smisra@eos.ncsu.edu (12/03/90)
I have a 1050 disk drive that works only intermittently... sometimes when you have the cover closed...and the computer tries to access the drive..the drive light becomes a dim red instead of the bright red...and sort of fluctuates and at the same time the drive makes a slow whirring noise like it is trying to read a bad sector of the disk... does any one know how to fix the problem and where I can get spare parts for low price...I don't think the drive is worth more than $25 in working condition...so I probably don't want to spend more than that I appreciate any helpful responses thanks Saurabh smisra@eos.ncsu.edu
norlin@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Norman Lin) (12/04/90)
smisra@eos.ncsu.edu writes: >I have a 1050 disk drive that works only intermittently... >sometimes when you have the cover closed...and the computer >tries to access the drive..the drive light becomes a dim >red instead of the bright red...and sort of fluctuates >and at the same time the drive makes a slow whirring noise >like it is trying to read a bad sector of the disk... >does any one know how to fix the problem and where I can >get spare parts for low price...I don't think the drive is >worth more than $25 in working condition...so I probably don't >want to spend more than that This happened to my disk drive too. Upon disassembling it, I found that the band that drives the disk spindle (which appears to be some sort of cloth/rubber band) had gotten brittle over time and about 50% of it had actually gotten so hard that it had flaked off, leaving a large amount of blackish dusty particles strewn about the interior of the drive. After cleaning all this junk out, and refitting what was left of the band back into place, the drive still worked but on some cheaper/older diskettes (which I assume spin with more resistance within their jackets due to lack of lubrication or somesuch) the drive exhitibited exactly the same symptoms; a dim light, and a strained whir of the disk drive. My solution was to again open the drive and insert a small piece of folded paper on the door closing mechanism, so that the door wouldn't close all the way. My reason for this was that by not closing the door as far, the disk head wouldn't press so hard against the diskette, thus allowing slightly easier spinning of the drive with the reduced torque of the deteriorated band. The problem with this, of course, is increased errors in reading/writing, since the disk head is now not pressed so firmly and reliably against the magnetic medium. A tradeoff, but it seems the easiest solution. A better one would be to replace the band, but I don't know where you could obtain one. >I appreciate any helpful responses Hope this helps. I know that though my 1050 is old, I still don't want to junk it yet. >thanks >Saurabh >smisra@eos.ncsu.edu ---|\-#-/_|-------/|-------,*.----||---Norman Lin, University of Oklahoma---- ---|/-----|------/-|---,"--|---,"-||------norlin@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu------- --/|------------/-*'---|/------|--||-----(IP addr: 129.15.[20|22|24].2)------ -|/|\---/_|-----|-----------------||-"I gazed in your eyes, and saw the moon- --\|/-----|----*'-----------------||------------and the skies"---------------
parsons@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Scott S Parish) (12/04/90)
If it is the belt. You can probably get a new one from B&C Computervisions or American Techna-Vision. I thought I saw the part listed in one of their catalogs. Hope they are still in business. B&C Computer Visions 3257 kifer Rd. Santa Clara, CA 95051 (408) 749-1003 American Techna-Vision 2098 Pike Ave. San Leandro, CA 94577 1 800 551-9995 --Scott Parish No fancy signature. I can barely use this editor.