Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!antares.concordia.ca!dcfs018
From: dcfs018@Antares.Concordia.CA ( STEPHAN BOHM)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Help!  My 1050 has stopped working...
Summary: What can I do?
Message-ID: <824@antares.Concordia.CA>
Date: 14 Mar 91 00:20:00 GMT
Organization: Concordia University, Montreal Quebec
Lines: 39

Greetings.

My disk drive has suddenly refused to work.  I don't need to explain how
difficult it is to use a computer if you can't load DOS in order to load a
debugger in order to check the serial port data...

Anyway, what happens is that the drive complains when it is ordered to read a
sector (e.g. during bootup).  All I get is an annoying noise, along with
a message saying it can't boot (this repeats ad infinitum, or at least until
I shut it off).

Power seems fine. The LEDs work, and the power supply voltage is 12V AC.
The motor starts and the head moves when I apply power, as usual.  I have
cleaned the head and the guide rails, and checked the circuit board for
obvious problems (they aren't any blown components).  I changed the drive #
selector to all four positions.  If it is selected as drive 2,3, or 4, I
get a timeout sound, and when I put it back as drive 1, I get the annoying
sound (not the same as the timeout sound).

I get error 139 whenever I try reading from the drive (I get this value
using Omnimon).  If I turn off the drive, I get error 138 (timeout).

I don't think it's a bad connection between the drive and my computer because
my old drive (which can't write properly...) works ok if I use the same serial
cable.

I think I have 5 options:

1) Fix it myself (but I'd need the 1050 service manual and a source for parts)
2) Send the drive out for repairs (but where?  and for how much?)
3) Put my 8-bit system in a closet and forget about it (not desirable)
4) Cook up some hardware to let me use an IBM PC drive (too involved)
5) Buy a new drive (not at this stage)

I'm hoping somebody out there has some suggestions.


					Jean Goulet
					dcfs018@antares.concordia.ca