Re: HELP: Troubles with duodisk

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

"Lancyne Cel�r" writes ...
> 
>         My old //e has come back to me, after 5 years. And It's damaged. I
> shouldn't give it out. But I'm in... love with it.
> 
>         When I try to boot it, with a 3.30 boot, the duodisk buzzes like
> formatting (it doesn't damage the disk, I tried after) until I reset it. And
> with a Prodos, it simply works like there's no disk in it. Disk are good, maybe
> the heads are misaligned? Or there's something hard?
> 
>         In case of misalignement, what can I do?
 ....

     In case you have not tried it, give your heads a good cleaning using a
head cleaner diskette. You can get a 5.25" cleaner diskette with cleaner fluid
(isopropyl alcohol) from Radio Shack or a computer stuff store.

     A 5.25" Cleaner Diskette has panels you pop out to expose the cleaning
surface. Apple II 5.25" drives have a single head which contacts the disk from
the bottom and a pressure pad which presses against the top side. So, pop out
the panel on the bottom side of the Cleaner Diskette and leave the top panel in
place. When cleaning, insert the diskette with the bottom side facing down.
This lets the paper disk rub against the head and avoids wear on the pressure
pad.

     In the 'cleaning and de-gunking' category, you could do some good by
pulling your disk controller card (with power OFF) and cleaning the card
contacts. Also pull off and reconnect the drive cables; and, scooch up and
resocket any socketed IC's on the card.

     If your duodisk is a recent addition-- i.e. you do not know for sure that
it works with your computer-- it may be that you need to do a mod or two. These
are discussed at http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/Csa2FDRIVE.html#006 .


     If your duodisk used to work, it is more likely that it is off-speed than
that the heads have gotten out of alignment. I do not know where the speed
adjustment for each duodisk drive may be located. (For single drives, you
generally look for an adjustment hole on the bottom toward the front or the
right side toward the back.) If you can not find the speed adjustment, you can
remove the case and look for a screw-adjustable mini-pot.

     Usually, speed does not get so far off that tweaking it one way or the
other will not allow booting Copy II Plus or some other utility which includes
a speed adjustment routine. If necessary, you can remove the case and use a
fluorescent light shining on the strobe pattern on the drive pulley or flywheel
to get a pretty good adjustment.

     For more about speed and other adjustments see the discussions at
http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/Csa2FDRIVE.html#003 .




Rubywand