Strange problem with an A2000 diskdrive

[amiga1260]

I bought a secondhand diskdrive from a dealer. I can return the drive, but I want to know if someone has same problems.

I put the drive in the A2000. The rev is 6.2. I turn it on the diskdrive led goes on and after showing the hand with the disk, it stops. If I put a disk in it, then the disk doesn't read it. When I put the disk before showing the hand, then she will boot from disk.

It doesn't allow possible to play multi-disk games.

The drive is a Chinon FB-357 rev.c.

I use Kickstart 1.3.

This problem doesn't appear with my old diskdrive.

[Ilwrath]

On the disk drive itself, check the small sensor switch for disk change.  It may have gummed up/stuck.  This would cause the drive to not sense when a disk is inserted/removed, causing the exact problems you describe.  

If that switch looks ok, I'd check all the pins on the back of the disk drive and make sure none are bent or not connecting.  (As well as examine the cable.)  

It really sounds to me like the computer just isn't getting the signal for disk change.

[BoingBoss]

Hi amiga1260,

The drive is a Chinon FB-357 rev.c.

The Chinon FB-357 is a high-density disk drive.  If it is the one made especially for the Amiga 2000 Series computers then you have a very rare disk drive indeed.  The Amiga 2000 Chinon FB-357 HD disk drive has a present day value of over $250.00 and is the rarest of the HD Amiga disk drives.  I sold one on eBay for $95.00 plus S/H and this is only because I did not have a reserve set on it.  I have seen these drives sell for over $250.00 on eBay.  You got lucky, dude.   :-D

I use Kickstart 1.3.

The Chinon FB-357 disk drive usually will only work with Kickstart 2.04 or above.  Kickstart 1.3 does not support high-density disk drives.  If you want to use Kickstart 1.3 then you will have to get yourself a Chinon FB-354 disk drive or an older Teac disk drive.  I sell new Teac drives for the Amiga for only $250.00.  These are very high quality disk drives and is what I use in my own Amiga and Atari ST computers.  My Amiga 500 Tower has two (2) Teac disk drives.   :-D

[TjLaZer]

The drive is not worth $250.  As you saw, it is probably worth about $100; as you sold one.  Just because a idiot or two bid up one for $250 doesn't mean that's the value of it.  Some 4000 HD drives have sold a pretty penny on Fleabay recently, but you can also get a complete 4000 setup for $300 to $400.  Don't know why the drive itself would fetch ~$200.

[amiga1260]

I try the diskdrive in an A1200 and it wasn't possible to read hd disks. And gives the same problem. I'm going to sent it back to my dealer.

[BoingBoss]

Hi amiga1260,

I try the diskdrive in an A1200 and it wasn't possible to read hd disks. And gives the same problem. I'm going to sent it back to my dealer.

Your Amiga 1200 has Kickstart 3.0 or 3.1.  Some Amiga 2000 Chinon FB-357 disk drives only worked with Kickstart 2.04.  They did not work with Kickstart 3.0 or above.  The drive that I sold for $95.00 on eBay was like this.  It worked great in my Amiga 2000HD, but would not work in my Amiga 2500.  There was nothing wrong with the drive, just Commodore's software.  I will trade you a new Amiga 2000 disk drive (still in box) for your Chinon FB-357 drive.  Pmail me.   :-D

[Robbie]

i love you boing boss. U da man!!!  :love:

[Piru]

Anyone paying $100 (not to mention $250) for a floppy drive needs to have his/her head examined.

[Cyberus]

could you not get a Catweasel and a couple of nice Sony drives for that price?

[spirantho]

Cyberus wrote:
could you not get a Catweasel and a couple of nice Sony drives for that price?

Not so good for multi-disk games, though...! Needs to be a native drive.

Incidentally, what are the normal HD drives in A4000/030s? Surely enough of them were sold (like mine) that they're not that rare....

@Amiga1260: Where in the world are you? I have a spare A2000 floppy lying around (replaced by a Catweasel'd HD drive!) but I'm in the UK.

[BoingBoss]

Hi spirantho,

Incidentally, what are the normal HD drives in A4000/030s? Surely enough of them were sold (like mine) that they're not that rare....

The High-Density disk drives for the Amiga 4000 are not rare, but the ones for the Amiga 2000 are very rare.  There is a difference between the two drives.

[Kronos]

Used you say ?

Don't know that exact modell, but most Chinon did have small jumpers to select the drive number.

Check if it is set to "DS0".

[Cyberus]

spirantho wrote:

Cyberus wrote:
could you not get a Catweasel and a couple of nice Sony drives for that price?

Not so good for multi-disk games, though...! Needs to be a native drive.

But games never came on HD disks did they? So what's the problem?

[BoingBoss]

Hi Cyberus,

But games never came on HD disks did they? So what's the problem?

You are right.  I personally only use DS/DD disks and have hundreds of new boxed DS/DD disks sitting up in my closet.  I am still buying them too whenever I see them on eBay or in store close-outs.  Since I plan to keep and use my Classic Amiga and Atari ST computers for the next 30+ years I am stocking up on disks and spare parts (SCSI hard disks, SCSI CD Rom drives, Amiga Chinon and Teac disk drives, chips, keyboards, mice, etc).  This way I will always be able to repair my own vintage computers.   :-D

[wolli]

I got a FB-357 rev.B too and want to connect it to my A500+ KS2.04

But the drive does not to work because it seems the diskchange signal works not correct.
The drive thinks that a disk is inserted even if none is in it.
Please can anyone look for the correct jumper settings i have to set at this drive?
I know that i have to solder at the drive, but that's no problem.
A picture of my drive is stored at:
http://wolliboy.wo.funpic.de/357.jpg

Please look at it and tell me what's wrong jumpered.

BTW: Is it possible to use this drive as HD-Floppy on my A500+ ?

Regards
Wolli