[Coco] Unreliable Coco3

[Retro Canada]

try to run them from cassette to check if its the computer or the controller.

On Mon, Oct 22, 2012 at 9:19 AM, David Roper <ebonhand09 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Games etc, Drivewire cart etc work 90% of the time
>
> On 23 October 2012 00:10, Brian Blake <random.rodder at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hey David,
>>
>> The problems with mine started out being intermittent. Then it got to a
>> point where and attempt at drive access would trigger the drive LED and that
>> was it; shortly thereafter was nothing - this all happened very quickly. If
>> you go to the Maltedmedia archives around January of 2010, you'll see two
>> threads:
>>
>> *Re: [Coco] Weird CoCo3 problem*
>> *
>> *
>> *and*
>> *
>> *
>> *Re: [Coco] Weird CoCo3 problem -- AAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!*
>>
>> See if you can do any of the recommended troubleshooting suggested there.
>> One way to check the cartridge port - do you have any games or an Orchestra
>> 90 you could use?
>>
>> On 10/22/2012 8:49 AM, David Roper wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Brian,
>>>
>>> The main difference between what you've reported and what's going on
>>> for me is that the drive is responding and doing *some* things, but
>>> it's as if a signal isn't getting from the drive back to the Coco
>>>
>>> Instinct keeps telling me it's the cartridge port
>>>
>>> I just wish I had more hardware skills so I could diagnose it and fix it!
>>>
>>> - David
>>>
>>> On 22 October 2012 22:28, Brian Blake <random.rodder at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> David,
>>>>
>>>> Check out this post on my blog from a few years ago:
>>>> http://tandycoco.com/blog/archives/42
>>>>
>>>> While mine didn't weird display issues like yours, the floppy drive
>>>> access
>>>> problems certainly sound familiar...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 10/22/2012 6:36 AM, David Roper wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> So, I got myself a new controller and drive combo (thanks, Nick!)
>>>>>
>>>>> .. turns out that the main problem is actually my 512k Coco3 - the new
>>>>> drive is showing precisely the same behaviour as the old one.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've tried the same setup with my Coco2, and everything runs smooth and
>>>>> perfect
>>>>>
>>>>> I suspect something is wrong with my Coco3's cartridge port, and would
>>>>> appreciate any ideas
>>>>>
>>>>> Symptoms:
>>>>> When loading a cartridge (either through modified multipak or 'naked
>>>>> in the port'), at least some of the time (1 or two times out of four)
>>>>> the screen will be filled with garbage (green background, yellow
>>>>> blocks) or, the entire display will be shifted a half-character to the
>>>>> left
>>>>>
>>>>> If it does load properly -
>>>>> 'DIR' with an unformated disk in the drive causes 5 'grinds' and an
>>>>> ?IO error (drive motor stops)
>>>>> 'DIR' with a formatted disk in the drive causes at most 1 'grind', and
>>>>> then the drive motor spins endlessly
>>>>> 'DSKINI0' causes at most 1 'grind', and then the drive motor spins
>>>>> endlessly
>>>>>
>>>>> The above is precisely the same symptoms as my old controller/drive,
>>>>> and is 100% reproducible. Once again, the drive and controller work
>>>>> flawlessly on my Coco2
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas, suggestions, diagnostics? (or replacement Coco3s in
>>>>> Australia?)
>>>>>
>>>>> Kind regards,
>>>>> David
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Coco mailing list
>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>>>>> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
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