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General Category => Amstrad CPC hardware => Topic started by: radu14m on 22:01, 19 January 13

Title: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: radu14m on 22:01, 19 January 13
well, i get afterall my belowed cpc6128 plus incl. colour monitor for the 80euros.
it is a french version, with azerty keyboard layout.
Unfortunately, not everything was as expected  >:( , and therefore i need your help and advices:
1. floppy is not working. No led activity, nothing. i open the device, everithing is on place and the supply voltage is correct + 5V on the red wire.
2. there is no marking on the conectors, what are they for ! nothing...only blank plastic. Do you have a link with the manual of the cpc 6128+ ?
3. i nothice a connector like that one used for the phones. what is this for ?
4. a link with a clear and easy guide to connect an external 3.5" fdd ?
5. Is the drive from the non plus cpc suitable also for the plus version ? i may find a spare fdd from an cpc.
6. can i connect my normal cpc to the cpc plus monitor ?

Thanks a lot !
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: TFM on 22:44, 19 January 13
Hi, I'm sorry for 1 and 2

3. that's for a Lightgun, resembles the L.Pen Signal on CPC old generation
4. Careful, you have shift the cable for one wire! Manual should be here somewhere
5. No, the Plus drive needs only 5 Volt. The regular drive need 5 Volt and 12 Volt. To get a Plus drive is neary impossible. But you can replace the internal drive with a 3.5" drive. IIRC I've been writing about that hack in one of the FutureView DiscMags (see wiki).
6. Yes, you can, but you need to make an adapter cable.
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: emuola on 08:55, 20 January 13
Quote
to get a Plus drive is neary impossible.

I have one spare drive with a new belt. I cannot test it now, but it was working when I removed it from my 6128+ (replaced with a HxC). Interested?


Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: radu14m on 09:27, 20 January 13
Sure, let me know the price for the drive :) than will talk.
I will try to fix mine, first of all.
Is is normal that the led is on, from the device start, right  ? ( Like on the normal CPC ) and when de fdd is reading the light on the led is increasing.
I found a tutorial in french, to connect an external floppy:
http://quasar.cpcscene.com/doku.php?id=electronique:lecteur_3.5 (http://quasar.cpcscene.com/doku.php?id=electronique:lecteur_3.5)

Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: emuola on 16:08, 20 January 13
Quote from: radu14m on 09:27, 20 January 13
Sure, let me know the price for the drive :) than will talk.
I will try to fix mine, first of all.
Is is normal that the led is on, from the device start, right  ? ( Like on the normal CPC ) and when de fdd is reading the light on the led is increasing.
I found a tutorial in french, to connect an external floppy:
http://quasar.cpcscene.com/doku.php?id=electronique:lecteur_3.5 (http://quasar.cpcscene.com/doku.php?id=electronique:lecteur_3.5)

Ok, would 15 € + postage be too much?

Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: protek on 17:59, 20 January 13
Quote from: radu14m on 09:27, 20 January 13
Sure, let me know the price for the drive :) than will talk.
I will try to fix mine, first of all.
Is is normal that the led is on, from the device start, right  ? ( Like on the normal CPC ) and when de fdd is reading the light on the led is increasing.
I found a tutorial in french, to connect an external floppy:
http://quasar.cpcscene.com/doku.php?id=electronique:lecteur_3.5 (http://quasar.cpcscene.com/doku.php?id=electronique:lecteur_3.5)
Burning of the led is normal in startup. If the drive makes a grinding noise in startup, the belt needs replacing.
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: db6128 on 18:27, 20 January 13
Quote from: emuola on 16:08, 20 January 13Ok, would 15 € + postage be too much?
Try too little! [cough]
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: Bryce on 10:09, 21 January 13
I can take a look at the broken FDD if you like.

Regarding all the details of the plus, you'll find the manual here: User Manual - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/User_Manual)

and the Service manual here: Service Manuals - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Service_Manuals)

Is the rest of the Plus generally working? Screen, sound, keyboard etc?

Bryce.
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: TFM on 20:28, 21 January 13
Quote from: emuola on 16:08, 20 January 13
Ok, would 15 € + postage be too much?

I should have know that more early :laugh:
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: radu14m on 08:57, 09 February 13
sorry for my late answer...time is too short somethimes.
The cpc is running well, i am concerning that maybe not the drive is the problem, maybe the controller or other components.
I want to connect an external floppy, to see if its working - what do you think ? in this way i can diagnose the floppy controller.
So far, the cartdrige games are runinng well, and the rest seems to be fine.
the cable ribbon from the floppy was bad mounted, but even in the right position the drive didn't react.
voltage is present on the floppy connector, and i found out the soldere connector on the floppy is moving very easy...i will try to resolder it again.
@emuola: thanks, i will inform you after i get a better overview about the problem.
@Bryice: Thanks mate, very kind from you - i let you know.
P.S. As a retro gamer i get an amiga 1200 those days, i whish i could have more time for this "toys" :)
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: Bryce on 10:09, 13 February 13
Yes, try an external floppy or even a 3.5in floppy internally (adapter cable details can be found here: DIY:Floppy Drives - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/DIY:Floppy_Drives#Adaptor_Cable_for_Internal_Floppies_.2F_HxC_emulator)) this would test both the controller and the cable to the 3in drive.

If you need spare controller / data separator ICs, let me know, I have all parts here.

Bryce.
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: radu14m on 21:16, 15 February 13
Thanks Bryce, very kind of you my Friend !
I hope that everithyng is working and it will be no need to repair something.
Got today an centronics cable from a printer, i will try to cut it and make a nice external drive :)
If somebody has a link with an external floppy on the cpc6128+ please post it here...
I search quick over the net but did not find a projekt like this...
Pictures are comming soon ;)
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: Bryce on 17:49, 16 February 13
This picture shows you how you need to connect it: DIY:Floppy Drives - CPCWiki (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/DIY:Floppy_Drives#Multi-Adaptor_Cable_for_External_Floppies_.2F_HxC_emulator)

Bryce.
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: radu14m on 12:45, 31 March 13
I ordered a centronics cable, should arrive those days.
I hope that the external floppy will work :)
Title: Re: cpc6128+ problems
Post by: radu14m on 18:49, 01 April 13
My cable arrive today.
Very happy, i start to mount everything.
I dismantle all my floppys from my retro PCs.So that i manage to get 8 floppys.
different vendors, and ages...
unfortunately, after some hours of different combinations i thought i would go crazy :(
none is working !
3 of them seems to work better than the others, but:
after a reset:
1.siwtch to floppy b ( with Ib command )
2.cat - the content of the floppy is shown.
3. another cat do the same as at point 2.
4. id i try to start something formthe foppy, with command run, nothing is working anymore.
i get the message: disc missing
and after that message nothing is working anymore...not even a cat command.
only after  a restart i can acces the drive, but only as described before.

i need you help mates :)

thanks.


L.E. I manage to fond the problem.
Pin 33&34 must be shorten together :)
and my 6128plus is alive !  :P :P :P
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