SSD for a HyperDrive: A Mini Guide

[cheesestraws]

As far as I know, the ProFile uses its own controller stuff, it's not just an MFM drive in there (though I am happy to be wrong).  AFAIK it uses the same mechanism and stepper motor as some popular MFM drive, but none of the electronics.  Again, I may be wrong here, though, I am no  expert on this

 

[MOS8_030]

As far as I know, the ProFile uses its own controller stuff, it's not just an MFM drive in there (though I am happy to be wrong).  AFAIK it uses the same mechanism and stepper motor as some popular MFM drive, but none of the electronics.  Again, I may be wrong here, though, I am no  expert on this

Correct that the profile has it's own controller stuff but I believe the HD (in mine anyway) is just a Miniscribe like the one Hyperdrive used.

But I don't remember for sure, I haven't had the Profile Drive open since I recapped the PS.

Anyway, I guess if my Profile HD dies I'll look into it more. Thx!

 

[cheesestraws]

Correct that the profile has it's own controller stuff but I believe the HD (in mine anyway) is just a Miniscribe like the one Hyperdrive used.

I am quite likely to be wrong, I too have not opened my Profile in some considerable time!

 

[MOS8_030]

I am quite likely to be wrong, I too have not opened my Profile in some considerable time!

I went back though my photos and my Lisa2 Sun Rem machine has a Seagate ST-412. (Dead)

I didn't document the Profile when I had it open but I think my Profile Drive has the same HD.

 

[JC8080]

This is really cool, thanks for the write-up. I just picked up a 512k with a 20mb HyperDrive, and the drive (MiniScribe 8425) isn't working. I don't have high hopes of reviving it, and replacement drives are pricey, and there is no guarantee they will work or for how long. As cool as it would be to have an actual drive in there to make the awesome sounds only old HDs make, this seems like a great way to preserve (mostly) a piece of history, and have something that will last.

 

[Apollonia]

For anyone else coming to this thread post February 2025, the page linked here:

For the drive emulator, I used one of these: https://www.pdp8.net/mfm/mfm.shtml - it's a little board that slots into a BeagleBone and allows it to emulate up to two MFM drives, and even read from real MFM drives.

Has moved. The new link is now:

	

		
			MFM Hard Disk Reader/Emulator
		
	

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(Hope I did that card link correctly