Issues Connecting 3.5" floppy to 6128

[opticpow]

Hi All,

I have a Panasonic ju-256A888PC 3.5 drive that I've connected to my 6128. I've followed the steps on the wiki and my drive seems to partially work.

The 6128 detects the drive ok, and can change to |b, save a little basic program, reset and load the program back. So far so good.

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I don't seem to be able to format any disks with diskkit3 in cpm. I get an error about the disc being changed.

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I've tried multiple floppies with the same result. I've even attempted to create a disc using CPCdiscXP to write the floppy with my PC usb drive and again, the CPC can cat the disc, but has trouble doing much else with it.

Anyone have any ideas?

I appreciate any advice in advance,

Wayne.

[CraigsBar]

Is this one of the drives that uses a fake ready signal? If so then yes they do not work with disckit.

Get parados installed and format discs from there instead.

[TFM]

No, get a proper 3.5" drive with a real Ready signal.


This may help you

[GeoffB17]

I'm not sure if the CPC version of Disckit works the same as my PCW version, but on the PCW the prog demands that all disks are removed, and will not proceed until disks are removed.   It expects to see two drive NOT ready signals (or the specific lack of two ready signals).


The problem is that for a long time, all PC drives of this type are not producing a normal READY signal, and are in effect always ready, so Disckit, and any program that uses such a check, will NOT see the disk as being removed.


If you can find a drive that does handle the ready signal correctly, then great.   I've seen reference to some TEAC types that do, and even have jumpers for doing such things, but NOT easy to find.


However, the screen message is a little odd, if this is the problem.   My PCW version will NOT even start the format until the disk check is OK.   Your screen shot shows that you've got to sector #05 before you had a problem.   If the 'ready' signal IS the problem, how've you got to sector 5?


Did you get an earlier prompt, along the lines of 'Remove any disks from BOTH drives, and press any key to continue'??   Again, on my PCW, this question will just keep looping until all drives are empty, although on there is a 'trick' with temp tweaking the cable and lines 8 and 34 but there are limitations with this.


The Dutch (NL) Joyce site has some lists of specific drives that DO produce a ready signal, if you can find one.   John Elliot's DU54 program will also format disks, incl with special formats, that may well NOT make the same check.


Just in case the prog is checking sector 5 of the disk and finding something there that should NOT be there, you might try using a magnet to wipe the disk, so that it does appear to be 'virgin', and then try the format process again?


Geoff

[Audronic]

If you can find a Teac FD235HF
Info in the PDF

Ray

[opticpow]

@CarigsBar Thanks for the heads up about Parados. I've only just recently started acquiring cpc gear that was disposed of years ago when I went of to uni  I'm very much a fan of keeping my CPCs as per original. From my reading I'll need the lowerrom board from Bryce to replace amsdos with pardos externally?

@TFM I currently only have the one 3.5" drive so thats what I've been testing with. I'll start looking for a drive with the ready signal as it sounds like the best option for compatibility. Did the list of supported drives end up getting created? Most ebay posts dont even list the model number, so it's going to be a bit of experimentation I guess to fine one that support this. From your decription of how ready works, I'm guessing I could confirm the correct operation of the drive by powering it up and monitoring the ready line with my scope.

@geoffb17 I don't get a message before, so maybe a bit different to what you have experienced. I have however just acquired a PCW 8256 with a "broken Screen". I replaced the belt last night and she boots like a new one.  I'll be looking to ass a 3.5 drive to it as well. So once I find a suitable drive, I'll be buying a few of them!

@audronic Thanks for the heads up on the Teac, off to ebay et. al. to see what I can find. I'm pretty sure I've contacted you on gumtree before about a monitor if you're the same Ray who often has repaired CPCs for sale??


Wayne.

[Audronic]

@opticpow


Yes i probably am the one that you have contacted.
Are you in Victoria, near williamstown ?

Also the Sony MPF920 also work with 1 Track Cut and an added lead.

I have 1 only Teac here untested yet.


Ray

[opticpow]

If you can find a Teac FD235HF
Info in the PDF

Ray

I've just found this on ebay, good price, but the back of the drive looks sightly different.  Might make it painful if there are different drives with the same FD-235HF model number 

Teac FD 235HF 1 44MB 3 5" Internal Floppy Disk Drive FDD 34 PIN White Faced |

Wayne

[opticpow]

@opticpow


Yes i probably am the one that you have contacted.
Are you in Victoria, near williamstown ?

