1050 help wanted

[rich521]

I have a 1050 in vgc, that will read fine, the speed checks out fine, but it will not format any disk. I have tried different disks, cleaned the head, fitted a write protect enable/disable switch, and changed U13 for a known good chip. Anyone got any ideas where to look next ? I would strip it for spare parts, but do not wish to admit defeat yet.

[UNIXcoffee928]

On a lark, have you tried substituting the SIO cable with a known good cable? Maybe there's a problem with the cable only when it's twisted in a specific direction (where the drive is on your table.).

 

Have you checked to make sure the pins are all intact on the SIO connector in the back of the drive itself?

 

Does the drive write? Can you write a file?

 

Have you tried diferent DOSs? Some owners fitted their drives with 3rd party enhancements. Unlikely, but worth trying to narrow possibilities.

 

 

Good luck,

 

UNIXcoffee928

[ijor]

Can you write on a disk already formatted? If you can write but not format, then something is wrong in the digital components.

 

If you cannot write at all, then the problem might be anywhere, including the mechanism, head or analog components.