Floppy drive just spins like crazy - doesn't detect disks

Benighted · 11 May 2010, 20:27

I received a nice a500 rev 5 MB today and installed kickstart 3.1 in it. The nice 3.1 screen comes up and everything seems fine until the floppydrive goes mental. It spins up, down and stops very randomly. If I try to put in a floppy nothing happens. I just continues spinning without doing anything noteworthy. I read somewhere that the handle inside can slide out of position. Could this have happened while it has been in storage? What should be done? Thanks for all your help.

rkauer · 11 May 2010, 21:10

Probably just a bad contact on the floppy cable or a bad seated Paula. Re-seat both and test again.

8bitbubsy · 11 May 2010, 22:54

Might be a fried floppy drive... These are quite fragile units, even though they look like they're not. Have you tried the floppy drive in another Amiga? That should make it easier to debug the problem.

Benighted · 11 May 2010, 22:59

Tried to reseat Paula and cables (several times), but it still behaves weird. It either doesn't do anything or constantly spins and the drive will light constantly. Sheessh...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8bitbubsy

Might be a fried floppy drive... These are quite fragile units, even though they look like they're not. Have you tried the floppy drive in another Amiga? That should make it easier to debug the problem.

I have tried it in a different Amiga 500 rev 5 KS 1.2 and it behaves exactly the same. Ebay next?

8bitbubsy · 11 May 2010, 23:00

'Tried that'?
Tried it in another Amiga too?

Benighted · 11 May 2010, 23:05

Yes!

rkauer · 11 May 2010, 23:10

Constant lit floppy LED means a backward inserted cable in one of the ends.

Loedown · 12 May 2010, 02:33

I'd normally agree with this point Rkauer, except that it's stated it goes on and off, reversed cable is solidly on.

Benighted · 13 May 2010, 11:10

I reversed the cable, and the drive LED will light constantly as you say. The floppydrive has now started to take on a consistent behaviour every time I power on. It's dead for 30-40 seconds, starts to spin for a while and then dies again. This can't be good.

Toni Wilen · 13 May 2010, 11:32

Tried with other power supply? It is bad drive if it still does the same.

FOL · 13 May 2010, 18:08

Try what the other user did in the other thread, clean the disk detect switches with WD40.

11 May 2010, 20:27	#1
Benighted Amiga = Metal! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Stavanger / Norway Posts: 92	Floppy drive just spins like crazy - doesn't detect disks I received a nice a500 rev 5 MB today and installed kickstart 3.1 in it. The nice 3.1 screen comes up and everything seems fine until the floppydrive goes mental. It spins up, down and stops very randomly. If I try to put in a floppy nothing happens. I just continues spinning without doing anything noteworthy. I read somewhere that the handle inside can slide out of position. Could this have happened while it has been in storage? What should be done? Thanks for all your help.

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11 May 2010, 21:10	#2
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Probably just a bad contact on the floppy cable or a bad seated Paula. Re-seat both and test again.

11 May 2010, 22:54	#3
8bitbubsy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 1,710	Might be a fried floppy drive... These are quite fragile units, even though they look like they're not. Have you tried the floppy drive in another Amiga? That should make it easier to debug the problem.

11 May 2010, 23:00	#5
8bitbubsy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 1,710	'Tried that'? Tried it in another Amiga too?

11 May 2010, 23:05	#6
Benighted Amiga = Metal! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Stavanger / Norway Posts: 92	Yes!

11 May 2010, 23:10	#7
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Constant lit floppy LED means a backward inserted cable in one of the ends.

12 May 2010, 02:33	#8
Loedown Precious & fragile things Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,946	I'd normally agree with this point Rkauer, except that it's stated it goes on and off, reversed cable is solidly on.

13 May 2010, 11:10	#9
Benighted Amiga = Metal! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Stavanger / Norway Posts: 92	I reversed the cable, and the drive LED will light constantly as you say. The floppydrive has now started to take on a consistent behaviour every time I power on. It's dead for 30-40 seconds, starts to spin for a while and then dies again. This can't be good.

13 May 2010, 11:32	#10
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,505	Tried with other power supply? It is bad drive if it still does the same.

13 May 2010, 18:08	#11
FOL PSPUAE DEV Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales / UK Age: 45 Posts: 5,999	Try what the other user did in the other thread, clean the disk detect switches with WD40.

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