[comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware] Teac 5.25" Floppy question...

ntj@cbnewsk.att.com (najmi.jarwala) (12/30/90)

Hi:

  I have just bought a Northgate which came with a 5.25" floppy (Teac).
All drives that I have used to date have a "spring-loaded" feel when
the floppy is inserted. Also the floppy partially ejects when the door is
open. This drive does neither. Otherwise it works fine.
 
Does this indicate a mechanical defect or  are there other drives out
there with the same characteristics?

Thanks in advance.

Najmi Jarwala
jarwala@ohm.att.com

quimby@madoka.its.rpi.edu (Tom Stewart) (12/30/90)

(najmi.jarwala) writes:
>
>  I have just bought a Northgate which came with a 5.25" floppy (Teac).
>All drives that I have used to date have a "spring-loaded" feel when
>the floppy is inserted. Also the floppy partially ejects when the door is
>open. This drive does neither. Otherwise it works fine.
> 
>Does this indicate a mechanical defect or  are there other drives out
>there with the same characteristics?
>
Teac 5.25" drives don't have an eject mechanism, at least not the ones
installed in Everex Steps.  They're a very reliable drive, and have
the advantage of a locking lever that can be safely closed without a
diskette in the drive.  (Believe it or not, some people tend to snap
the latches off if they can't "close" it without a disk.)
  
Quimby
  
(quimby@mts.rpi.edu, quimby@rpitsmts.bitnet)

koziarz@halibut.nosc.mil (Walter A. Koziarz) (12/31/90)

In article <2LR^Q`#@rpi.edu> quimby@madoka.its.rpi.edu (Tom Stewart) writes:
>(najmi.jarwala) writes:
>>
	[ how come the disk doesn't partially eject?? ]
>> 
>>Does this indicate a mechanical defect or  are there other drives out
>>there with the same characteristics?
>>
>Teac 5.25" drives don't have an eject mechanism, at least not the ones
>installed in Everex Steps.  They're a very reliable drive, and have
>the advantage of a locking lever that can be safely closed without a
>diskette in the drive.  (Believe it or not, some people tend to snap
>the latches off if they can't "close" it without a disk.)
>  
Hmmm....

I'd always *thought* the opposite was more 'deadly'.  Tandon TM-100-2 drives
(5.25in, full height, 48tpi) will *suffer cracked r/w heads* if the drive is
'closed' without a disk inserted.  Perhaps this has been solved in more modern
drives???

Walt K.

>Quimby
>  

Aha, 'quimby', we meet again....

quimby@madoka.its.rpi.edu (Tom Stewart) (01/01/91)

>>Teac 5.25" drives don't have an eject mechanism, at least not the ones
>>installed in Everex Steps.  They're a very reliable drive, and have
>>the advantage of a locking lever that can be safely closed without a
>>diskette in the drive.  (Believe it or not, some people tend to snap
>>the latches off if they can't "close" it without a disk.)
>>  
>Hmmm....
>
>I'd always *thought* the opposite was more 'deadly'.  Tandon TM-100-2 drives
>(5.25in, full height, 48tpi) will *suffer cracked r/w heads* if the drive is
>'closed' without a disk inserted.  Perhaps this has been solved in more modern
>drives???
>
The thought of smashed heads bothered me too, but, at least in the new Teacs,
the heads aren't loaded unless a disk is inserted.  The head loading 
mechanism is split, with a nylon cam acting as a lockout.

>Walt K.
>
>>Quimby
>>  
>Aha, 'quimby', we meet again....

It's the 'small world' syndrome.  Or is that the small town syndrome?
Anyway, happy new year...
  
Quimby
  
(quimby@mts.rpi.edu, quimby@rpitsmts.bitnet)