Possible issues on 1/2 height FDD? \ VOGONS

Possible issues on 1/2 height FDD?

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First post, by Future_Slaps

Posted on 2022-06-01, 22:29

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Recently got an IBM PC XT, and I'm trying to fix the only issue it currently has its second floppy drive. It is a half-height, 5.25" floppy drive. The computer recognizes it and is able to give commands to it, but it cannot read or format any disks, giving a "sector not found error" or "disk error" when I use dir, and when I try to format it gives "track 0 bad - disk unusable". I think the disk controller is good because the full-height drive works without issues. I also know that the disks aren't the problem, because the disks I used to test read in the first drive, so I assume the drive has an issue. I removed the drive and cleaned the heads, rail, and cable connector, but this did not resolve the issue.

Sometimes, if I move the disk a bit while it is trying to read, I get the very beginning of the dir dialogue "directory of" "no label" etc, as if it read the disk for a single moment

I'm pretty stumped on anything else, so I was wondering if any of you had any ideas, or know something I might have missed?

Reply 1 of 4, by Future_Slaps

Posted on 2022-06-01, 23:27

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Important Update: I tired some things with the computer open, and I confirmed that pushing the left side of the head just slightly down makes the drive read. It stops reading once I stopped pressing it. So, if I know this is the issue, any idea how to fix it?

Reply 2 of 4, by Horun

Posted on 2022-06-01, 23:37

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That is good ! The drive has head out of alignment, there are ways to align them but have never been very successful at so will leave that to someone else to describe.
I also have a 5.25" drive with the top head not perfectly parallel to the disk when closed, the pivots on one side are worn and there is no way to fix it other than replace the entire head clamp/pivot mechanism (am sure there is a more scientific term ;p)
What make and model drive is yours ?

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 3 of 4, by Future_Slaps

Posted on 2022-06-01, 23:42

Future_Slaps Offline

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Horun wrote on 2022-06-01, 23:37:

That is good ! The drive has head out of alignment, there are ways to align them but have never been very successful at so will leave that to someone else to describe.
I also have a 5.25" drive with the top head not perfectly parallel to the disk when closed, the pivots on one side are worn and there is no way to fix it other than replace the entire head clamp/pivot mechanism (am sure there is a more scientific term ;p)
What make and model drive is yours ?

Assuming I'm looking at the right sticker, it is a Toshiba FDD6371L1K

I had suspected it might be some sort of alignment issue. Now I just need to figure out how to adjust said alignment.

Reply 4 of 4, by Future_Slaps

Posted on 2022-06-02, 02:48

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Did some more testing, if I press "i" repeatedly when the disk error comes up, it eventually completes listing the directory. No idea what this could mean...

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