dcfs018@Antares.Concordia.CA ( STEPHAN BOHM) (03/14/91)
Greetings. My disk drive has suddenly refused to work. I don't need to explain how difficult it is to use a computer if you can't load DOS in order to load a debugger in order to check the serial port data... Anyway, what happens is that the drive complains when it is ordered to read a sector (e.g. during bootup). All I get is an annoying noise, along with a message saying it can't boot (this repeats ad infinitum, or at least until I shut it off). Power seems fine. The LEDs work, and the power supply voltage is 12V AC. The motor starts and the head moves when I apply power, as usual. I have cleaned the head and the guide rails, and checked the circuit board for obvious problems (they aren't any blown components). I changed the drive # selector to all four positions. If it is selected as drive 2,3, or 4, I get a timeout sound, and when I put it back as drive 1, I get the annoying sound (not the same as the timeout sound). I get error 139 whenever I try reading from the drive (I get this value using Omnimon). If I turn off the drive, I get error 138 (timeout). I don't think it's a bad connection between the drive and my computer because my old drive (which can't write properly...) works ok if I use the same serial cable. I think I have 5 options: 1) Fix it myself (but I'd need the 1050 service manual and a source for parts) 2) Send the drive out for repairs (but where? and for how much?) 3) Put my 8-bit system in a closet and forget about it (not desirable) 4) Cook up some hardware to let me use an IBM PC drive (too involved) 5) Buy a new drive (not at this stage) I'm hoping somebody out there has some suggestions. Jean Goulet dcfs018@antares.concordia.ca
jtmorgan@brahms.udel.edu (James Morgan) (03/14/91)
In article <824@antares.Concordia.CA> dcfs018@Antares.Concordia.CA ( STEPHAN BOHM) writes: >Greetings. > >My disk drive has suddenly refused to work. I don't need to explain how >difficult it is to use a computer if you can't load DOS in order to load a >debugger in order to check the serial port data... > . . > Jean Goulet > dcfs018@antares.concordia.ca There is a small photo sensor and tranmitter on the path the disk takes when you put the disk it. This is what went on my drive. the whole thing is built into a small plastic "u" shaped assembly. This is what went on my drive and gave me similar symptons that you are having. I don't know about the error codes though. You might want to find a way of checking this out. It cost me $55.00 a few years back to have someone change one of these on mine. Other than that my drive has lasted me a long time. One other caution: I have dust covers on all my equipment and I make sure I put them back on after each use. The only thing that wore out was a keyboard on my 800XL. Hope you find your trouble and can get it repaired.
mwoodwar@eecs.wsu.edu (woodward matthew d - CS350) (03/15/91)
Annoying noise and refusal to boot sounds like a track zero sensor failure to me. I got a new sensor from one of the Atari parts havens (Don't remember any names right now...) It didn't cost more than $10 and was simple to put in. The track zero sensor is located on top of the drive mechanism (if I remember correctly) and is kind of C shaped. When the head is moved all the way to the outside of the disk, there is a tab which goes into the C shaped sensor. This is a common failure of the 1050, and I hadn't even diagnosed my drive for sure, but ordered one anyway, it works fine. I think when I turned my drive on, it would step forward about 1/8th of an inch. If I kept turning it off and on until it reached the end of it's travel (the center of the disk), then it would make a horrible grinding noise and come back to the outiside of the disk. (I did this with the disk drive disconnected from the computer). Usually when you turn the drive on, if it is at track zero, it steps out 1/4 inch or so, and returns to the sensor. If it is anywhere else on the disk, it just returns to track zero. Any questions, mail to mwoodwar@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu Matt Wodoward
Ordania-DM@cup.portal.com (Charles K Hughes) (03/15/91)
Jean writes: >Greetings. > >My disk drive has suddenly refused to work. I don't need to explain how >Anyway, what happens is that the drive complains when it is ordered to read a >sector (e.g. during bootup). All I get is an annoying noise, along with >a message saying it can't boot (this repeats ad infinitum, or at least until >I shut it off). > >Power seems fine. The LEDs work, and the power supply voltage is 12V AC. >The motor starts and the head moves when I apply power, as usual. I have >cleaned the head and the guide rails, and checked the circuit board for >obvious problems (they aren't any blown components). I changed the drive # >selector to all four positions. If it is selected as drive 2,3, or 4, I >get a timeout sound, and when I put it back as drive 1, I get the annoying >sound (not the same as the timeout sound). It needs to be set to drive 1 in order to boot from it. > >I get error 139 whenever I try reading from the drive (I get this value >using Omnimon). If I turn off the drive, I get error 138 (timeout). > >I don't think it's a bad connection between the drive and my computer because >my old drive (which can't write properly...) works ok if I use the same serial >cable. The SIO port could be bad but this is unlikely. > >I think I have 5 options: > >1) Fix it myself (but I'd need the 1050 service manual and a source for parts) >2) Send the drive out for repairs (but where? and for how much?) >3) Put my 8-bit system in a closet and forget about it (not desirable) >4) Cook up some hardware to let me use an IBM PC drive (too involved) >5) Buy a new drive (not at this stage) 1, 2, 4, and 5 all equate to 5. 3 is a bad idea :) I would suggest #5 - you should be able to get a cheap (<$150) XF551 or even cheaper (<$100) 1050 pretty easily. > >I'm hoping somebody out there has some suggestions. Only one...try a new boot disk, or several boot disks. Also, try swapping the drive mechs in your 1050's - this would eliminate the possibility of the SIO/1050 logic boards being at fault. (And who knows, you might get one perfect drive out of it.) > > > Jean Goulet > dcfs018@antares.concordia.ca Charles_K_Hughes@cup.portal.com
williams@fquest.fidonet.org (Jason Williams) (03/15/91)
It sounds like you have a bad disk...It it partially loads, then makes a horrible noise, then it is most likely a bad disk..try running a backup of dos...Well, just a thought...
asgardia@unixland.uucp (Craig Rothman) (03/16/91)
> I think I have 5 options: > > 1) Fix it myself (but I'd need the 1050 service manual and a source for parts > 2) Send the drive out for repairs (but where? and for how much?) > 3) Put my 8-bit system in a closet and forget about it (not desirable) > 4) Cook up some hardware to let me use an IBM PC drive (too involved) > 5) Buy a new drive (not at this stage) > > I'm hoping somebody out there has some suggestions. > > > Jean Goulet > dcfs018@antares.concordia.ca Suggestion: call a board called OUTER CITY limits. Leave ken (sysop) some feedback. Im sure he can fix it or tell you what can be done for it. He has most parts and manuals.. If he has time you maybe can persuade him to work on it via mail and have it sent back to you. His rates are very reasonable. I had him do 3 1050s for me and he does good work. (617) 665-0977 Tell em Craig sent ya.