Local pickup - Arche 386SX laptop

[rubber_jonnie]

Woo hoo!!

The adapter just arrived:

IMG20241001142549.jpg

So I can have a play later this evening when I get home from training :)

[HigashiJun]

It was fast !

I just hope the issue is related to your old FDD.

:crossed1:

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so it looks like the FDD is the issue as I can boot from a normal one using the adapter using both 720KB and 1.44MB disks. The only thing that is a bit off is that the disk change isn't working when I swap a disk out.

I am wondering if I hit escape like on an ST it'll do the trick, but I've not checked as I was out earlier. Will look into it and report back.

[HigashiJun]

It's better to have an FDD with numerous jumpers so you can set the disk change, such one as the TEAC FD-235HF (not all of them, only those with a lot of jumpers):

Teac.jpg

With this drive, you can set the disk change to pin 34 or to pin 2, without modifying the inner of your drive.

Worth a try IMHO.

[rubber_jonnie]

It's better to have an FDD with numerous jumpers so you can set the disk change, such one as the TEAC FD-235HF (not all of them, only those with a lot of jumpers):


Teac.jpg


With this drive, you can set the disk change to pin 34 or to pin 2, without modifying the inner of your drive.

Worth a try IMHO.

Sadly I don't have such a jumpered drive :(

Most of mine even require a soldering iron to change from DS0 to DS1 and vice versa. I think I have 1 that's jumpered. I think I have one or two other drives I can dig out, see if they are any better. Will have a look at that drive though, thanks.

[rubber_jonnie]

It's better to have an FDD with numerous jumpers so you can set the disk change, such one as the TEAC FD-235HF (not all of them, only those with a lot of jumpers):


Teac.jpg


With this drive, you can set the disk change to pin 34 or to pin 2, without modifying the inner of your drive.

Worth a try IMHO.

Well, it turns out I DO have a Teac FD-235HF, however it doesn't have the jumpers, just those for the drive ID.

IMG20241002091445.jpg

I don't suppose you have a pic of the jumpers on that drive you showed do you? I suppose I could simply solder a wire between pin 2 and pin 34 on the adapter. see if it works.

EDIT: I found the jumper settings for the Teac, but none seem to suggest swapping the disk change :(

[HigashiJun]

@rubber_jonnie

The Teac you have is only with one jumper and allows to set DS0 and DS1 if I'm not wrong.

I have a Teac with 3 jumepr rows and here are the settings you can change:

Teac FDD.jpg

Jumpers.jpg

I would like to get a Teac with 4 jumper rows though, but they are quite rare.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so some sort of progress. If I connect pin 34 to pin 2, it does actually detect disk changes, but it isn't happy at all and won't boot, but will kind of read floppies. Pin 2 on the 34 pin connector is connected to pin 6 of the 26 pin connector, so that's right, but I think having it connected full time it's upsetting something else.

More head scratching required.

[rubber_jonnie]

@rubber_jonnie

The Teac you have is only with one jumper and allows to set DS0 and DS1 if I'm not wrong.

I have a Teac with 3 jumepr rows and here are the settings you can change:


Teac FDD.jpg

Jumpers.jpg


I would like to get a Teac with 4 jumper rows though, but they are quite rare.

Ah wow, so quite a bit different it seems, clearly they made several versions and that 3 jumper row version looks like it would be just the ticket. Shame mine is different...

I suspect that the density select on pin 2 of the floppy is what is mucking things up for me.

[HigashiJun]

@rubber_jonnie

I guess you are jamming the "Ready" signal when you connect pin 34 to pin 2...

(supposing a Ready signal is needed on your laptop...)