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Microdrive not present

border2border2
edited April 2013 in Hardware
My Microdrive has stopped working - when I 'CAT 1' is spins for a couple of seconds, and then says 'Microdrive not present'. I've got a second microdrive (which I couldn't remember whether it worked or not) and it does the same thing, so I assumed it to be a fault with the Interface 1. However, I've bought another Interface 1 off of ebay, which claims to be working, and the same thing happens.

I've also swapped the spectrum out, and get the same thing.

Any ideas?
Post edited by border2 on

Comments

  • RobeeeJayRobeeeJay
    edited April 2013
    So many causes of this, presumably as you have two microdrives and tried multiple cartridges, and formatting one goes on forever and you have to power cycle the speccy...

    ...we can eliminate most of them. :)

    If you are lucky, it's the connection between the Interface 1 and the expansion connector. Reseating it a few times, cleaning the connector with alchohol and a cotton bud, may help.

    If not then I *think* there are a couple of capacitors in there which may be worth checking.
  • Pluto63Pluto63
    edited April 2013
    First of all build a new connector, or buy one from Ben here, before you disassemble the entire system as I've done :P Also check on the rubber roller inside microdrive.
  • border2border2
    edited April 2013
    Thanks everyone - I cleaned everything with rubbing alcohol as suggested and I've got it working.

    It only works with two of my microdrive cartridges, but I guess the others are just worn out.
  • RobeeeJayRobeeeJay
    edited April 2013
    Glad you got it working. \o/

    I know a good utility for converting z80 snapshots to Microdrive. :)

    I screwed mine to my toastrack (it comes with screws to do that), I think they are in placeholder slots or something (I forget sorry :() somewhere on the Interface 1 casing.

    The pads will probably be the problem with the worn out cartridges, they are quite easy to replace once you get the knack of it.
  • border2border2
    edited April 2013
    The final part of the jigsaw was that the little felt pads under the tape in all but one of my microdrive cartridges had gone. I took the felt from a normal cassette tape and glued it into the microdrive, and got all three cartridges working.
  • tstihtstih
    edited April 2013
    border2 wrote: »
    The final part of the jigsaw was that the little felt pads under the tape in all but one of my microdrive cartridges had gone. I took the felt from a normal cassette tape and glued it into the microdrive, and got all three cartridges working.

    Did you took it from an actual cassette or buy it as a part? Im planning to renovate my microdrive collection and would use one that works. I found this one?

    http://www.8-track-shack.com/cassette-tape-replacement-felt-pressure-pads-1-strip-repairs-30-tapes-p-17881.html
  • RobeeeJayRobeeeJay
    edited April 2013
    I harvested mine from old cassettes, cutting them in half so they were the right size and using superglue to attach them.

    But if you don't have any old ones that are junk then buying a strip like that sounds ideal. :)
  • The_BertThe_Bert
    edited April 2013
    tstih wrote: »
    Did you took it from an actual cassette or buy it as a part? Im planning to renovate my microdrive collection and would use one that works. I found this one?

    http://www.8-track-shack.com/cassette-tape-replacement-felt-pressure-pads-1-strip-repairs-30-tapes-p-17881.html

    These strips look good, and with the felt pad of a microdrive cartridge being half the size of a regular compact cassette pad, you can repair at least 60 cartridges. :D
    Author of BertoMenus, soon to become BertoBASIC +3 ;)
    Feel free to help yourself to the Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3 Manual.pdf
  • orangeorange
    edited April 2013
    The_Bert wrote: »
    These strips look good, and with the felt pad of a microdrive cartridge being half the size of a regular compact cassette pad, you can repair at least 60 cartridges. :D

    they look too thick to me. perhaps 8-track uses different pads.
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