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 Post subject: Real A5000 Won't Read Floppies
PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 5:24 pm 
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Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:06 am
Posts: 15
Hi All,

My A5000 recently stopped reading floppy discs, RISC OS would just
report that there is no disc in the drive.
The drive light does come on when you try to access the floppy.

I bought a replacement drive from APDL however that gives me the same
problem.
I have replaced the data cable with one from an A7000+ but to no
avail.

The jumpers for the floppy controller are in their original position,
as per the service manual.
I've also just reset the CMOS (holding Del down at power on) - Still
no joy!

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rob.


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 Post subject: Re: Real A5000 Won't Read Floppies
PostPosted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:07 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2002 12:16 pm
Posts: 958
Could be the floppy controller chip is on the fritz. Or it could be the cable itself (have you got it the right way round? - It's easy to get it wrong.)

Something I have tried myself (and this must be undertaken entirely at your own risk) is to remove the drive from the machine - strip off the top panel and manually wind the heads back (they might have got stuck off the end).

Having said this - having two drives fail is quite unlikely. Perhaps it's the discs themselves? Try some different discs, preferably commercial ones. Also, with a blank disc, see if you can format.


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 Post subject: Re: Real A5000 Won't Read Floppies
PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:39 pm 
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Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:06 am
Posts: 15
Thanks Aaron,

Been banging my head against a brick wall with this one.
I've tried;

*Other Drives (Tested on other machines)
*Other Ribbon Cables
*Changing the switch position on the back of the floppy drive
*Changing the jumper positions on the mainboard, that determine floppy drive options
*Original floppy discs
*Blank floppy discs

As it happens the machine is under warranty with CJE Micros, they sent me another drive (That they had tested), but that didn't work either.

After speeking to Chris from CJE today, it looks as if they are going to end up replacing the mainboard.


I have to say, I'm made up with the customer service from CJE, they are pretty darn good!


Rob.


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 Post subject: Re: Real A5000 Won't Read Floppies
PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 4:04 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2002 12:16 pm
Posts: 958
It certainly sounds like the controller has died - but if you are going to get a replacement at least the problem should be sorted.


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 Post subject: Re: Real A5000 Won't Read Floppies
PostPosted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:32 pm 
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Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:06 am
Posts: 15
Thanks for all the help.
CJE Micros sent me a replacement mainboard, this cured the problem!
So there was nothing wrong with the drive nor cables.

Rob.


P.S. Once again I find CJE Micros customer service perfect!


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 Post subject: Re: Real A5000 Won't Read Floppies
PostPosted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:24 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2002 12:16 pm
Posts: 958
Glad it's now fixed :D


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