External FDD problem

JohnnyD · 05 June 2010, 12:20

I've just received an external floppy drive from an ebay seller for my A1200.

It is not showing any sign of life at all.

I have disconnected all other power using accessories, except the HDD and RAM board, but still nought from the floppy.

The drive is an Amitek (apparently - there are no markings whatsoever on the casing) and the A1200 is KS 3.1.

Can anyone tell me which pins the power comes through on the A1200 connector, so I can check it?

HERE is the item, though the floppy drive that he sent isn't the one in the picture.

TiA
JD

musashi5150 · 05 June 2010, 12:27

Not sure this is correct chap, just a quick spot of Googling on my part.

http://www.pinouts.org.uk/index.php?...External_Drive

Have you opened it up and checked that all is plugged in inside ok and the connector hasn't slipped off in the case?

Hewitson · 05 June 2010, 16:54

This one is a bit better..

http://pinouts.ru/Storage/ExtDiskAmiga_pinout.shtml

JohnnyD · 05 June 2010, 17:03

Thanks, guys - yeah, I'm very short of time today, so thanks for googling for me

I've got that useful Hardware Book knocking around somewhere...

Well, I checked the power at the input to the floppy drive and it was fine at 5V.

Everything was plugged in as it should be and there were no visible problems.

It is a Sony MPF520-1 drive and the board at the rear has an Amitek moniker on it - so looks like I have got the one intended, though the description does say it is tested. It looks in good nick, too.

So it must be an internal thing. There is a jumper on the back, with 3 pins (not the anti-virus switch), and I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it.

Oh well, Google is my friend.

Thanks

JD

PS - I've found the info I need on the drive HERE, so those questions answered - but still not working...

JohnnyD · 05 June 2010, 17:44

Okay - I had a good Googling session and found that this is a well-known PC floppy drive that works on the Amiga (standard, with a small change to the ribbon cable).

I have tried it in my PC and it works - but only with the old style IDE cable.

It has the notched socket surround on it, that only lets you put the ribbon in one way around (with the red stripe on the right, as you look at the back of the unit).

This way, it won't work.

I had to dig out my spares box and find a ribbon with a non-notched plug, and insert it with the red stripe to the left, and now it works just fine on the PC.

So - I'm wondering if this may have some effect on it working with the Amitek case on the Amiga.

Although, the next thing I'm gonna try is independant power from a seperate PSU and see what happens then.

JD

cpiac64 · 05 June 2010, 19:04

test on another amiga, my 1200 if change internal floppy with not original, the external not go

PowerPie5000 · 06 June 2010, 00:33

The last Amitek external FDD i had used a PC drive manufactured by Citizen. If the Amitek badge falls off then there is no way to tell who manufactured the drive for the Amiga... this may be the case with yours (The Amitek FDD i owned used a white/cream metal case with vents on top and six screws on the bottom).

Have you checked for any loose or missing pins on the connector?

JohnnyD · 06 June 2010, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpiac64

test on another amiga, my 1200 if change internal floppy with not original, the external not go

My internal drive is still the original one and still works fine, so this problem shouldn't arise, thanks anyway.

PowerPie, it is definitely an Amitek casing and adapter. From my readings via Google, I have found that several different PC drives were used in the Amitek casing - so I tried a TEAC one that I have, which should also work, but there was no joy at all.

I have tested the connectors etc and also tested the floppy drives on an old PC and they work on that. There is also power at the adapter drive input - so power is not the problem.

It's definitely a data transfer/ready issue, but I don't know enough about this kind of external hardware and adapter to be able to go into any more detailed testing.

The A1200 is simply not recognising that the drive is attached.

I'm collecting another A1200 on Wednesday (which also has an external drive) and will test it on that. The seller has offered to replace it, though - so if it is duff, I'll get a working one in exchange.

Thanks for input

JD

JohnnyD · 06 June 2010, 12:36

EUREKA!

It's working!

I wiggled the antivirus switch around and it sprang to life.

Chuffed to rocks!

