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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: dougal on March 16, 2010, 11:26:56 AM

Title: A4000T Floppy writing problem
Post by: dougal on March 16, 2010, 11:26:56 AM

The floppy drive on my A4000T reads disks perfectly.

But when i write a floppy disk it sometimes says WRITE PROTECTED even though it is Not and after re-inserting the disk it works.

Anyway i go to write an ADF to floppy and it appears to write with no problems.

But when i try to use the disk it doesn't work in any amiga.

I tried different disks, different adf's.

The few rare times the disk actually does work it will be full of errors.

Any idea whats wrong? and how can i fix it?

Title: Re: A4000T Floppy writing problem
Post by: Colmiga on March 16, 2010, 12:02:57 PM

One issue sounds like the write protect pin is getting intermittantly stuck, which could cause unprotected disks to be seen as write protected.

It would be worth trying the A4000T floppy drive in another Amiga to confirm it's an issue with the drive. Likewise, try another Amigas floppy drive in the A4000T to confirm there isn't an issue with something on the MB.

This is an Escom Amiga 4000T? I believe they're just a modded PC floppy drive in which case it should be easy enough to replace.

Edit: Worth checking the drive for built-up dust as this could be causing the issues you mention. Try blowing the dust out and see if it helps.

Title: Re: A4000T Floppy writing problem
Post by: Cosmos Amiga on March 16, 2010, 01:24:44 PM

Old capacitors ?

Post a picture here of the Disk AddBoard !

Title: Re: A4000T Floppy writing problem
Post by: dougal on March 16, 2010, 01:43:06 PM

I'll check it out properly... It could have been my fault.

Basicaly once i inserted a floppy disk and didnt realize the metal sliding disk guard was loose. Anyway the disk wouldnt eject properly and i stuffed a screw driver into the drive to lever the disk out and i think that may have caused the problem.

I say i think because i didnt try writing any disks for quite some time after that and i remember that straight after that incident the drive was trying to read a disk even though no disk was inserted. The problem (of reading with no disk) went away after i inserted and removed a good disk.

I think the drive may need some adjusting.

Anything i should look out for?

Title: Re: A4000T Floppy writing problem
Post by: Cosmos Amiga on March 16, 2010, 04:15:35 PM

Maybe some old capacitors have leaked on the Disk AddBoard... So your floppy disk don't work fine !


Watch here : http://cosmosamiga.blogspot.com/2010/01/a4000-cms.html

Or here on my A4000 : http://cosmosamiga.blogspot.com/2010/02/a4000.html

Title: Re: A4000T Floppy writing problem
Post by: dougal on March 16, 2010, 07:51:59 PM

I replaced the floppy drive with a spare pc one i had. Luckily it was the exact same model as the other.

Amiga is now working fine :)

Title: Re: A4000T Floppy writing problem
Post by: tone007 on March 16, 2010, 08:08:15 PM

Don't stuff a screwdriver in this one! ;)