CD32: How do you know if it is PAL or NTSC?

[paul1981]

I see, many thanks for your kind remarks. I might pursue a spare CD drive in the next couple of weeks or so, as I am very frustrated and exhausted by this horrid experience. I am sure the guy who cheated me, would repay back in another shape or form in life.

They do show up on ebay from time to time, usually under "CD32 drive mechanism". You could also place a wanted ad on Amibay.... you'll be suprised how many people have unwanted spares. You will find a drive eventually, it'll just be a matter of time. Good luck mate, hope you get it sorted.

[CodeHunter]

Here are images of my opened CD32:








I really don't know why the drive does not work. I have unplued the cables and turned the system on, I even took the CD drive completely out (even removed the data cable), and the CD32 turned on, but it did not complain about lack of optical drive. I did not see any sign of tampering, looked pristine and brand new. I am baffled as to why a brand new system should not work!:shocked

It is the motor that is dead I think. I don't see any faint light coming out from the lens also. If I could properly diagnose it, I wouldn't mind spending more and obtaining the right parts to fix it, it screams to be brought back to life!




More image:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/90510403@N03/

[freqmax]

Perhaps there's some diagnostic program one can run from floppy?

[CodeHunter]

Perhaps there's some diagnostic program one can run from floppy?

I don't have the floppy drive unit for CD32 unfortunately.

[fitzsteve]

Even a brand new item can arrive DOA, this is not brand new it's 20 years old!

Even if it's new old stock it's not a brand new item, it might not have even worked from day 1.

The first thing I would look to change is the laser, they're often sold quite cheaply on eBay.

[Matt_H]

I'd examine the motor first. That's probably the most likely thing to fail from sitting in storage for 2 decades. It may just need some jostling or re-lubricating to get moving again.

[CodeHunter]

I see, thanks for your comments.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

If you power it up with the lid off do you get any activity out of the motor at all?  That big gear is just begging to be grabbed and spun around a few times, to see if it moves freely.  Maybe put a drop or two of lithium grease on it?  Also I think you mentioned not seeing any light coming out of the laser aperture.  It should be pretty easy for anyone else with a CD32 to check if this is normal or not?

[paul1981]

I'd examine the motor first. That's probably the most likely thing to fail from sitting in storage for 2 decades. It may just need some jostling or re-lubricating to get moving again.

I totally agree here. I'd be making sure it had plenty of WD-40 inside it...try and get it down the shaft if there's no holes in the motor...and manually turn the motor yourself to get the oil to penetrate.
A motor that's been stored for so long, and in damp conditions can easily seize up as it will corrode. Oil will bring it back to life though.

I wouldn't be looking into the laser either... It's a "Class 1 Laser Product" no doubt and I simply wouldn't risk it. Plus, I doubt you'd see anything as it'll be working in the Infrared range no doubt.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I wouldn't be looking into the laser either... It's a "Class 1 Laser Product" no doubt and I simply wouldn't risk it. Plus, I doubt you'd see anything as it'll be working in the Infrared range no doubt.

Good point here.  A lot of digital cameras can see infrared light though.  Try pointing your TV remote control at one and see if the front of it lights up when you press a button (when looking on the screen of your camera), then try the same thing with your CD32.  That'll test it!  

[freqmax]

Yeah amen to CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT, the sticker is there for a reason. Value your eyes over any machine.
But a photodiode could be used to detect the beam.

I would also check if the rotation motor work (does it even have power?), that the sled motor that moves to the head to the right track can move and have power too etc..

[CodeHunter]

Yeah amen to CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT, the sticker is there for a reason. Value your eyes over any machine.
But a photodiode could be used to detect the beam.

I would also check if the rotation motor work (does it even have power?), that the sled motor that moves to the head to the right track can move and have power too etc..

No mechanical movement in my CD32. No light emitting form the Lens either.

[mongo]

No mechanical movement in my CD32. No light emitting form the Lens either.

Make sure you have a CD on the spindle when you test it. Without a disk there, drives generally do nothing.

[CodeHunter]

Make sure you have a CD on the spindle when you test it. Without a disk there, drives generally do nothing.

Sure, I had an audio CD, original Diggers game CD, etc. Nothing works.

[Astral]

Not really keen on reading the whole thread to find out...but have you made sure the little tab on the lower right front of the lid is still there...the one that goes into the interrupter circuit within the CD32 to indicate the lid is closed and hence try to read a disc? Is the module also properly connected inside? And...not sure what it does but the little brass/copper (?) earth (?) thingo...is that seated properly within the casing (not sure what that earth does though)?

[freqmax]

Also the light is supposedly "invisable" so instruments may be needed to see it.