Floppy Drive Problem
George B
replace an intermittant floppy in my system with another unit from a
system I no longer use much. I have run into a problem that I suspect
is configuration of jumpers on the replacement drive. If this is not
the appropriate group for this discussion, please email me with a
better one.
The original drive is a Newtronics unit built by Mitsumi model D359T3
3.5 inch floppy. It has jumpers in positions B and E. The replacement
drive is a Sony unit model MP-F17W-1 there is also another sticker
with the number MFD-17W-1 above the other number.
When the new drive (Sony) is installed the drive select lamp is
illuminated all the time and the BIOS responds with a configuration
error on bootup and reports TWO diskette drives. I suspect that I need
to tell the Sony that it is the only drive and that it should be drive
0 (or A:)
The Sony has a four position switch which is in position 0 (choices
are 0,1,2,3) and two jumpers in a 12 pin array. One jumper is between
4-8 and the other is between 10-11.
The system manuals from both systems say nothing about configuring the
floppies and the system came with no manuals for the drives.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I have an operating system on
floppies that I would like to get installed sometime this winter.
George Bonser
gr...@cris.com
Forbes for President in '96
Mike Hughes
Hard Drives. If you get them mixed up you will get this symptom.
Mike Hughes
George B
Donar system had flat cable, target system has twisted wires at drive
first drive.
I got cable from donar system. Drive light lights when accessed but
DOS responds with not ready reading drive A: Heads seek on bootup too.
I will try moving the switch to the 1 position and see if that helps
with either of the cables. NOTE: cable on target system WAS built
backwards, I had to shave off the key on the plug to get the drive to
respond but I still get "not ready" when using either cable.
Mark Neff
>When the new drive (Sony) is installed the drive select lamp is
>illuminated all the time and the BIOS responds with a configuration
>error on bootup and reports TWO diskette drives. I suspect that I need
>to tell the Sony that it is the only drive and that it should be drive
>0 (or A:)
If the drive cable is installed backwards at the floppy drive, it will
cause the drive light to be on continuously. Make sure the stripe on
the cable coincides with pin 1 on the drive.
>The Sony has a four position switch which is in position 0 (choices
>are 0,1,2,3) and two jumpers in a 12 pin array. One jumper is between
>4-8 and the other is between 10-11.
I assume this is a single-floppy installation (A:). There is normally
a twisted set of wires (lines 10 thru 16) just ahead of the drive
connector. This designates that the drive connected here is to be A:.
The switch on the Sony drive also designates the drive letter.
Now I'm not _sure_ about this, but I believe if your cable has a
twisted set of wires, the switch should be set at position "1". If
the wires are not twisted, it should be set at "0". You can try it,
anyways, and see if it helps. I wouldn't mess with the other jumpers.
Mark Neff (mn...@en.com)
Sam Goldwasser
> Since I am snowed in today, I decided to tackle a drive swap to
> replace an intermittant floppy in my system with another unit from a
> system I no longer use much. I have run into a problem that I suspect
> is configuration of jumpers on the replacement drive. If this is not
> the appropriate group for this discussion, please email me with a
> better one.
> The original drive is a Newtronics unit built by Mitsumi model D359T3
> 3.5 inch floppy. It has jumpers in positions B and E. The replacement
> drive is a Sony unit model MP-F17W-1 there is also another sticker
> with the number MFD-17W-1 above the other number.
> When the new drive (Sony) is installed the drive select lamp is
> illuminated all the time and the BIOS responds with a configuration
> error on bootup and reports TWO diskette drives. I suspect that I need
> to tell the Sony that it is the only drive and that it should be drive
> 0 (or A:)
You don't by any chance have the cable reversed end-for-end either at
the drive or the controller? Almost all floppy drives are configured
in the same way - the swaped wired in the cable select A and B (A is
at the end - swapped). A drive light stuck on is the classic symptom
of an incorrectly plugged in cable.
--- sam
George B
More info:
The cables are different between the systems. Target system has cable
reversed from donar system. Rotated cable, now no disk error on boot
but drive not ready when accessing. Also, donar system had flat ribbon
cable, target system has 6 twisted wires in one connector, I tried
both the twisted and untwisted connections with no good outcome.
I really need a jumper pinout for that Sony floppy. It is a 12 pin
array. Three by four grid of pins.