Also the Sony MPF920 also work with 1 Track Cut and an added lead.

I have 1 only Teac here untested yet.


Ray

No unfortunately I'm not. In NSW. I'm using an LCD which works fine, but I really want a Colour Monitor for sentimental reasons.

Wayne.

[Audronic]

I've just found this on ebay, good price, but the back of the drive looks sightly different.  Might make it painful if there are different drives with the same FD-235HF model number 

Teac FD 235HF 1 44MB 3 5" Internal Floppy Disk Drive FDD 34 PIN White Faced |

Wayne

Hi Wayne

No wrong Version Not suitable only selects drive 0 or 1
Have a look at the other attachment that i have added to the post,

Ray

[opticpow]

Hi Wayne

No wrong Version Not suitable only selects drive 0 or 1
Have a look at the other attachment that i have added to the post,

Ray

Thanks Ray. Found a Sony MPF-920 on ebay for a few bucks. Pulled the trigger, hopefully it does the trick.

Wayne

[Audronic]

@opticpow


The Sony Document was created by Zaxon (Thanks).
I have modified 3 of these drives and the modification appears to work OK.
Ray

[CraigsBar]

Samsung sfd 321b are the way to go. Simple mod... Move a single 0 ohm resistor from DC to RDY. Job done, proper ready signal and everything is good.

[TFM]

Thumbs up and good luck in finding a good 3.5" drive (I still need to modify one of mine of get a well one too). 

[Audronic]

Samsung sfd 321b are the way to go. Simple mod... Move a single 0 ohm resistor from DC to RDY. Job done, proper ready signal and everything is good.

Thanks for that i had not heard of that being used in an Amstrad.
Ray

[dragon]

Thanks for that i had not heard of that being used in an Amstrad.
Ray

Samsung is the must have fdd in amstrad. Because is easy to modify and very easy to find because Samsung manufacture It  all these years and is cheap.

[opticpow]

Samsung sfd 321b are the way to go. Simple mod... Move a single 0 ohm resistor from DC to RDY. Job done, proper ready signal and everything is good.

Thanks. Unfortunately there are none on ebay australia, so hopefully the Sony that @Audronic put me onto does the trick. I might order one of the Samsung's for my PCW...

Wayne.

Update: Typos 

[Audronic]

A New list of suitable 3.5" floppy drives for The Amstrad CPC 6128/664 and Plus


1) A Pdf
2) a Large photo for the Sony MPF 920 (Other Version)


Ray

[opticpow]

A New list of suitable 3.5" floppy drives for The Amstrad CPC 6128/664 and Plus


1) A Pdf
2) a Large photo for the Sony MPF 920 (Other Version)


Ray

Great info Ray. Worthy of a Wiki Page I would think? @Gryzor 

Wayne.

[Gryzor]

Sure would; can't vouch for the accuracy, but indeed why a pdf and not a proper page?

[opticpow]

@opticpow


The Sony Document was created by Zaxon (Thanks).
I have modified 3 of these drives and the modification appears to work OK.
Ray

Sony drive arrived today. Looking to do the mod tonight or tomorrow.

Wayne.

[Audronic]

@Gryzor


The reason for the PDF is If i send an xxxxxxxx.RTFD from my MAC it seams to be turned into 2 or 3 files at your end which makes no sense.
I will attach the file that made the pDF an see what happens.

Ray

Edit :- OK the file i sent was " The 3.5" Floppy List for CPC Amstrads. 09-2016.rtfd " I see now it has been converted to a ZIP file .
Ok then i can send xxxxxx.rtfd Files   Thanks      Ray

Edit 2 :-
These are my "Rough" working notes if you wish to use them please edit them to make them usable to the general public Thanks   Ray


Edit 3:-
Added   Amstrad CPC Floppy Mods to Panasonic JU-257A607P Revision F

[Gryzor]

Oh no, I wasn't arguing the format PDF is fine. I was just wondering why a separate, downloadable pdf instead of a wiki page...

[Audronic]

Oh no, I wasn't arguing the format PDF is fine. I was just wondering why a separate, downloadable pdf instead of a wiki page...

.
As i tried to explain. That when i send an xxxxxxxx.RTFD file it then gets converted to a  xxxxxxx.ZIP file by the software that the forum is using
How can i do it so it appears as a page on the Forum
Ray

[Gryzor]

Not the forum, the wiki! I meant create a page on the wiki itself with all the info!