JD

prowler · 06 June 2010, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

I wiggled the antivirus switch around and it sprang to life.

Interesting...

I discovered one of my external drives wasn't working when I was using them to image some troublesome floppy disks the other day. I never thought of that. Maybe I'll try wiggling the function switch and see if it springs to life too!

Supamax · 07 June 2010, 02:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

I wiggled the antivirus switch around and it sprang to life.

What do you mean with "wiggled"? You switched it to the other position and it came to life?
If so, why didn't it work in the other position? It's supposed to...

Hewitson · 07 June 2010, 05:37

Wtf is this "antivirus switch"?

Prevents writing to bootblock?

Jope · 07 June 2010, 07:35

Yep.

JohnnyD · 07 June 2010, 10:38

By 'wiggled' I mean that it has 3 positions (don't ask me - I don't know

) and I quickly shoved it repeatedly back and forth and then left it in the middle position - it was originally to the right - looking from the rear.

It then worked. I guess it either is incompatable with the right position, or the contacts were dirty.

I haven't tried the 3rd position, because it works where it is - so I'm happy.

I will test it, though - just for you

and let you know what happens.

JD

JohnnyD · 07 June 2010, 11:00

Okay - this is how it works.

From left to right, there are 3 positions.

1 - ON + Antivirus

2 - ON + no antivirus

3 - OFF

The 3rd switches off the unit entirely - which is where it was when delivered.

Anyway, for those interested, I found a guide brochure for this unit on the net (pdf) and have uploaded it to The Zone - it's only 2 pages.

JD

Jope · 07 June 2010, 13:44

Those switches were usually the cheapest kind you can find.. I've repaired a few external drives by just tightening the metal clips that hold the switch together, so that the pins make proper contact.

rkauer · 07 June 2010, 18:51

The antivirus position simply disable writing to the disk.

prowler · 07 June 2010, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

I discovered one of my external drives wasn't working when I was using them to image some troublesome floppy disks the other day. I never thought of that. Maybe I'll try wiggling the function switch and see if it springs to life too!

Well, it didn't work for the drive I had in mind (Power Computing PC-880B external drive), but I did get a dead Cumana external drive working by rapid-switching (that's what I understand by 'wiggling') the Enable/Disable switch a few times!

JohnnyD · 07 June 2010, 22:00

Ah - an old tried and tested method that I learned in the Royal Signals

One of several that weren't in the maintenance manuals (drop test and mast hammer impact test being two others).

JD

prowler · 08 June 2010, 23:31

I found the problem with my Power Computing PC-880B external drive. It was the internal (Sony) drive unit. Replaced that, and now its working again!

05 June 2010, 12:20	#1
JohnnyD Decrepid Old Duffer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston/UK Age: 59 Posts: 88	External FDD problem I've just received an external floppy drive from an ebay seller for my A1200. It is not showing any sign of life at all. I have disconnected all other power using accessories, except the HDD and RAM board, but still nought from the floppy. The drive is an Amitek (apparently - there are no markings whatsoever on the casing) and the A1200 is KS 3.1. Can anyone tell me which pins the power comes through on the A1200 connector, so I can check it? HERE is the item, though the floppy drive that he sent isn't the one in the picture. TiA JD

05 June 2010, 17:03	#4
JohnnyD Decrepid Old Duffer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston/UK Age: 59 Posts: 88	Thanks, guys - yeah, I'm very short of time today, so thanks for googling for me I've got that useful Hardware Book knocking around somewhere... Well, I checked the power at the input to the floppy drive and it was fine at 5V. Everything was plugged in as it should be and there were no visible problems. It is a Sony MPF520-1 drive and the board at the rear has an Amitek moniker on it - so looks like I have got the one intended, though the description does say it is tested. It looks in good nick, too. So it must be an internal thing. There is a jumper on the back, with 3 pins (not the anti-virus switch), and I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it. Oh well, Google is my friend. Thanks JD PS - I've found the info I need on the drive HERE, so those questions answered - but still not working... Last edited by JohnnyD; 05 June 2010 at 17:12.

