Mac SE coming to Workshop
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
Probably a miniscribe drive... if the heads aren't suck to the platters, it most likely needs a low level format. -J On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
-- Jason Perkins 313 355 0085
On 8/11/2017 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself. My 128k has a Tom Petty sticker on the front and man that seems to really keep it running smooth.
I might see if I can mess around with my SCSI to SATA converter dongle On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 1:15 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On 8/11/2017 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
My 128k has a Tom Petty sticker on the front and man that seems to really keep it running smooth.
I'm interested in compact macs. I have an SE/30 that I used in college and loved the machine! Besides replacing the sticker, I also found that kicking computers helps too. Sometimes these old machines are just grouch old computers. If in doubt kick it! On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
-- ======================================================== Jeff Brace ========================================================
Certain early brand new SE hard drives (I want to say Quantum 40s and 80s, but my memory is fuzzy) were prone to so-called "stiction" even back in the day when they were new. Back in the day we would drop the computer from a few inches and often fix them. My understanding is that if that works these days your drive is on borrowed time (maybe even back then!). On 8/11/2017 1:42 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'm interested in compact macs. I have an SE/30 that I used in college and loved the machine!
Besides replacing the sticker, I also found that kicking computers helps too. Sometimes these old machines are just grouch old computers. If in doubt kick it!
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
I have about 10 SE variants, I like them because they're small. The only Mac's I support. That's basically the line I draw Apple-wise, age wise. On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 1:52 PM, Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Certain early brand new SE hard drives (I want to say Quantum 40s and 80s, but my memory is fuzzy) were prone to so-called "stiction" even back in the day when they were new. Back in the day we would drop the computer from a few inches and often fix them.
My understanding is that if that works these days your drive is on borrowed time (maybe even back then!).
On 8/11/2017 1:42 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'm interested in compact macs. I have an SE/30 that I used in college and loved the machine!
Besides replacing the sticker, I also found that kicking computers helps too. Sometimes these old machines are just grouch old computers. If in doubt kick it!
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the
way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
The other nice thing is that these are perhaps the most reliable compacts - not requiring extensive if any recapping on the boards. Hard drive reliability is another issue. On 8/11/2017 1:57 PM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I have about 10 SE variants, I like them because they're small. The only Mac's I support. That's basically the line I draw Apple-wise, age wise.
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 1:52 PM, Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Certain early brand new SE hard drives (I want to say Quantum 40s and 80s, but my memory is fuzzy) were prone to so-called "stiction" even back in the day when they were new. Back in the day we would drop the computer from a few inches and often fix them.
My understanding is that if that works these days your drive is on borrowed time (maybe even back then!).
On 8/11/2017 1:42 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'm interested in compact macs. I have an SE/30 that I used in college and loved the machine!
Besides replacing the sticker, I also found that kicking computers helps too. Sometimes these old machines are just grouch old computers. If in doubt kick it!
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the
way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 1:52 PM, Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Certain early brand new SE hard drives (I want to say Quantum 40s and 80s, but my memory is fuzzy) were prone to so-called "stiction" even back in the day when they were new. Back in the day we would drop the computer from a few inches and often fix them.
Like I said drop it is just like kicking it to fix it. Drop, kick, smack. It takes a certain kind of expert to know which one to use.
My understanding is that if that works these days your drive is on borrowed time (maybe even back then!).
On 8/11/2017 1:42 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'm interested in compact macs. I have an SE/30 that I used in college and loved the machine!
Besides replacing the sticker, I also found that kicking computers helps too. Sometimes these old machines are just grouch old computers. If in doubt kick it!
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the
way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
-- ======================================================== Jeff Brace ========================================================
Never drop them! Sticktion can (usually) safely be fixed by placing the drive on a smooth surface, rapidly rotating it a few times with a flick of the wrist, then quickly applying power. Dropping risks head damage. The only time this did not work for me, I had to sacrifice the drive by opening it and spinning the platters manually. The drive was absolutely on borrowed time from that point on, but I managed to recover the data. Does not bother using it after that. On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 1:54 PM Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Certain early brand new SE hard drives (I want to say Quantum 40s and 80s, but my memory is fuzzy) were prone to so-called "stiction" even back in the day when they were new. Back in the day we would drop the computer from a few inches and often fix them.
My understanding is that if that works these days your drive is on borrowed time (maybe even back then!).
On 8/11/2017 1:42 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'm interested in compact macs. I have an SE/30 that I used in college and loved the machine!
