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+3 broken drive

kevthackerkevthacker
edited July 2007 in Hardware
Hi,

I bought a +3 from E-bay, but the drive doesn't work :(

I am not so familiar with Speccys, I know how to program them, but this is the first I've owned. I own lots of CPCs though.

I replaced the drive belt but that made no difference.

When I hold the reset button down, the drive light will stay on. I release the button and the motor runs for a bit then stops.

When I try to cat the disc, the drive light doesn't come on, there is no seek sound, and the Spectrum effectively hangs.

I'm guessing the drive may be getting +5v (I really need to check with my volt meter), but from my experience with similar faults with CPC drives it is unlikely it is getting 12v.

Anyone got any quick suggestions to how I could diagnose it furthur?

Is the drive really dead?

To be honest, if I can't get it working quickly, I'd be happy to rip the drive out, take it to the dump and fit a 3.5" disc internally.

I could fit a 3.5" disc drive as 'B', but then I couldn't boot off it.

So my final question is, can anybody point me to a webpage which describes how to fit a 3.5" disc drive internally within a +3?

I bought the computer with the intention of loading cassette games anyway, mainly ones that I am planning to write (I am working on a sudoku game for Spectrum and Amstrad, written in assembler, includes generator and solver and monkies).
Post edited by kevthacker on

Comments

  • guesserguesser
    edited July 2007
    this site explains how to fit a 3.5" drive as drive A, if you think there is an electronic fault on the drive, there is a site that explains how to diagnose and repair them, but I don't have the URL handy for that :roll:
    My rubbish website including the redrawn Amstrad schematics and the Sinclair Wiki.
  • swift240swift240
    edited July 2007
    As a matter of interest the auction you got the Specrum+3 from did it say that it is fully working?

    Mike.
  • kevthackerkevthacker
    edited July 2007
    swift240 wrote: »
    As a matter of interest the auction you got the Specrum+3 from did it say that it is fully working?

    Mike.
    no. it said the drive was broken.

    I thought it might be as simple as a replacement belt, because sometimes it is.
    I was not so lucky this time :(
  • kevthackerkevthacker
    edited July 2007
    guesser wrote: »
    this site explains how to fit a 3.5" drive as drive A, if you think there is an electronic fault on the drive, there is a site that explains how to diagnose and repair them, but I don't have the URL handy for that :roll:
    thanks, that will be a great help.
    If you, or anybody else, can remember the site to repair broken drives, then I may be able to salvage two more 3" drives in addition to the one in the +3 ;)
  • swift240swift240
    edited July 2007
    I don`t know if you would want to. But on eBay there is some one who will trade a broken drive for a fully working drive for £20.00.

    They specialise in most 8-bit but Spectrum I noticed they are pretty good at.
    I got my Multiface 3 from them, in near mint condition.

    Mike.

    Found the link in case.

    http://stores.ebay.co.uk/DataServe-Retro-Computers
  • bobsbobs
    edited July 2007
    kevthacker wrote: »
    but this is the first I've owned. I own lots of CPCs though.

    Welcome to the dark-side my friend!
    kevthacker wrote: »
    I bought the computer with the intention of loading cassette games anyway, mainly ones that I am planning to write (I am working on a sudoku game for Spectrum and Amstrad, written in assembler, includes generator and solver and monkies).

    And I must say, having seen those said monkies, it's a mad as a sack full of ferrets!
    https://bobs-stuff.itch.io
    https://twitter.com/bobsstuffgames
    https://www.facebook.com/bobs.stuff
    http://www.bobs-stuff.co.uk
  • DEATHDEATH
    edited July 2007
    bobs wrote: »
    Welcome to the dark-side my friend!



    And I must say, having seen those said monkies, it's a mad as a sack full of ferrets!

    Shhhhh, you'll get our Mel all excited! :D
    Oh bugger!<br>
  • BruceNortonBruceNorton
    edited July 2007
    kevthacker wrote: »
    Hi,

    I bought a +3 from E-bay, but the drive doesn't work :(

    I am not so familiar with Speccys, I know how to program them, but this is the first I've owned. I own lots of CPCs though.

    I replaced the drive belt but that made no difference.

    When I hold the reset button down, the drive light will stay on. I release the button and the motor runs for a bit then stops.

    When I try to cat the disc, the drive light doesn't come on, there is no seek sound, and the Spectrum effectively hangs.

    I'm guessing the drive may be getting +5v (I really need to check with my volt meter), but from my experience with similar faults with CPC drives it is unlikely it is getting 12v.

    Anyone got any quick suggestions to how I could diagnose it furthur?

    Is the drive really dead?

    To be honest, if I can't get it working quickly, I'd be happy to rip the drive out, take it to the dump and fit a 3.5" disc internally.

    I could fit a 3.5" disc drive as 'B', but then I couldn't boot off it.

    So my final question is, can anybody point me to a webpage which describes how to fit a 3.5" disc drive internally within a +3?

    I bought the computer with the intention of loading cassette games anyway, mainly ones that I am planning to write (I am working on a sudoku game for Spectrum and Amstrad, written in assembler, includes generator and solver and monkies).

    I had the same problem with the one of the first plus3's I bought and after a spot of ivestigation it turned out the PSU was FUBAR. Got a replacement PSU and hey presto the damned thing works fine.

    If I was you I would check all the correct voltages are present on your PSU. The info is in the back of the handbook.
  • alchresearchalchresearch
    edited July 2007
    Do a Google search for PCW King, he always has tons of spare bits, including drives.
  • DEATHDEATH
    edited July 2007
    alchresearch wrote: »
    Do a Google search for PCW King, he always has tons of spare bits, including drives.

    Ermmm, NO! He has none in stock! You're fired!

    http://www.pcwking1.netfirms.com/plus3.html
    Oh bugger!<br>
  • alchresearchalchresearch
    edited July 2007
    No stock at all! What's going on?
  • DEATHDEATH
    edited July 2007
    alchresearch wrote: »
    No stock at all! What's going on?

    Don't know, maybe they don't make them anymore and all the old stock was used or sold. It is a bit inconsiderate though, I agree with you. Maybe I won't fire you after all. Go update your site instead :)
    Oh bugger!<br>
  • alchresearchalchresearch
    edited July 2007
    DEATH wrote: »
    Go update your site instead :)

    Already have - a CP/M page went up last night!
  • DEATHDEATH
    edited July 2007
    Ohhhhhh ok then - how about the blog though eh eh? :)
    Oh bugger!<br>
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