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   CBM      Commodore Computer Conference      4,328 messages   

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   Message 3,696 of 4,328   
   Kenzo to All   
   Re: Advice on the best drive emulator?   
   07 May 22 20:57:00   
   
   INTL 3:770/1 3:770/3   
   REPLYADDR kjambrose@gmail.com   
   REPLYTO 3:770/3.0 UUCP   
   MSGID:  d26891b9   
   REPLY:  4396a5ba   
   PID: SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
   On Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 4:43:36 AM UTC-7, Paul Förster wrote:   
   > Hi Kenzo,   
   > On 07. May, 2022 at 00:06:36 CEST, "Kenzo"  wrote:    
   > > So my physical 1541 prevents the C128 from completing boot up when the   
   drive    
   > > is powered on and serial cable connected. If I kill the power to the drive    
   > > while the 128 boot up is hung, the 128 completes booting. Same if I   
   disconnect    
   > > the serial cable while the 128 is hung on bootup. And the drive does not    
   > > respond to load command, 128 reports drive not ready.    
   > >    
   > > I opened the drive case, board is internally very clean, and no burnt or    
   > > bloated caps. I am guessing one or more of the logic chips is bad. Looks   
   like    
   > > the MOS chips are from 1984. I am using an aftermarket serial cable, the   
   cable    
   > > pins look correct when compared to online pics, and continuity pin to pin   
   on    
   > > each end is good. I guess these serial cables are supposed to be pin to   
   pin    
   > > straight wired.    
   > >    
   > > If I get some ambition in the next few days, I will use my scope to check   
   for    
   > > activity on the logic chips. My understanding is that with the scope   
   ground on    
   > > a chip ground and scope lead on address or data pins, I should see high   
   speed    
   > > voltage oscillation, indicating logic activity...    
   > >    
   > > Hate to give up on all my floppies, even if I pick up an emulator...   
   > The usual suspects are:    
   >    
   > 1. Bad power supply of the external drive.    
   >    
   > 2. If you have a 128D, you may have a drive number conflict. The internal    
   > drive is #8. If the external drive doesn't have some other number assigned    
   > (usually #9), then you will most likely experience exactly such symptoms.    
   >    
   > 3. The drive cable has a reset line (see below). Usually, it's wired   
   through,    
   > but I have seen few few cables which have no connection there. Considering    
   > your described symptoms, it may make sense to try with a cable that does NOT    
   > connect the reset line. The downside is that pushing the reset button on the    
   > C128 or even powering it down and up again will not make the drive notice   
   any    
   > change. If you want to reset the drive too, you'd have to do that separately    
   > then.    
   >    
   > Reset is on Pin 6:    
   > see http://www.hardwarebook.info/Commodore_Serial_I/O    
   >    
   > Cheers    
   > Paul   
   thanks paul,   
      
   I  also tried a commodore serial cable but still no luck for the first 1541 I   
   tried.  I had 3 other drives in storage which I retrieved and tested.  A 1571,   
   1541, and 1541 II.   
      
   The 1571 won't power up but using the same power supply the 1541 II works   
   fine.  And the second 1541 also works fine.  So I have two drives working, but   
   not the 1571 yet.   
      
   And I had 4 computers in storage, a 64 and three original type128s.  The 64   
   powers up, but composite connected monitor is blank.  I have to do some   
   research for that.  Maybe the 64 does not output composite video?   
      
   The three 128s all work fine.  Next I will try the two 1764 ram expansion   
   modules.  The one I have that was boxed comes with a commodore higher powered   
   power supply.  I will check the output voltages before powering up with it.   
      
   So now that I can read disks, I guess the next step is to clean and lube the   
   drives, and then figure out a way to convert the physical floppies to .d64   
   files, since I don't expect the drives to work forever.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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