Hello, I just pulled my old 10MHz 286 out from the basement hoping to get some files out of it and back onto my Main Computer (old text files that could be useful), and unfortunatly, I didn't have the old XT type keyboard to operate the machine. I'm not very familiar with MFM drives or the controller cards they use. I took the controller card and the Miniscribe 3409 (?) drive and put them into my computer. I was lucky to have on ISA slot left to put the the MFM controller in. When the computer boots, the hard drive at the very least activates, and it is vibrating. I guess this is a good sign. On the hard drive, there are a bunch of numbers. Cylinder: 229 230 231 232 68 Head 1 1 1 1 2 Byte Offset From Index 3409 3409 3409 3409 1798 The controller card (or most of it) seems to be made by ADAPTEC. I have two computers that both work. The first one is an AMD Duron 750 running Windows XP. The second is a Pentium 75MHz running Windows 95a (First Edition). If anyone could help me, please e-mail or post something here. Thanks.

Ok, Flash back time. MFM, have not heard that word in quite some time. Just so you know the numbers you listed. The Cyls, Heads, that is the bad track list. In the good ole days when you did a real low-level format this information had to be entered during the low-level process. I know I'm not being of much help at this point but the last time I had to install a MFM HDD was back in 1991. Let me see what I can dig up and I'll get back to you. Are there any numbers on the controller card? There is also a good chance the drive will not function anymore as well. TTFN, KTTD

You need to enter the disc particulars in the bios in order for it to be recognised. e.g. type/cyls/hds/sects. These should be on the hd itself, or if not the makers website. Early 286's used an AT keyboard which often had a XT switch on. Modern keyboards usually work on an AT. Sometimes they have a small connecter, but if so a convertor plug is really cheap. Make sure you get the correct convertor e.g. small k/b to large pc, as they are available the other way round. Good luck - keep us posted.