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Can discs mess up disc drives?

Started by zeropolis79, 00:04, 27 March 14

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zeropolis79

I was trying out the CPC 6128 I was sent by a kind member.

A CP/M Plus disc worked and I was able to look at both sides but when I tried another disc, it reported a read fail message, now it gives out read fail messages for every disc..

Please help me get it going before Dad gets home.. if this one doesn't work, then our next post will most likely be a for sale post for our discs.

Thank you.

Annabelle

BluesBrothers

It sounds as though you have a bad disk there. Chances are it has transfered some crud onto the read head and this will need cleaning off. I've never actually seen a 3" cleaning disk but I know 3.5" versions are common so it would seem reasonable to assume they exist. Otherwise it's a case of opening up the drive and cleaning the head with IPA on a cotton swab. I'm sure there'll be a guide somewhere on the wiki. If I find it then I'll put the link up here for you.
BB

zeropolis79

We've got a guide here and will give it a try..

Thank you.

BluesBrothers

you'll be fine with it I'm sure. If not let me know and i see what I can do for you

zeropolis79

Quick post before I get ready for college (Dad would go mad if I skipped classes)..

I suspect the CP/M Plus disc we got from eBay.. I tried several copied discs dad got from member Macc a few years ago and a couple of original discs on this machine and they worked. The CP/M Plus disc loaded (we need it for formatting and file copying unless a better alternative is recommended) but when I tried to load one of the originals after resetting, it came up with read fail. I'll give it a clean when I get home.

Thank you..

BluesBrothers

#5
I remeber it well, all Andy's CPC stuff actually came through me :laugh:

zeropolis79

Had a half-day today so was able to look at the machine earlier than expected.

Took the machine apart and cleaned it with some DVD/CD cleaning fluid.. It worked! Before putting the screws back in, I tried the last two discs - CP/M Plus and The Simpsons.. It looks like the Simpsons disc was the cause of the problem..

Anyone know how to deal with a problematic disc?

Thanks..

Annabelle

BluesBrothers

It's a painstaking process trying to clean a disk and if the surface is coming away badly then it might be time to consign that disk to history. If tou'd like to attept cleaning then use IPA and a cotton bud over the disc surfce drying off the surface with a fresh cotton bud before yoy rotate the disk around further. I warn you it does take a long time and there are no guarentees.
Maybe best just avaoid that disk for now

zeropolis79

Following further checking, I've determined that it's the original Simpsons disc that caused the problems.

Told Dad we have to bin it.. he's not happy about it but the ebay seller did say no refunds..

BluesBrothers

How long ago was it bought and was it buy it now or auction. If recently and Buy It Now then you have a good chance of getting a refund despite the diclaimer. If auction then maybe not.

zeropolis79

It was a regular auction... My gran paid for it with her Paypal.. It only cost a couple of pounds..

I forgot to say thanks for the advice.


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