Besides replacing the sticker, I also found that kicking computers helps too. Sometimes these old machines are just grouch old computers. If in doubt kick it!
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
Dean, Believe it or not, several of the manufacturers had the "controlled drop" as a recommendation, in their drive service guides. This really only applied to the early drives, though. I've never had to do it on a drive manufactured after 1985. - Alex On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 2:29 PM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Never drop them! Sticktion can (usually) safely be fixed by placing the drive on a smooth surface, rapidly rotating it a few times with a flick of the wrist, then quickly applying power. Dropping risks head damage. The only time this did not work for me, I had to sacrifice the drive by opening it and spinning the platters manually. The drive was absolutely on borrowed time from that point on, but I managed to recover the data. Does not bother using it after that.
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 1:54 PM Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Certain early brand new SE hard drives (I want to say Quantum 40s and 80s, but my memory is fuzzy) were prone to so-called "stiction" even back in the day when they were new. Back in the day we would drop the computer from a few inches and often fix them.
My understanding is that if that works these days your drive is on borrowed time (maybe even back then!).
On 8/11/2017 1:42 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'm interested in compact macs. I have an SE/30 that I used in college and loved the machine!
Besides replacing the sticker, I also found that kicking computers helps too. Sometimes these old machines are just grouch old computers. If in doubt kick it!
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 2:29 PM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Never drop them! Sticktion can (usually) safely be fixed by placing the drive on a smooth surface, rapidly rotating it a few times with a flick of the wrist, then quickly applying power. Dropping risks head damage. The only time this did not work for me, I had to sacrifice the drive by opening it and spinning the platters manually. The drive was absolutely on borrowed time from that point on, but I managed to recover the data. Does not bother using it after that.
I have had no problems opening a drive to de-stiction it while carefully minimizing exposure to dust. The enclosure is not a vacuum and opening the drive for a minute to free it is not necessarily a death sentence. Dropping a computer for any reason is worse if you ask me.
On 08/11/2017 03:43 PM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 2:29 PM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Never drop them! Sticktion can (usually) safely be fixed by placing the drive on a smooth surface, rapidly rotating it a few times with a flick of the wrist, then quickly applying power. Dropping risks head damage. The only time this did not work for me, I had to sacrifice the drive by opening it and spinning the platters manually. The drive was absolutely on borrowed time from that point on, but I managed to recover the data. Does not bother using it after that.
I have had no problems opening a drive to de-stiction it while carefully minimizing exposure to dust. The enclosure is not a vacuum and opening the drive for a minute to free it is not necessarily a death sentence. Dropping a computer for any reason is worse if you ask me.
Agreed though it's surprising how much 'abusive' bad air it can handle. But I don't recommend it long term. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On Aug 11, 2017, at 3:43 PM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 2:29 PM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Never drop them! Sticktion can (usually) safely be fixed by placing the drive on a smooth surface, rapidly rotating it a few times with a flick of the wrist, then quickly applying power. Dropping risks head damage. The only time this did not work for me, I had to sacrifice the drive by opening it and spinning the platters manually. The drive was absolutely on borrowed time from that point on, but I managed to recover the data. Does not bother using it after that.
I have had no problems opening a drive to de-stiction it while carefully minimizing exposure to dust. The enclosure is not a vacuum and opening the drive for a minute to free it is not necessarily a death sentence. Dropping a computer for any reason is worse if you ask me.
The "drop technique" does work. Often just a slight tilt of the CPU will suffice. I usually just tap the bottom right side of the case (where the drive is) and if it's a "sticktion" issue that'll usually let the drive spin up. If so then it's time to harvest the data and dispose of the drive when convenient. If not, other methods have already been mentioned. While the scsi2sd and similar options are awesome (I use a few myself) if you are looking for a period correct replacement drive or just a 50pin scsi drive of any capacity, I'd gladly send one your way. I also have some 4.1gb drives and other various 50pin and 68 pin (with 68 to 50 pin adapters) drives in stock. I could drop one off at the workshop (pun intended) in the morning before going to work if you'd like. Tony
As a diehard Mac collector I can’t help but enjoy this thread! Sorry if I’m incorrectly combining too many responses here (I’m sure if so Evan will yell at me… :)
On Aug 11, 2017, at 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
LOL! I think you have solved the eternal mystery of why Apple includes logo stickers in the box - preventative maintenance!
