EasyData 216HI with Seagate ST-225

[jimpio]

I have an old EasyData 216HI machine here that I am looking to pull data off. The computer turns on but with no MDA monitor/adapter I am having trouble confirming if it works.

1) Are there any modern adapters that I can get to test functionality of the machine?

2) What is necessary for me to be able to just pull the drive and pull data? If it is not possible for me, are there services that are available for this?

 

[seaken]

Hello Jimpio, welcome to the forum. The ST-225 is an MFM drive. Many of this type of drive have gone belly up by now. That doesn't mean that yours has gone bad. There is a chance that the data can be pulled off. If you do not have a lot of vintage equipment yourself it is possible to have a data recovery service help you out.

I'm not sure but I think there are few members here who can offer this service. Maybe @Chuck(G) can do it, or point you in the right direction.

If you watch a few videos from Adrian's Digital Basement you may get some clues on how to get the data off using some utilities or MFM emulators. Are you up to that kind of DIY geekiness? Maybe.

Do some searches and watch some video on the MFM hard drives.

Seaken

 

[seaken]

There are devices available that can be used to display MDA video to a VGA or HDMI display. Do a search on RGBtoHDMI to get started.

Seaken

 

[vwestlife]

If it is an XT-class machine with 8-bit slots, you will need to keep the hard drive with its original controller card, because 8-bit MFM cards all used slightly different formatting, so for example a drive formatted using a Seagate controller may not be readable using a Western Digital controller, or vice-versa.

If it's an AT-class machine with a 16-bit controller card that does not have its own ROM, then you should be able to read it using any other 16-bit MFM controller card.

 

[djg]

2) What is necessary for me to be able to just pull the drive and pull data? If it is not possible for me, are there services that are available for this?

Other than getting your machine working or compatible controller in another machine
http://www.pdp8online.com/mfm/
I have read drives for people but drives aren't the most reliable now and shipping doesn't help them. If you want to try that PM or email me from link above.