I have a fully working NeXT internal 256mb MO Drive and I have used the drive to archive software and files from about 20 or so NeXT optical disks. These include a Software Release 1.0a optical disk and also disks used by staff at NeXT UK.
My drive is Canon badged and came from MOD surplus. It is not the Canofile optical drive which is 650mb and doesn't work.
I know this is a very rare working optical drive and may even be unique. I have come across countless references to 'working' optical drives but they have never been tested with disks and, from my experience, never work.
I would like to offer a service to anyone who has optical disks who would like to retrieve the data from them. The simplest solution is to archive to a SCSI hard disk or a more widely available optical disk format (Sony 650mb).
If anyone wishes to archive their disks, please contact me.
The copying service is free.
The only cost will be posting the disks and SCSI drive back and forth.
My email address is - loewesystems@gmail.com
I'd offer you to do my 20something cartridges but the data isn't worth the cost of shipping. :|
I guess there are a few options.
If you don't need the optical disks they would only need to be posted one way. If you don't have an MO drive the disks are virtually worthless. From the US, US Airmail would probably be the cheapest option. It would then only be necessary to return a single SCSI drive or a more widely available MO disk (650mb).
There is no charge for archiving the MO disks.
The second option is to buy a replacement MO drive : I have another couple on their way from MOD Surplus.
Feel free to email me on loewesystems@gmail.com
I've offered the same service... I have a half dozen working drives and have archived over 200. Same offer for free archival...
Hello
That is very good - I have not come across anyone else with a working drive. It is good that you can assist users on the US side. I currently only have a single Canon double-sided drive although I have another 2/3 on the way from MOD Surplus. Also, good to see another free service!!
I have some further developments on the NeXT MO Drives.
I currently have a single working Canon badged MO Drive (512mb - 256mb per side).
I have now acquired a further 9 drives (ex BAE) but it will not be possible to get any more. They are 512mb (Double-sided, 256mb per side). They had a short production run in 1996. Canon had, by this time, sorted out the faults seen in the NeXT branded MO drives. There is no comparison between the two types of drive.
I also have 23 Sealed Canon Double-Sided Media.
The drives are fully compatible and read/write reliably and safely.
Quote from: "gtnicol"I've offered the same service... I have a half dozen working drives and have archived over 200. Same offer for free archival...
I will offer the same.
Does anyone have original 0.8, 0.8a, 0.9, 1.0, 1.0a, 2.0, 2.1 or 2.1a media in pristine form which were never mounted read-write?
My experience of optical disks in the early 1990's was being prompted to repair them regularly. I know I was not unique. I would imagine an optical disk which has not been mounted read/write would be very rare. There is always the possibility of an unused Release OD, again very unlikely.
I don't know about pristine 0.8 but I know I do have the media for 0.8... but of course, I booted it :)
Years ago I was working on backing up the OD releases prior to NS 3.0, as at the time my Cube had a functioning OD. It's been a long time since I used the OD but it was functional the last time I did. I managed to back up various OD distros from .8 to 3.0 (I believe). These were backed up to 1.3GB disks in a Pinnacle SCSI MO drive. My '030 Cube currently boots NS 1.X off an external SCSI HD.
Jeff