Lisa Sun20 drive questions/revival

[ScutBoy]

I posted this just now on the LisaList2 site, but thought I'd toss it out here as well...

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I have on hand a Sun20 hard drive - I presume out of an XL at some point in time.

When placed in an XL with Lisa ROMs, the drive spins up but is not recognized. BLU does not appear to recognize the drive either.

Some googling has not turned up any info on how to test or use one of these drives, at least that I can find.

Of course, the MFM(?) drive is suspect at this point due to age. My drive is a Kyocera. The SunRem controller board had a chip labeled "Sun Controller Rev F".

So my questions are..

Any outstanding doc on these drives?
Are they suitable for both LisaOS and Macworks, or Macworks only?
Is there special software or process to set up this drive for use?
If I need to replace the drive mechanism, what would be suitable for replacement drives?

If I've missed some obvious trove of info on-line please feel free to point me at it. Otherwise, I look forward to what you can help me learn about this guy!

 

[retr01]

I think I found some information....

This site has many documentation for the Lisa. Herein are several documents regarding repair and other information. Many were supported by Sun Remarketing.

Index of /documentation/applelisa/

Apple II software mirrors

A collection of past and current Apple II FTP sites. ftp.apple.asimov.net is synced daily.

mirrors.apple2.org.za

Sun Remarketing based in Logan, Utah and one other organization stepped up to provide support for the Apple Lisa and related products. By 1989, Apple ordered the remaining Lisas to be destroyed, so Sun dumped it at a dump area near Logan, Utah. Years later, by early 2000s, Sun Remarketing folded up and was bought out by Cherokee Data in 2006. You can read more information about Sun and other(s):

https://www.apple.asimov.net/documentation/applelisa/The_AppleLISA_Handbook.pdf

https://www.apple.asimov.net/documentation/applelisa/AppleLisa%20-%20BurialLoganUT1989.pdf

Apple's Final Lisa Burial

Editor's Corner: Logan has interesting link to Apple computer history

Pieces of the not-too-distant Cache Valley past are always surfacing at The Herald Journal — events that made big splashes when they happened but have mostly faded from memory.

www.hjnews.com

Apple warns local firm of legal action

Apple Computer has issued a cease and desist order against Sun Remarketing in Hyde Park, claiming the used-Macintosh dealer violated copyright laws by selling unauthorized Macintosh software.

www.hjnews.com

Let me try to pinpoint down to the Sun20 and the related controller board.

 

[retr01]

While looking for more technical and servicing information on the Sun20, I found this. Now we know when Sun20 was released for the Lisa.

Source: http://www.apple-iigs.info/doc/fichiers/SunTimes - Sun Remarketing - Catalog Spring 1987.pdf

 

[retr01]

Wow. Some type of guide with the Sun20 is difficult to find. Needle under haystacks. I am not giving up yet. And I found those.

​

Source 1: https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_applelisasarketingCatalogSummer1988_28586791/page/n9/mode/2up
Source 2: https://vintageapple.org/catalogs/pdf/Sun_Remarketing_Spring_Upgrade_Catalog_1989.pdf

 

[retr01]

Getting warmer. I may have found an expert who may be able to help:

From this http://sigmasevensystems.com/xprofile leads to https://www.vintagemicros.com/catalog/index.php

Edit: Looks like things have changed with that lead. Not sure if "expert" or a "car salesman"?