CompuServe Thread

#second drive

10 messages in this thread
#99720From: Ray RobertsDec 23, 1987 8:53 PM
I received my A2000 in the mail yesterday. I also got a second floppy (the internal A2010 drive). I've tried to install it this evening but can't get df1: to work. Whenever the second drive is plugged-in, it will not read the workbench disk. If I unplug the second drive, it will read the workbench and shows a "df1: BAD" (which I would expect). The problem is NOT in the drives because either one will work fine as df0:. Has anyone had a similar problem?… I bought this mail-order and am beginning to wish I hadn't! Ray
#99732From: John Sobernheim(TCR)Dec 23, 1987 9:14 PM
Ray, I don't have my manuals here, but I remember that there is a jumper that must be installed on the motherboard of the A2k that tells the computer that there is a second stiffy installed. Have you done this already? The jumper that I am remembering is located immediately to the left of the power supply on the motherboard, underneath the end of a ribbon cable. -John
#99785From: Don Curtis/SYSOPDec 24, 1987 1:47 AM
Ray, Besides the jumper John told you about….you also need to make sure the 2nd internal drive is set via it's select pins as unit 2. Don
#100033From: Ray RobertsDec 25, 1987 7:41 PM
Tell me more!… what "select pins"? I have put the jumper on the motherboard, but there is nothing in the installation manual of the 2cTy Ray
#100039From: Don Curtis/SYSOPDec 25, 1987 9:07 PM
Ray, On the drive itself, there is a similar jumper to the one you put on the motherboard, except it has more possible locations that you can jumper. Unfortunately, I don't have the exact location to look for this set of jumpers or I'd give you more detailed information. In any event, it needs to be moved to drive 2 select. Don
#100090From: RON TROYDec 26, 1987 2:03 PM
When you look on the drive, there is a set of jumperable pins, with a jumper now connecting 2 pins. They probably cover a number, just like the way the correct set will connect.
#100119From: Ray RobertsDec 26, 1987 5:26 PM
I found the jumpers and that solved the problem. There is absolutely no description of these jumpers in the installation instructions that came with the a2010 drive. This is a great oversight and I hope Commodore corrects this by adding an addendum to the documentation. I spent three frustrating evenings trying to determine what the problem was. I signed on Quantum Link last night and two other individuals were having the IDENTICAL problem and I was able to help them because of the help I got here on CompuServe. Thank you! Ray Roberts
#100133From: RON TROYDec 26, 1987 7:12 PM
Try this on for size – I took the original nec external 3.5 from my 1000 and converted it to an internal – what makes it fun is that cbm had more then one drive, and each was set up differently, with cables turned in different directions. Even better is the ribbon wire plug that isn't polarized – it fits perfectly either way. Of course, it doesn't work perfectly one of those 2 ways. Ron
#100698From: Gregory KozikowskiDec 30, 1987 9:40 PM
A bit more data for the harried 3.5" disk drive installer. The jumper on the mother board for the second floppy is J301..short the two pins for two floppies. It's located close to CN303, the floppy controller cable connector. My Mom 'n Pop computer store figured out the jumpers on my second drive and then, as they were putting the whole thing back together, installed the ribbon cable BACKWARDS! Mr Troy is correct, it doesn't work worth boo if you do that. How you figure out the ribbon cable is as follows: Look for the ribbon connector with the little twist in part of the ribbon. That side of the connector goes electrically closest to the drive ID pins. In the case of the original MATSUSHITA drive, you have to follow the circuit board traces from the ID pins to the connector. In the case of the new CHINON drive, the pins are right at the connector. It is noted that as viewed from above in normal service position, my ribbon cable is REVERSED between the two drives. More horror stories, I am somehow sure, to follow. Greg
#100423From: BILL LEACHDec 29, 1987 12:07 AM
Ray: You will find that as a rule the ONLY company that every gave reliable information about their disk drives was heathkit. The problem that all of these guys experiance is that even the manufactures of a drive will change the drive interface board on a given model with the corresponding change to the jumpers. It is at least impractical for the computer manufacture to try to provided that drive information. CBM is not at all unique in that regard and at least they don't provide incorrect information. Happy New Year, bill