On Aug 11, 2017, at 1:42 PM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Besides replacing the sticker, I also found that kicking computers helps too. Sometimes these old machines are just grouch old computers. If in doubt kick it!
Actually the correct approach is a firm and correctly placed whack on the side with your hand. Like used to be necessary with old tube TVs and such. Technique is very important, it’s a slippery slope between fix and fracture…
On Aug 11, 2017, at 2:29 PM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Never drop them! Sticktion can (usually) safely be fixed by placing the drive on a smooth surface, rapidly rotating it a few times with a flick of the wrist, then quickly applying power. Dropping risks head damage.
There’s also the freeze-hard-drive-in-ziploc-bag approach, has anyone tried that? A controversial technique, to be sure.
On Aug 11, 2017, at 3:15 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
The other nice thing is that these are perhaps the most reliable compacts - not requiring extensive if any recapping on the boards.
The SE and SE/30 have ventilation fans included, whereas earlier compact Mac models did not. SE systems do indeed need recapping but they tend to last much longer due to the cooler running termperatures than other models. Of course, Steve Jobs hated fans… Adam --- Oakbog - Supporting All Things Apple - Boston MA Adam Rosen - Owner & CTO - adam@oakbog.com - 617-480-6436 • Apple Certified Macintosh and iOS Consulting - oakbog.com <http://oakbog.com/> • The Vintage Mac Museum - vintagemacmuseum.com <http://vintagemacmuseum.com/>
(I’m sure if so Evan will yell at me… :)
Amiga forever!
Actually the correct approach is a firm and correctly placed whack on the side with your hand. Like used to be necessary with old tube TVs and such. Technique is very important, it’s a slippery slope between fix and fracture…
Ian P. taught me that really DOES work (as a Band-Aide method) when a classic Mac gets that vertical-line-display problem.
On 8/11/2017 4:08 PM, Adam Rosen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Aug 11, 2017, at 3:15 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
The other nice thing is that these are perhaps the most reliable compacts - not requiring extensive if any recapping on the boards.
The SE and SE/30 have ventilation fans included, whereas earlier compact Mac models did not. SE systems do indeed need recapping but they tend to last much longer due to the cooler running termperatures than other models.
Of course, Steve Jobs hated fans…
Adam
Hmmm explain the wild reliability issue between the SE/30 and SEs.
On Aug 11, 2017, at 4:16 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: On 8/11/2017 4:08 PM, Adam Rosen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Aug 11, 2017, at 3:15 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
The other nice thing is that these are perhaps the most reliable compacts - not requiring extensive if any recapping on the boards.
The SE and SE/30 have ventilation fans included, whereas earlier compact Mac models did not. SE systems do indeed need recapping but they tend to last much longer due to the cooler running termperatures than other models.
Hmmm explain the wild reliability issue between the SE/30 and SEs.
In my own experience I haven’t seen a wild reliability difference between those models, both tend to last longer compared with other classic Mac models. However, which model have you found to be less reliable? The SE is an 8MHZ 68000, whereas the SE/30 is a 30MHZ 68030; the excess heat in that ‘030 model could cause reliability issues. However I’ve seen more than one SE/30 chugging away in a server closet clogged with dust for 10 years and still going strong, it’s not considered an unreliable model among vintage Mac collectors.
Actually correcting myself: the SE/30 is a 16MHz 68030, not 30MHz. (Damn human memory issues…) It also has a 68882 math coprocessor, which the standard SE does not.
On Aug 11, 2017, at 5:07 PM, Adam Rosen <adam@oakbog.com> wrote:
On Aug 11, 2017, at 4:16 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: On 8/11/2017 4:08 PM, Adam Rosen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Aug 11, 2017, at 3:15 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
The other nice thing is that these are perhaps the most reliable compacts - not requiring extensive if any recapping on the boards.
The SE and SE/30 have ventilation fans included, whereas earlier compact Mac models did not. SE systems do indeed need recapping but they tend to last much longer due to the cooler running termperatures than other models.
Hmmm explain the wild reliability issue between the SE/30 and SEs.
In my own experience I haven’t seen a wild reliability difference between those models, both tend to last longer compared with other classic Mac models.
However, which model have you found to be less reliable? The SE is an 8MHZ 68000, whereas the SE/30 is a 30MHZ 68030; the excess heat in that ‘030 model could cause reliability issues. However I’ve seen more than one SE/30 chugging away in a server closet clogged with dust for 10 years and still going strong, it’s not considered an unreliable model among vintage Mac collectors.
