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General Category => NC100, NC200, PCW, PDA600 - the rest of the Family! => Topic started by: dcdrac on 18:54, 28 January 14

Title: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: dcdrac on 18:54, 28 January 14
The old old story, actually surprised it came on at all lol
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: MaV on 20:23, 28 January 14
Congratulations!

If the screen lights up and nothing happens for a few minutes followed by a couple of beeps from the inside, the PCW works, and you just need to replace the drive belt. Unfortunately the system shows nothing until it boots up from a disk. :/

Tip: place the PCW with the screen on a pillow to open the case. The screws for the monitor case and the floppy cage inside are very long and can be handled more easily when working in that position.

Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: Bryce on 20:36, 28 January 14
Woah, serious retro fans take their computers to bed with them? :D

Bryce.
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: dcdrac on 22:21, 28 January 14
Will my HxC floppy emulator work with a PCW?

And I have read you can install a 3/1 inch drive in a PCW too
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: Bryce on 22:38, 28 January 14
Yes, any computer with a standard floppy controller can use a HxC (as long as the image format is supported).

Bryce.
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: TFM on 23:09, 28 January 14
And the HxC can also emulate 3.5" formats of course. I like it slowly more and more, even if I really like physical discs.  :)
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: MaV on 23:29, 28 January 14
@Bryce: Well, some of them need special care. ;)

The HxC-Floppy will definitely work, the necessary change to the cable is the same as for the CPC.
Unfortunately, the LCD doesn't fit without modding the case. :( I'm open to any suggestions how to add an LCD and not mod the plastic case.

Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: dcdrac on 00:31, 29 January 14
I have modded cables so just plug it on like I would my CPs and Plus?
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: Bryce on 09:36, 29 January 14
Quote from: MaV on 23:29, 28 January 14
@Bryce: Well, some of them need special care. ;)

The HxC-Floppy will definitely work, the necessary change to the cable is the same as for the CPC.
Unfortunately, the LCD doesn't fit without modding the case. :( I'm open to any suggestions how to add an LCD and not mod the plastic case.

The RevF version of the HxC uses a tiny LCD instead of the standard one. If you can get your hands on one of these, it may be easier to integrate into the computer than a full sized LCD? http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=120 (http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=120)

Bryce.
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: MaV on 09:56, 29 January 14
Quote from: dcdrac on 00:31, 29 January 14I have modded cables so just plug it on like I would my CPs and Plus?
Yep. The drive and connectors of the PCW and CPC (+) are identical. You can use a PCW drive in a CPC and likewise.
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: MaV on 10:04, 29 January 14
Quote from: Bryce on 09:36, 29 January 14
The RevF version of the HxC uses a tiny LCD instead of the standard one. If you can get your hands on one of these, it may be easier to integrate into the computer than a full sized LCD? http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=120 (http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=120)
Thanks for the tip. I was considering using a smaller LCD and placing it horizontally in front of the drive bay. The only remaining issue is how to fasten it. A miniature TV arm with the LCD mounted on it would look nifty. ;)
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: Bryce on 10:41, 29 January 14
Modify a blank floppy panel and mount it in that? This is the type used on the RevF, you can get the dimensions from the datasheet here: http://www.mdfly.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=201 (http://www.mdfly.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=201)

Bryce.
Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: MaV on 11:41, 29 January 14
Hm, the datasheet says its width is 47mm (that small?). What is the height of the 3" floppy drive again (can't measure ATM)?

Title: Re: Finally got a PCW 8256 suspect the floppy needs a drive belt
Post by: TFM on 18:25, 29 January 14
However you can't use the DSDD 80 Trk drive of the Joyce with the CPC, there seem to be some hardware differences which create problems. Well, that's what a buddy told me once, but never tried it by myself.


A 3" 80 Trk. DSDD drive would be like a 3.5" drive, running with Vortex format f.e.

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