History (1985): Failures Attributed to Computer Memories HDDs

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1985 CMI 6426
Drive technical problems impact IBM PC/AT acceptance

Why it’s important
One of the more spectacular drive failures to achieve public exposure, it was exacerbated by problems with the OS.

Discussion
Computer Memories, Inc. (CMI) was one of the three suppliers of 10MB (formatted) HDDs to IBM for the PC/XT.

In 1984 IBM exclusively sourced from CMI a 20MB (formatted) HDD for IBM’s new PC/AT. It is believed the particular model was the CMI 6426.

During 1985 the public became aware of hard system failures attributed to the CMI drives. Apparently the underlying problem was a higher than expected recoverable error rate which was turned into non-recoverable errors by defective error recovery in the OS.

Core International, seeing a market opportunity, offered to swap, for a fee, the 20MB drive with a superior product and use the swapped to product to build a breakwater at Boca Raton, FL, then the headquarters of the IBM PC division. Whether the breakwater was ever built is unknown.

IBM cancelled its contract with CMI in August 1985, replacing them with products from Seagate and IBM Rochester.

Finis Conner was the CEO of CMI from approximately September 23, 1985 until October 13, 1985, resigning for ‘personal reasons.’

CMI exited the HDD business in June 1986 and its manufacturing facility was auctioned off in August.