off with a screwdriver.  

Power connectors are even worse, as the plastic of the amphenopl connector
has four little 'notches' to make the plastic plug fit tight, but leaves
you with no indication whatever as to the tension of the electrical pins. 
I usually slice off those plastic 'bumps' with an exacto knife so I can
feel the tightness of the _pins_ themselves. 

 WC> Even when it acted up Win 3.1 is more resilient to a crash
 WC> than is 98 in my experience... what's wrong with this picture?

Win 3.0 and 3.1 did not keep the active copy of the FAT in memory, as well
as leaving dozens of files 'open' on the HD.  That was the big
"improvement" that began with Win 95.  All that stuff being left
'open' gave a needed speed boost during use, but was hell to pay when the
system died without warning.  


     Good luck...  M.

--- Msged/386 TE 06 (pre)