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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 09:29
by rubber_jonnie
Just found the GND connection to R301, the - side of the battery was not connected, though it looked like it was. Now fixed.
stephen_usher wrote: 26 May 2022 09:06
The drive spinning up and down doesn't sound good. That sounds like a bad drive.
The problem will be getting a working RiscOS system and formatting it. I think the A5000's IDE sub-system is better than the A4000's in that it can handle partitions and drives larger than 512MB. You may have to hack something together using a Raspberry Pi running RiscOS and a USB-IDE adapter and do a bit of hacking.
As for the HDD I'm considering it may be bad too, as even if I disconnect the IDE cable it still spins up and down.
I'll try it with a known good PSU see if it does the same. I'll try the RPI if I can get past that.
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 09:48
by rubber_jonnie
So, the HDD has been hooked up to a known good PSU, and it spins up, then powers off. Not a good sign, so I'm thinking it's dead :(
On a positive note, the IDE track I thought was done for isn't. I'll take the win.
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 10:17
by stephen_usher
I just checked. The internal IDE interface is pretty dumb and it can't do partitions, so 500MB is the largest drive you can have.
With respect to the original drive, it's probably the bumper which has gone to goo and stuck the heads on the landing zone. If you're willing to risk taking it apart then it's possibly fixable.
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 10:22
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 26 May 2022 10:17
I just checked. The internal IDE interface is pretty dumb and it can't do partitions, so 500MB is the largest drive you can have.
With respect to the original drive, it's probably the bumper which has gone to goo and stuck the heads on the landing zone. If you're willing to risk taking it apart then it's possibly fixable.
I think it's worth a go, I'd like to see what, if anything, is on the HDD.
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 10:28
by rubber_jonnie
Incidentally, it's a 250MB drive, Connor CP30254
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 11:40
by rubber_jonnie
@stephen_usher Well, I found out why the HDD doesn't work:
PXL_20220526_100827323.jpg
I can only guess a previous owner (Probably before the person I got it from) didn't want their HDD contents to go with the machine. The giveaway was the loose cover screws when I came to remove it.
I at least now know what I need to do next!!!
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 11:53
by stephen_usher
Now, that's what I call a virtual hard disk!
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 11:59
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 26 May 2022 11:53
Now, that's what I call a virtual hard disk!
Indeed!!
I have just found a CF IDE adapter and have some cards spare so I'll try that later.
I have also fitted a CR2032 battery holder and rechargeable cell so I can do some testing until the proper battery arrives.
I'll finish the remaining repairs later, the are only traces going to the FPA but for completeness I want to fix.
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 12:04
by stephen_usher
By the way, which mouse came with the machine? The early one or the later Logitech?
Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!
Posted: 26 May 2022 12:05
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 26 May 2022 12:04
By the way, which mouse came with the machine? The early one or the later Logitech?
Early one I presume, flat, beige, 3 buttons. It works, just no ball.