Apple II Csa2 FAQs 9/9/1998 Floppy Disk Drives

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Apple II Floppy Diskette Drives

Csa2 FAQs-on-Ground file: CSA2FDISK.TXT  rev008


The Csa2 (comp.sys.apple2) usenet newsgroup Frequently Asked
 Questions files are compiled by the Ground Apple II site,
 1997, 1998.

ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs
http://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs

The Csa2 FAQs may be freely distributed.

Note: To correctly view tables and diagrams on a super-res display,
 use a mono-spaced Font such as CoPilot or PCMononspaced.

____________________________




 001- How do I add a write-protect On-Off switch? 
 002- How do I add external speed adjustment to my Disk ][ drive? 
 003- How can I adjust my 5.25" drive for optimum performance? 
 004- How do I clean my disk drive R/W head(s)?
 005- Can I read Apple II diskettes on my PC?
 006- Some old 5.25" disks with splotches don't boot. What gives? 
 007- Can I use high-density 3.5" and 5.25" diskettes on my A2? 
 008- How can I tell DD from HD diskettes if they are not labeled?
 009- My 3.5 Disk Drives don't work! What should I try?
 010- I added SCSI; now, my 3.5" drives often fail to work. Why?
 011- How many tracks can I use on a 5.25" diskette? 
 012- In connecting a Disk II I misaligned the connectors. A fix?
 013- A sound like a shotgun going off came from my drive. A fix? 
 014- Uni-disk and Laser drives: neither works with my IIc. Why?
 015- How do I replace a 3.5" drive mechanism with one from a Mac?
 016- I have one 5.25" drive. Sys6 shows two icons!? Is there a fix?
 017- How can I tell a 13-sect interface card from a 16-sect model?
 018- Can a Disk ][ Drive be used on a IIc or GS smartport?
 019- What is the pin-out for a duodisk drive connecting cable?
 020- What DuoDisk mods are necessary?
 021- Will a Duodisk function correctly on my ROM 3 GS?
 022- How do I fix a false Write Protect?
 023- Both of my Disk ]['s come on when booting! Is there a fix?
 024- How can I defragment a diskette and what is the speed gain?
 025- How do I install a bi-color LED R/W indicator in my Disk ][?
 026- What's the scoop on the 3.5" High Density drive?
 027- Why aren't my old diskettes recognized by GS/OS?




From: Stephen Buggie

001- How do I add a write-protect On-Off switch
     to my Disk ][ drive?


            Adding an Auto/Manual Write-Protect Switch
 
     Often, as when doing copying, it is useful to be able to guarantee
that a diskette is Write-Protected whether or not the side is notched.
Other times, it is convenient to defeat Write Protection-- for example,
when you wish to write to a diskette side which is not notched. And,
naturally, you also want a setting which permits Normal,
notch-controlled, Write-Protect.

     Based upon a circuit suggested by David Wilson (Australia), the
A/MWP enhancement offers full user control of Write Protect. The
switch's three positions are

Protect OFF: Writing is allowed regardless of notching.

Protect ON:  Writing is prohibited regardless of notching.

Normal: a diskette side must be notched to permit writing.


A/MWP Step-by-Step

Unplug the drive from the disk controller and remove the case.

Drill a mounting hole. This can be at a convenient spot in the back or
in the plastic front panel. On the front, a good spot is at the lower
left, above and to the left of the "in use" LED. Another open spot is at
the upper right in the space just above the diskette slot; but, we're
saving this place for Part 2's enhancement. (You can't use the lower
right, of course, because this would mess up the "Apple" logo!)

Cut three wires (Brown, Black, and White) long enough to run from the
mounting point to the Large Connector plugged onto the back, middle of
the Disk ][ circuit board.

Solder the leads to a Single-Pole Triple-Throw mini toggle Switch: 
Brown to center, White to one end, Black to other end. Twist the leads
or encase them in tubing.

Mount the Switch. Normally, the Switch handle will point in the White
lead direction for "Protect OFF" and in the Black lead direction for
"Normal". Center is "Protect ON". Route the leads to the area next to
the Large Connector. (Make sure no wires will get in the way of an
inserted diskette.)

Locate the Brown and Black leads coming from the Notch Detect
micro-switch. The leads are the Brown (bottom) and Black (top) pair near
the right end of the Large Connector (as viewed from the front of the
drive).

Cut the Notch Detect micro-switch leads about 1" away from the Large
Connector.

