Amiga 1200 PSU ticking sound

[Blinx123]

When I finally set up my Amiga 1200 today, I realized a strange noise coming from the PSU.
Basically, whenever I turn the power on, I can hear a linear ticking coming from it.

For this matter, I have not yet plugged in my Amiga 1200 but I'm wondering, is this normal? Shall I go on or search for a replacement PSU?

The PSU I got is a white Commodore branded 25W PSU, Made in India.

[Blinx123]

I have an Amiga PSU like that. It's a switch mode one, and it will tick if not connected to the 1200.

Thanks, Paul.

In the likelihood that I blow up my house by plugging it in, I'll come back here asking for shelter.

[Blinx123]

Too late.

Already did as you said and the whole building went caboom ....

Just kidding.
Works like a charm, actually.

There's only one problem and I dear hope it's not the floppy drive.
I just inserted the Workbench 3.1 disk and bootet the Amiga.

20 secs later, I get greeted by a small message box that basically tells me that the floppy I inserted is not a valid DOS disk.

[Blinx123]

Didn't use my machine for five minutes and I'm hating it already.

Why are floppies just so awfully flacky? The whole workbench disk set is broken, it seems.
I can't get any disk to work and I haven't even checked the Magic Pack bundle yet.

The fun is over long before it even started

[Blinx123]

People still use floppy disks?

Switched to a floppy emulator and cf card over a year or so a go and haven't looked back. If you want the floppy noise the emulator does an okay job at reproducing that too :-)

Ah. Screw it.
I think I'm going to get me one of these myself.

As much as I love buying retro games and software (and I'll probably still do in the future, if only for the thick manuals, the goodies and the big boxes), it's really not worth all the trouble.

Are there any DIY schematics for non-USB HxC floppy emulators? I suppose parts wouldn't cost much more than buying one or two new floppy drives?

Lastly, I still consider it a challenge to protect my old floppies (I still have a copy of "Dizzy: Prince of the Yolkfolk" that has never seen any daylight and is still wrapped in thick bubble wrap). What's the best way to do this, if there's any?

[Blinx123]

Put the floppy in non static vacuum wrap (removing most of the air slowly) being careful not to crush the floppy door, and then put it in a storage case made of Soft Iron C1018(Non magnetic).  Cost you a mint but with no air and no magnitic fields your floppies will last a lifetime (or two)  

Do you know of any shop selling these?

I've just put the Amiga Magic Pack box (including most of the manuals, all of the Magic Pack disks and the set of workbench disks) inside a big old oak wood cabinet, where there are already a bunch of other floppies inside (even a brand new, unused pack of 2HD floppies), but I realize this is probably not the best way and the heating is just around the corner (albeit not very hot and it's still the coldest and driest room in the whole building), but it's better than having the disks lying around in my room.

[Blinx123]

Sometimes there's just nothing you can do.

Not only does the magnetic field on the disc surface just de-magnetize slowly over time, but the adhesive holding the magnetic particles on the plastic disc surface will break down over time, causing the oxide to begin to shed from the disc surface.

Like the fellow up above said, storing it in a complete vacuum, with an absence of light, oxygen and protected from (even) the magnetic field of the earth, might make them last longer, but unless you have access to the archival vaults of the Smithsonian, I'm not sure it's possible for the average person to accomplish.

The way you're storing the disks is probably the best way for the average person.

Oh well.

I guess I'll scrap that idea then and add it to my list of why I need work even harder to become seriously rich and powerful.


Reason 1303:

- Re-manufacture old floppy disks and buy the Smithsonian to store them in.