Ressurecting FDDs (was Original IBM PC (was Re: Prices to p

From: Lawrence Walker <lwalker_at_mail.interlog.com>
Date: Tue Jun 2 10:52:55 1998

On 1 Jun 98 at 22:29, Uncle Roger wrote:

> At 03:12 PM 5/28/98 +0000, you wrote:
> > On a related note, I have 3 Atari STs all with failed fdds. Any tips on
> >re-alligning these with-out the rather expensive reallign equipment ? Quite a
>
> If they're the later models with the rectangular eject button in the normal
> place (rather than earlier models with the parallelogram? (/___/) button)
> you can just replace them with any old 720K drive.
>
 That might be where I made the mistake. These are the parallellogram types
and the 720 Mitsumi I bought is a little smaller in height and has a
rectangular eject button. I had heard that a few manu types didn't work but
that most did. I'll have to check out comp.sys.atari for the spec on the
different models. My external Atari fdds all have the rectangular button.
I have several but didn't want to savage them since the fdds are supposed to
be easily replaced with IBM types, and even the 1.44 ones will work at
720 without the hi-dens upgrade.

> Other than that, you can use external drives; there should be (somewhere on
> the web) a diagram for making the FDD-to-ST cable. Connectors are
> available. (Or you can buy a cable from BEST Elect. in San Jose(?) or
> elsewhere.)
>
> And while we're on the subject, has anyone figured out how to use a
> standard PC/Teac fdd with a mac?
>
 There was a thread on this in the classic mac m-l a while back. IIRC can be
done but is a major kludge. Something about the header instructions IBM puts
on the disk and drive speed I foggily remember
A bigger problem for the Mac+ and earlier is the 800k fdds limit. There
was a board that enabled you to use the newer 1.6 hi-density drives. Can't
remember the name but I think it's still available.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
>
> Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
> roger_at_sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
> Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
> San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
>
 ciao larry
lwalker_at_interlog.com
Received on Tue Jun 02 1998 - 10:52:55 BST

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