On 8/11/2017 5:07 PM, Adam Rosen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Aug 11, 2017, at 4:16 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: On 8/11/2017 4:08 PM, Adam Rosen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Aug 11, 2017, at 3:15 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
The other nice thing is that these are perhaps the most reliable compacts - not requiring extensive if any recapping on the boards. The SE and SE/30 have ventilation fans included, whereas earlier compact Mac models did not. SE systems do indeed need recapping but they tend to last much longer due to the cooler running termperatures than other models. Hmmm explain the wild reliability issue between the SE/30 and SEs.
In my own experience I haven’t seen a wild reliability difference between those models, both tend to last longer compared with other classic Mac models.
However, which model have you found to be less reliable? The SE is an 8MHZ 68000, whereas the SE/30 is a 30MHZ 68030; the excess heat in that ‘030 model could cause reliability issues. However I’ve seen more than one SE/30 chugging away in a server closet clogged with dust for 10 years and still going strong, it’s not considered an unreliable model among vintage Mac collectors. When I approached recapping my SE/30 I got the impression the SE/30 needed more attention. It could be that simply more people were INTERESTED in recapping them. Well that's all on that subject or we'll have to start a thread on the relative reliability of SEs.
On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 7:03 PM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On 8/11/2017 5:07 PM, Adam Rosen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
When I approached recapping my SE/30 I got the impression the SE/30 needed more attention. It could be that simply more people were INTERESTED in recapping them. Well that's all on that subject or we'll have to start a thread on the relative reliability of SEs.
To the best of my knowledge it's more because the SE/30 introduced SMD capacitors, and reflow temperatures at the time were a bit high which compromised the seals (though there could be other causes as well). The SE, on the other hand, did not use SMD capacitors at all. David
On 08/11/2017 04:08 PM, Adam Rosen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
There’s also the freeze-hard-drive-in-ziploc-bag approach, has anyone tried that? A controversial technique, to be sure.
I've used this a couple of times and I have a drive that I'm recovering data from that I put a cold pack on it. Read some data until it fails. Let it cool and freeze the pack, ad infinitum. Once I recover enough stuff I'll let Linux 'fix' the drive and see if it recovers. You must be very careful to keep the electronics dry. That's not easy. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On 08/11/2017 04:08 PM, Adam Rosen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
There’s also the freeze-hard-drive-in-ziploc-bag approach, has anyone tried that? A controversial technique, to be sure.
I've done this many times, with generally positive results, depending on the specific failure mode of the drive. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
On 8/11/2017 11:34 AM, william degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I am picking up a MAC SE model 5011 with a bad SCSi HD (I am told) on the way to the workshop Saturday to play around with. Not sure if anyone is into these I think the hard drive is bad because it needs a new Apple sticker on the side. I have found if you replace the sticker the computer fixes itself.
I've got two dead miniscribe HDDs from two Mac SEs, I think the optical gate sensor for the external track 0 sensor on the head stepper (these don't use a voice coil head!) goes bad, and I'm not sure how to fix it. Symptom is the drive ramming the head into the "track -1" head stop and making a loud racket. -- Jonathan Gevaryahu jgevaryahu@gmail.com jgevaryahu@hotmail.com
On 08/11/2017 04:56 PM, Jonathan Gevaryahu via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I've got two dead miniscribe HDDs from two Mac SEs, I think the optical gate sensor for the external track 0 sensor on the head stepper (these don't use a voice coil head!) goes bad, and I'm not sure how to fix it. Symptom is the drive ramming the head into the "track -1" head stop and making a loud racket.
This should be a fairly easy diagnosis. Check the opto-interruptor out of circuit. The LED is most likely IR, so its Vf should be 1.2V to 1.5V or so. Check that, possibly using a camera with good IR sensitivity (use a known-working remote control to check various phone cameras, standalone digital cameras, etc) and see if you get emission from the emitter side. The detector side is almost always an NPN phototransistor; check that as such, wrap a small circuit around it (watch current!) and hit it with a flashlight. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
participants (15)
-
Adam Michlin -
Adam Rosen -
Bryan Pope -
Dave McGuire -
David Ryskalczyk -
Dean Notarnicola -
Douglas Crawford -
Evan Koblentz -
J. Alexander Jacocks -
Jason Perkins -
Jeffrey Brace -
Jonathan Gevaryahu -
Neil Cherry -
Tony Bogan -
william degnan