[Coco] Help with floppy disk setup - first time user

[Blake Patterson]

Yes - I have a DriveWire setup, that came as part of this package. I just emailed you with some questions regarding how to get that working. :)

Thanks.

Also -- EXEC&HE010 did nothing, really.



bp

On Feb 1, 2012, at 9:29 AM, Boisy G. Pitre wrote:

> One thing I noticed... your disk controller has two socketed chips: 7406s.  I believe the original FD-500 disk controller had 7416s (7406s are the equivalent).  If I had to venture a guess, it appears this disk controller has been worked on and repaired.
> 
> Blake, have you considered using DriveWire as a means to load programs into your CoCo? 
> 
> Best Regards,
> Boisy G. Pitre
> 
> Join our forums at http://www.tee-boy.com/forums/ to exchange ideas and information with other WeatherSnoop enthusiasts.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Feb 1, 2012, at 8:24 AM, Blake Patterson wrote:
> 
>> Thanks for all the advice, folks.
>> 
>> Here is a photo of the inside of that FD-500.
>> 
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/blakespot/6801368113/in/photostream
>> 
>> Things look in order? I just cleaned the contacts with isopropyl and q-tips -- they were dirty, but no help / no change.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> bp
>> 
>> On Feb 1, 2012, at 7:32 AM, K. Pruitt wrote:
>> 
>>> A missing ROM is far more probable than many might think.  I just recently dug my Coco stuff out of the closet for the first time in 20 or so years and also couldn't get Disk Basic to boot up.  After checking all my connections with no change to my situation, I opened the RS controller and sure enough the ROM was missing.  Turns out I pulled the ROM chip from the RS controller and put it in my Disto Super Controller II a couple of decades ago.  As soon as I changed from the RS Controller to the Disto Controller all was well. During all these years if someone had asked me if that RS controller had all the chips inside of it I would have answered affirmatively without hesitation.  20 years of adulthood can wreak havoc with one's memory.  I'm guessing the missing ROM is in the "other" controller the OP mentioned - assuming it is a drive controller of some sort.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Gault" <robert.gault at att.net>
>>> To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 3:53 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] Help with floppy disk setup - first time user
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> Blake Patterson wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>>> 1) When you turn the system on with the controller connected, do you see Disk Basic rather than Extended Basic?
>>>>> 
>>>>> No.
>>>> 
>>>> OK, that is the critical piece of information. There are several possibilities: controller missing a ROM chip, controller failure, Coco port failure because of blown PIA or support chips.
>>>> You will need to open the controller and examine it a Arthur indicated. You can test the Coco port with any other pak to see if anything plugged into the Coco works.
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
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