MFM hard drive data recovery questions/ideas (help needed)

[Mr Ian Primus]

--- Andy Piercy <andy.piercy at gmail.com> wrote:

> What make is the drive?
> 
> Do the heads un-load?

> Have a look on the alias archive for "sticky
> bumpers".

I agree - the Micropolis drives are very prone to
that. It'll spin, but the heads never load and it
won't seek because they're glued to their stop with
the rubber bumper pad.

Also, as stupid as it sounds, are you running the
machine in it's normal physical orientation, or are
you running it on it's side, on a workbench?
Sometimes, if the drive is really well used, if the
drive was formatted and working whilst horizontal, it
won't work properly when turned on it's side.
Combination of the normal effects of gravity on the
device, and well worn stepper motors cause the heads
to not line up with the tracks. Just a thought.

-Ian