Re: Strange drive (?) problems

[rubywand@aol.com (RUBYWAND)]

In article <851652240.3471@dejanews.com>, brobstona@wartburg.edu writes:

>  brobstona@wartburg.edu wrote:
>> 
>> I'm having lots of strange problems with my Apple IIGS.
>> 
>> I am using a CPU that I bought quite some time ago because I needed
>> a new monitor and it was the cheapest way to go to get one. (The old
>> one still works; it just has a poor display.) Since I'm home over
>> Christmas break and don't have "my" IIGS, I'm trying it out.
>> 
>> I brought home a 3.5" (Apple) drive to use with it. However, the
>> drive won't write to or format a disk. I've never had any problems
>> with it on my other CPU.
>> 
>> The battery in this particular ROM 01 GS needs to be replaced; I will
>> be calling Night Owl on Monday. I remember reading something once about
>> a bad battery affecting the disk drives, but I don't really see why
>> those two things would really be connected.
>> 
>> All I wanted to do was run ProTERM! I got it to run by replacing the
>> memory card (it previously had an Apple board that wasn't fully
populated;
>> I replaced it with a spare one with a full meg of memory), setting up a
>> RAM disk, and copying ProTERM to the RAM disk. But, I couldn't copy it
>> to a regular disk due to the above problems.
>> 
>> Any ideas?
>Sorry to repost this, but if anyone can respond ....


     If you cannot format diskettes on your 3.5" drive, then it is likely
that either your drive is messed up or there is something wrong with the
diskettes. If the GS you are using was bought "as is" and has never been
checked out with a 3.5" drive, there could be a problem with the
computer's 3.5" interface.

     The battery does not seem to be a factor. If there is any doubt, pull
all Slot cards and the memory card. Turn ON the computer and set all
Control Panel settings to their defaults.

     Have two or three known-good 3.5" diskettes ready. If, after the
above, you cannot start Copy II+ and format at least one diskette on your
3.5" drive, then the problem pretty well boils down to a bad drive or a
messed-up 3.5" interface on the GS.

     3.5" drives are not especially rugged. It is not a good idea to cart
them around without a diskette or dummy diskette inserted. If you are able
to read diskettes on the 3.5" drive, then it is likely to be okay; if not,
it is very suspect.

     Basically, if you cannot format known-good diskettes under Copy II+
on the bare-bones GS, you will need to eliminate some 'unknowns' to
zero-in on the problem source. For example, you could swap in a known-good
3.5" drive to check the bargain GS or find a known-good GS to check your
3.5" drive.