Re: XF551 chips for reading/writing ability

Hi,

I don't think this is a typical problem of the XF551, so I think you are
going to be on your own a little bit. I would resolder the SIO pins just
for good measure (be careful, the traces on the XF551 are very weak) since
that is such a common problem.

Other than that... well, I would probably personally try some guerilla
troubleshooting, but I'm not too keen to offer those suggestions to you.
There must be someone who knows more about electronics and the XF551 that
can help you.


"Jack Tseng" <tseng4@xxxxxxxxxxx>:
I command XF551 to format the disk. I hear the head moving fast during
formatting. I think SIO in XF is ok. After formatting, it cant write as
making boot sector and creating directory. The head moves back and forth as
well ... motor is still running.

XF was the first happened to me. I forget to turn off the XF drive. It was
left on in few hours. Heat sink inside XF felt little hot. It is not able to
read. I turned off the drive for cooling down. The few hours later, the
drive still cant read the disk. Any help?

Thanks!
Jack


"Russ Gilbert" <russgilb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ygTIf.21073$_S7.11477@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
H'lo again.
There could be a problem with the electronics, in which case you
could try swapping chips, if you can find a source.
Does the XF sound like the disk is turning, or silent when the
busy light comes on, ie. possibly the drive belt. A common problem
with the XF is the SIO socket coming broke at the PCB, check with
a magnifyer the traces at the connector. OK, not either of those,
narrows it down some. When you open it up, does the head move
back and forth, and the disk spin? Could be the stepper motor
or spin motor. I don't know which mechanism the XF uses, but
you might be able to replace the entire drive mechanism.

Where's Rick Cortese when we need him?
"Jack Tseng" <tseng4@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:39SIf.81483$QW2.80324@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
drive 1,2,3 or 4, it does not matter.. which DOS ? it still does not
matter.. all DOS... XF sets D1: all disks can not be read. yes,the busy
light is still on when XF tries to read. Any help?


"Russ Gilbert" <russgilb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:0BRIf.13557$2O6.5503@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi, Jack.
I seem to be the only one responding and probably the least
knowlegable.
Are you sure the XF is configured, with dip switches, to be D2:?
Are you sure your DOS will recognize D2:, ie. some DOS 2.0/2.5
can be configured to only recognize D1:. What DOS are you booting
with? Are you daisy chaining the XF to the 1050 as D2: or replacing
the
1050 with XF as D1: for boot? Does the XF respond at all to your
efforts,
whirring, LED coming on?
"Jack Tseng" <tseng4@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:RUQIf.81477$QW2.76470@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I tested the Single Density formatted disk on 1050. 1050 can read it.
I
insert the same disk in XF551. XF551 still cant read it. XF551 is
damaged.
I
do not know what part is damaged. I think some chips are malfuctional
or
5.25 mechanism. Which one is damaged?

Thanks!
Jack


"Russ Gilbert" <russgilb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1BwIf.33008$H71.27721@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Jack Tseng" <tseng4@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:C9sIf.81409$QW2.6186@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
1050 sets Drive 1. XF551 sets Drive 2. 1050 boots any DOS - ok...
DOS
recongizes the XF551 as drive 2. I tested XF551 to read the
formatted
disk
as DOS 2.x. But it still cannot read. any help?

Thanks
Jack

Hmm... You've got 1050 set as drive 1 and XF551 set as drive 2.
You boot a DOS disk from 1050. You put the boot disk or
some other formatted disk, that drive 1 can read, in D2: and it
won't get a directory. Right? MyDOS will see what other
drives there are, you say that DOS recognizes there is a D2:
What happens when you try to access D2:? Does the drive
whirr or get error 144. How are you attempting to access
D2:?












--
Shawn Jefferson
http://www.jeffersonsauctioneering.com/atari/
(fix reply to for email)
.

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