Hi guys,

My amiga seems to have problem to read floppy disks
I've just received an original copy of Workbench , but always during the boot I receive messages such as :

"You Must Replace Volume WorkBench1.3 in Unit 0 !!! - RETRY - -CANCEL-"

If I click RETRY for a couple of times the WorkBench boot ok ..

Also I can't format floppy disk because when It start formatting it says "Initialization Failed Disk changed (no disk)"

Anyboy can help me and my Amiga ?

Last edited by Avanaboy on 15-Mar-2012 at 06:05 PM.

@Avanaboy

Is it an old floppy?

Old floppies tend to get read/write errors.

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The Workbench 1.3.2 comes fron al New old-stock. But I'm trying to format even "new" floppy disks , so I think that there are some problem on the floppy drive

@Avanaboy

Quote:

Avanaboy wrote: Hi guys, Also I can't format floppy disk because when It start formatting it says "Initialization Failed Disk changed (no disk)" Anyboy can help me and my Amiga ?

That error is occurring not because of the disk heads themselves being dirty but is caused by a tiny pole switch at the front of the disk drive that detects if the disk is inserted not working properly...

It's quite normal for this switch to become faulty over time and can usually be fixed with some contact cleaner or WD40 sprayed onto the switch and vigourously pressing and releasing the switch a number of times...

As the disk spins and the heads move the switch tends to vibrate and when it is dirty/ oxidised this can cause contact to be lost, leading to errors as you describe and the Amiga thinking there is no disk in the drive...

A good clean should fix the problem...

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@Franko
Does not sound like dirty heads to me. This sounds morel like the microswitch has worn out so that it thinks that the disk has been ejected while being read.

I have experienced this exact issue myself from a worn microswitch. The same error would happen if you were to press eject during reading/writing while a dirty head would would either see the floppy as empty or give you read/write sector errors.

Edit: I need glasses... And should learn to not skim over posts before i hit the reply button.

Last edited by Tomas on 15-Mar-2012 at 06:50 PM.

@Franko

Here is a photo of my amiga floppy drive , where is such pole switch ?




Also , do you think that replacing the whole floppy drive can solve these issues ? or can I fix the Workbench startup problems adjusting in any way this floppy drive ?

EDIT: oh, I've retry to format a disk , and it started to format , but it stopped saying "Bad Disk Sector , try with another disk"

Last edited by Avanaboy on 15-Mar-2012 at 06:39 PM.

@Avanaboy
I am pretty sure it is the thing right next to your thumb. It might even be as simple as the floppy not pressing down fully on the switch/button.
Replacing the drive will for sure solve this issue.

You might also confirm that it is the switch by giving it a light tap to see if that also makes it think that floppy was ejected.

Last edited by Tomas on 15-Mar-2012 at 06:42 PM.
Last edited by Tomas on 15-Mar-2012 at 06:40 PM.

@Tomas

Ok I'm going to try ! Thanks

PS: I'm using a deoxide spray for contacts

@Tomas

Quote:

Tomas wrote: @Franko Does not sound like dirty heads to me. This sounds morel like the microswitch has worn out so that it thinks that the disk has been ejected while being read.

Erm... try re-reading my post again... that's exactly what I said...

I clearly stated it doen't sound like dirty heads and clearly stated it sounds more like the tiny pole switch that detects the presence of a disk being dirty or oxidised...

Dunno ho on earth you cam up with that comment...

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@Franko
Sorry about that. I kinda misread first line and then replied before i read the full comment.

@Avanaboy

Quote:

Avanaboy wrote: @Franko Here is a photo of my amiga floppy drive , where is such pole switch ?

Directly below your thumb, there are actually two switches there's one for detecting the presence of a disk and the other to detect if the read/ write tab is open or closed...

Your as well cleaning both switches at the same time. Give them a good spray with the cleaner and press and release them up and down for a few minutes. You may have to repeat this process a few times but it should work unless the switch is physically broken...

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@Tomas

Quote:

Tomas wrote: @Franko Sorry about that. I kinda misread first line and then replied before i read the full comment.

Kinda figured that...

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@Avanaboy

No luck , it still says disk changed :/

By the way some times it also say " Disk in unreadable " ..


I think that the best thing to do is to replace the floppy drive

@Avanaboy

Quote:

Avanaboy wrote: @Franko EDIT: oh, I've retry to format a disk , and it started to format , but it stopped saying "Bad Disk Sector , try with another disk"

Sound like the heads are dirty or worn too...

Try cleaning them...

A good way to clean then without having to dismantle the drive itself is to get a thin piece of cardboard and a clean piece of lint free cloth...

Cut the card about 3-4cm wide and about 10 to 15 cm long...

Cut the cloth slightly wider than the card and dampen it with white spirit...

Wrap the cloth around the cardboard making sure its flat against the cardboard and looking into the drive insert gently the card with the white spirit dampened cloth towards the two heads until it slips in between them...

Then gently move the card and cloth side to side so that the cloth with the white spirit is gently rubbing across the disk heads...

When done wait a few minutes for any of the white spirit to evaporate and then try again...

Be very gentle and careful if you try this as you risk damaging the heads if your too rough or accidently bend the heads while inserting the card...

If you don't want to try it that way you'll need to remove the floppies casing to gain easier access to the heads or try and source one of those floppy head cleaners...

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@Avanaboy

Quote:

Avanaboy wrote: @Avanaboy No luck , it still says disk changed :/ By the way some times it also say " Disk in unreadable " .. I think that the best thing to do is to replace the floppy drive

Sounds like the switch is just too dirty to be cleaned this way or could indeed be too worn or even broken...

You could try replacing the switch with another from an old floppy drive but it's probably simpler to just replace the drive...

Last edited by Franko on 15-Mar-2012 at 07:08 PM.

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@Franko

Quote:

Franko wrote: @Avanaboy ... Try cleaning them... A good way to clean then without having to dismantle the drive itself is to get a thin piece of cardboard and a clean piece of lint free cloth ... If you don't want to try it that way you'll need to remove the floppies casing to gain easier access to the heads or try and source one of those floppy head cleaners...

Or he can simply use one of the cleaning disks and soak the cleaning disk with a suitable fluid before you insert it.
If those cleaning disks sould be no longer available at PC shops he could also try to catch one on e-bay...
Or he can try to get a cleaning set here...

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Dandy
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