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Vintage Computers Any vintage computer systems, calculators, video games etc., but with an emphasis on 1980s and earlier equipment. |
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Thread Tools |
18th Feb 2021, 12:57 pm | #21 |
Pentode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK.
Posts: 126
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
Thanks all, tried all the obvious cable configurations and the bios settings are correct so I am stumped. The pc is very old so possibly a mother board fault. It still programs the Philips fm1100 radios so it is not completely useless but it would be good to get the floppy drive going.
Dave |
18th Feb 2021, 12:58 pm | #22 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,130
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
If your computer maintains its time-of-day clock while switched off, there must be a (working) backup battery of some sort, either rechargable or replacable.
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Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) |
18th Feb 2021, 1:02 pm | #23 | |
Octode
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Northampton, Northamptonshire, UK.
Posts: 1,440
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
Quote:
Although not too many PC's used these (mainly old Amstrad ones), and they were quite expensive / probably now obsolete (and old stock won't be too good) It is often possible to cut the battery off the top, and fit your own coin cell etc. - I have seen pictures online of this being done - to keep the original going. |
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18th Feb 2021, 2:41 pm | #24 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 11,577
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
Actually, modern equivalents are still being made, see the DS1287+ here, from Farnell.
https://uk.farnell.com/maxim-integra...p24/dp/2518671 The datasheet on that page says they are a drop in replacement for the original DS1287. Not cheap, but probably cheaper than sourcing a whole replacement computer. |
18th Feb 2021, 2:46 pm | #25 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 11,577
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
Apologies if we have already asked, but have you tried several more discs?
If memory serves me correctly you would get the same message 'General failure' if you just tried to read a faulty disc. If you have any other surplus discs try formatting one, and if that succeeds try copying a file to the disc and reading it back. |
19th Feb 2021, 12:49 pm | #26 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Owston Ferry, North Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 1,704
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
It could also be a faulty ribbon cable, they sometimes failed at the wire to connector joint. If I remember correctly the first floppy socket was B drive and the end one was A drive, some ribbons even had sockets for MFM drives. Well worth trying a known good ribbon cable and also check if the drive is cable or link detect for it's drive letter.
Dave |
19th Feb 2021, 1:26 pm | #27 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Newport, Gwent, UK.
Posts: 1,623
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
My daughter's suggestion for any obscure fault is 'hit it with a hammer' ...
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19th Feb 2021, 1:29 pm | #28 | |
Octode
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,287
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
Quote:
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19th Feb 2021, 2:04 pm | #29 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 11,577
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
The FD controller is on a multi I/O card, not on the motherboard. TWP has already been kindly provided with an absolutely identical Multi I/O card which has not fixed the problem.
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19th Feb 2021, 2:48 pm | #30 |
Octode
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,287
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
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19th Feb 2021, 4:59 pm | #31 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK.
Posts: 5,215
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
I'm wondering about problems with the DMA channel or IRQ line used by the floppy contoller. Unfortunately the appropriate circuitry is likely to be part of a large ASIC on the motherboard and not easy to debug or repair.
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19th Feb 2021, 5:33 pm | #32 |
Octode
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,287
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Re: Floppy disk controller card
Well it must be something like that because the drive & cable have been tested and the same fault with a different card means its the MB unless the replacement card has the same fault. Try the controller in another PC? Although the other PC may not have the ISA slot required.
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