Connect the Black Notch Detect, Black Large Connector, and Black Switch
leads (i.e. strip ends, solder, and cover in heat-shrink tubing or
tape).

Connect the Brown Notch Detect lead to the White Switch lead.

Connect the Brown Large Connector lead to the Brown Switch lead.


     Viola! Now you're ready to replace the cover, plug in the drive,
and try out your A/MWP enhanced Disk ][.

     Boot a diskette which is not write-protected and load a program,
say the HELLO program (or STARTUP on a ProDOS diskette). Set the A/MWP
to center and try SAVE HELLO. You should get a "WRITE PROTECTED" error.

     Place a write-protect tab on the diskette. Set A/MWP to the Left or
UP position and try SAVE HELLO again. If the save works, then Left or UP
is the "Protect OFF" position and Right or Down is "Normal". If you get
a "WRITE PROTECTED" error then it's the other way around.

     Now is a good time to mark "Normal" and, if you like, the other
positions. You can use dots punched from self-stick labels.

----------------------------


002- How do I add an external speed adjustment to my Disk ][?

Reference: FAQs Resource file R006SPDKNOB.GIF


          Adding a Speed Control Knob to your Disk ][ Drive

     This article tells how to move speed adjustment from the Disk ]['s 
dark interior to a handy front-panel location and how to  "tune" the
drive for optimal performance.

     One drive-test software vendor states that Disk ][ is good for
about 500 hours of normal use between speed adjustments-- not exactly a
strong argument for placing the control on the front panel! On the other
hand many of today's Disk ][ owners are interested in applications which
go beyond "normal use".

     Some utilities (e.g. DiversiCopy II) report rotational speed during
ongoing applications; so, relocating the speed adjuster to the front
panel is especially helpful. Similarly, users who want to back up their
old, copy-protected wares know that ready access to speed control is
essential.

     Finally, there is no question that, whatever your applications,
periodic speed trimming will be required. When it is, you'll be very
glad _your_ Disk ][ has a front panel Speed Knob!



Adding Speed Knob

     To install Speed Knob you will need a good quality, linear taper 5k
Ohm potentiometer, some wires, and a knob with a pointer mark or some
other way to show position (e.g. a ring of numbers).  Most of the work,
really, consists of opening the drive and drilling a hole. There is no
need to disconnect the drive from the controller card.

1. Remove the 4 bottom bolts and slip off the case. Unscrew the 4 bottom
bolts holding the drive to the case bottom, and unplug the main ribbon
cable. The drive can now be moved to your work area.

2. Drill a hole properly sized and centered for mounting your 5k Ohm pot
in the upper right front panel.

3. Place the drive on its face and unscrew the 2 bolts which hold the
small daughter board to the drive. (Be ready to catch loose spacers,
washers, etc..)

4. Turn the small board over to the bottom side. Locate and cut the
traces going to the mini-pot speed adjuster as shown in pic
R006SPDKNOB.GIF.

5. Cut three wires, White, Gray, Black, long enough to reach from the
board to the front panel. Connect these to your 5k Ohm pot and to the
small circuit board as shown in pic R006SPDKNOB.GIF. (In case you cannot
view the pic, what you're doing is substituting the new pot for the
mini-pot. )

6. Re-mount the daughter board. Mount the 5k Ohm pot. Install knob.

7. Bring the drive back to the computer. Slide it onto the case bottom
plate, reconnect main ribbon cable, replace bottom bolts, slide on and
re-fasten case top.

     You can use Copy II Plus, XPS, APEX, or one of several other
utilities to set speed (see next question). A good starting adjustment
will be near the center of Speed Knob's range. Once speed is adjusted,
you can loosen and re-set the knob so that its position indicates a
"correct" speed setting.

----------------------------


003- How can I adjust my 5.25" drive for the best performance?

     The typical 5.25" drive will run for months with no need for
maintenance save an occassional dusting or session with a head-cleaner
disk. When adjustment is required, it will usually be to fine-tune Speed
or, less often, to set track centering.

     If a 5.25" drive has difficuly reading diskettes, including those
it created, and head-cleaning does not help, then, the odds are it's
time to adjust speed. If your drive is a Disk ][ and does not have the
external 'Speed Knob' mod, look for a small hole on the lower right side
near the back-- some owners add this hole to allow easy access to the
Speed Adjustment mini-pot screw. If there is no hole, you will need to
remove the case. (Remove bolts on bottom and slide out the drive through
the front.)  