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05 June 2010, 12:27	#2
musashi5150 move.w #$4489,$dff07e Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Norfolk, UK Age: 42 Posts: 2,351	Not sure this is correct chap, just a quick spot of Googling on my part. http://www.pinouts.org.uk/index.php?...External_Drive Have you opened it up and checked that all is plugged in inside ok and the connector hasn't slipped off in the case?

05 June 2010, 16:54	#3
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,773	This one is a bit better.. http://pinouts.ru/Storage/ExtDiskAmiga_pinout.shtml

05 June 2010, 17:44	#5
JohnnyD Decrepid Old Duffer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston/UK Age: 59 Posts: 88	Okay - I had a good Googling session and found that this is a well-known PC floppy drive that works on the Amiga (standard, with a small change to the ribbon cable). I have tried it in my PC and it works - but only with the old style IDE cable. It has the notched socket surround on it, that only lets you put the ribbon in one way around (with the red stripe on the right, as you look at the back of the unit). This way, it won't work. I had to dig out my spares box and find a ribbon with a non-notched plug, and insert it with the red stripe to the left, and now it works just fine on the PC. So - I'm wondering if this may have some effect on it working with the Amitek case on the Amiga. Although, the next thing I'm gonna try is independant power from a seperate PSU and see what happens then. JD

05 June 2010, 19:04	#6
cpiac64 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Italy Posts: 1,136	test on another amiga, my 1200 if change internal floppy with not original, the external not go

06 June 2010, 00:33	#7
PowerPie5000 Miggy Ate My Hamster! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 1,566	The last Amitek external FDD i had used a PC drive manufactured by Citizen. If the Amitek badge falls off then there is no way to tell who manufactured the drive for the Amiga... this may be the case with yours (The Amitek FDD i owned used a white/cream metal case with vents on top and six screws on the bottom). Have you checked for any loose or missing pins on the connector?

06 June 2010, 12:36	#9
JohnnyD Decrepid Old Duffer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston/UK Age: 59 Posts: 88	EUREKA! It's working! I wiggled the antivirus switch around and it sprang to life. Chuffed to rocks! JD

07 June 2010, 05:37	#12
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,773	Wtf is this "antivirus switch"? Prevents writing to bootblock?

07 June 2010, 07:35	#13
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,885	Yep.

07 June 2010, 10:38	#14
JohnnyD Decrepid Old Duffer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston/UK Age: 59 Posts: 88	By 'wiggled' I mean that it has 3 positions (don't ask me - I don't know ) and I quickly shoved it repeatedly back and forth and then left it in the middle position - it was originally to the right - looking from the rear. It then worked. I guess it either is incompatable with the right position, or the contacts were dirty. I haven't tried the 3rd position, because it works where it is - so I'm happy. I will test it, though - just for you and let you know what happens. JD

07 June 2010, 11:00	#15
JohnnyD Decrepid Old Duffer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston/UK Age: 59 Posts: 88	Okay - this is how it works. From left to right, there are 3 positions. 1 - ON + Antivirus 2 - ON + no antivirus 3 - OFF The 3rd switches off the unit entirely - which is where it was when delivered. Anyway, for those interested, I found a guide brochure for this unit on the net (pdf) and have uploaded it to The Zone - it's only 2 pages. JD

07 June 2010, 13:44	#16
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,885	Those switches were usually the cheapest kind you can find.. I've repaired a few external drives by just tightening the metal clips that hold the switch together, so that the pins make proper contact.

07 June 2010, 18:51	#17
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	The antivirus position simply disable writing to the disk.

07 June 2010, 22:00	#19
JohnnyD Decrepid Old Duffer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston/UK Age: 59 Posts: 88	Ah - an old tried and tested method that I learned in the Royal Signals One of several that weren't in the maintenance manuals (drop test and mast hammer impact test being two others). JD

08 June 2010, 23:31	#20
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	I found the problem with my Power Computing PC-880B external drive. It was the internal (Sony) drive unit. Replaced that, and now its working again!

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