Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rice!uupsi!rodan.acs.syr.edu!ggreenbe
From: ggreenbe@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Gerald Greenberg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Drive alignment/damaged disks? Help!
Message-ID: <1990Nov28.101526.19155@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
Date: 28 Nov 90 10:15:26 GMT
References: <27114.2752bbff@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> <1990Nov28.055017.27984@ecst.csuchico.edu>
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Lines: 37

In article <1990Nov28.055017.27984@ecst.csuchico.edu> ekrimen@ecst.csuchico.edu (Ed Krimen) writes:
>kuento@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Doug Yanega) writes:
>- I just recently bought a used 1040ST, and within a half hour of
>- unpacking it (it was mailed), it was bombing, freezing, and giving 
>- me "unreadable disk" warnings out the wazoo.
>
>Open up the computer and reseat the chips.  I don't think a drive 
>alignment problem would cause bombing and freezing, but a few loose 
>chips (from the shipping) could very well cause all those symptoms.
>
>- I have two questions - does this sound like a problem with the drive
>- head going out of alignment (as a result of shipping), and if so, 
>- are the "unreadable" and unbootable disks likely to be damaged now 
>- as a result of being put in the machine? I ask because at least one 
>- of the disks was copy-protected (DungeonMaster), and another was the
>- Disk Doctor! (how ironic...).
> 
>If the problem really was a drive alignment problem, the disks would 
>still be readable if they haven't been written to using the drive 
>that was misaligned.
>         Ed Krimen  ...............................................
I think Ed's advice is probably sound.  If you know what
you're doing inside an ST, go ahead...if you don't, however,
I'd recommend sending it to someone who does.  I had a similar
problem with my 520 a while back...at first it gave
"unreadable disk" warnings, but then after a bit it simply
booted without acknowledging the existence of a floppy drive.
I called L&Y Electronics in VA and they said they have an $85
flat fee repair for things like this.  When I got it back, I
found that they had replaced the GLU chip, and now everything
is fine.
I have no connection with L&Y other than being a satisfied
customer...I have nothing but praise for their service, and
would recommend their work without hesitation.  They mailed
out my machine this time 2 days after they got it.
Good luck,
Gerry