     On the 5.25" Apple 'Platinum Drive', the Speed Adjustment is
accessed through a small hole on the bottom of the drive near the front
on the right side. Non-Apple 5.25" drives may place the Speed Adjustment
almost anywhere. Look for a small hole through which you can see a screw
head. If you don't fine one, remove the case and look for a mini-pot
labeled "Speed" or something similar.

     The most popular speed adjustment software utility is, probably,
dear old Copy II Plus. From the menu, just select "Verify", then "Drive
Speed". Put a diskette into the drive you want to adjust and, turning
the Speed Knob (or min-pot shaft) use Copy II's numeric speed display to
zero-in on the 'magic' 200ms. number. (Standard Disk ][ rotation speed
is 300 rpm, which comes out to be 0.2 seconds per revolution.)

     Other speed adjustment utilities show an rpm number or a hires
pointer. Whatever, all speed check routines need to read AND write; so,
you will usually need a "scratch diskette" which you do not mind having
over-written.

     Track-center realignment is needed when a Disk ][ writes and reads
its own disks fine, but does not 'communicate' with many other Apple II
5.25" drives. It generates disk errors when reading disks written by
other drives and other drives have the same problem with its diskettes.

     CALL A.P.P.L.E's APTEST, now in the public domain, tests
track-center alignment. With  this software, the user checks the
alignment of the drive with disks regarded as well aligned --- such as
Apple diskware supplied with the computer or some unprotected, original,
commercial software diskette. (In a pinch, a diskette formatted by any
drive that has no problem reading most other diskettes should be okay.)

     Basically, a track-centering test tries to step your head between
two tracks of the 'standard' diskette and read the tracks on either
side. If the number of successful reads from each track is about equal,
the head is "centered" and your drive is well-aligned with the standard
diskette.

     The test may indicate serious misalignment. ("Aha! That explains
why my IIgs and II+ have problems reading each other's diskettes!") 
Centering adjustment is done by slightly repositioning the stepper motor
(mounted on the underside of the drive). This requires loosening the two
bolts holding the stepper-motor, rotating it clockwise or
counter-clockwise, and retightening.

     The adjustment/test process may require several repetitions. Each
time, the program will report "differential fractions". The smaller
these numbers, the closer you are to near perfect alignment with tracks
on the diskette.

________________________________



From: Rubywand

004- How do I clean my disk drive R/W head(s)?

     The easiest way to clean a drive's R/W head(s) is with a Cleaner
Diskette. This is a diskette with a paper disk such as the 5.25" and
3.5" Cleaner Diskettes available in Radio Shack's Disk Drive Head
Cleaner Kits. These kits usually include "Cleaning Fluid" (isopropyl
alcohol), too.

     The 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.

     The 3.5" diskette has a small plastic panel you can snap out for
cleaning two-head drives. Since the standard 3.5" 800k Apple II drive
has two heads, snap out the panel so that both the top and bottom heads
get wiped.

     To clean your drive head(s), you sqirt a few drops of Cleaning
Fluid onto the Cleaner Diskette disk, insert it into the drive, and get
the disk spinning for 20 seconds. (Booting the Cleaner Diskette is one
way to get it spinning. If DOS or ProDOS is installed, doing a CATALOG
is another way. For example: CATALOG,S6,D2 would get your 5.25" Drive 2
spinning.)

     If you think it has been several months since the drive was last
cleaned, repeat the procedure-- i.e remove the Cleaner Diskette, add
more fluid, etc.. As a rule, do not let the disk spin more than 20
seconds for any cleaning cycle. This is especially a concern with 3.5"
drives where the heads are mounted on springs and much more subject to
snagging and being pulled out of alignment. 

______________________________



From: Chris Norley

005- Can I read Apple II diskettes on my PC?

     A while back I requested some information regarding the reading of
Apple II floppies by an PC. There was a hugh response both in solutions
and requests for a summary of solutions.


ORIGINAL POST:
--------------------

     We have some old data from a small NMR spectrometer that was run
from an Apple IIe. The same spectrometer is now run from a DOS machine
and we'd like to be able to access the old data from the PC.

     Does anyone know of or possess some utility to allow the data from
the 5 1/4" Apple II floppies to be read from the PC? Any hints as to
program names, ftp sites, etc. would be greatly appreciated.


SUMMARY OF RESPONSES:
--------------------