I did a variety of tests on my A1WSX computer to make sure that memory upgrade was a success. Unfortunately floppy drive isn't working very well. It fails to format floppies somethere near the end of formatting, as well as it fails to open some files on floppy disks...

I need an advise on what I can do with it. I was thinking about using a cleaning floppy disk with special solution. Will it help?

I know that PS2 users with DVD-reading problems adjust the power on their laser. Is there something similar for floppy drives?

How hard is it to replace original drive with a new PC 1.44 floppy drive? Did anyone do that? I think A1WSX drive is the same as in A1ST and A1GT, and those are very popular.

Thank you,

Adrian

Bump... I can't beleive no one ever had issues with floppy drive in their A1WX, A1WSX, A1ST or A1GT!!! Please help me with advice how did you resolved the problem!

yeah, i mount a 3 1/2 unit on my machine, but as the WD FDC chip, only accept 5 1/4, the 3 1/2 unit are used and format disk as a 5 1/4. To get a good format, i first erase the current format of the disk with a magneto.

No, the diskdrivers not got a intensity laser control, or magneto or sensivility control.

but got a speed rotation control some models. Exist soft for test if the speed is the problem. (on pc world)

a diskdriver got a azimut screw or iron support (as a cassete player), but in a diskdriver is very hard to calibrate and you can serious damage the unit, is NOT recomended. Also exist software for check that plus specials commercial disk (on pc world)

FIRST: try use a cleanner disk
SECOND: so, try changing the flat wire of the unit, or clean his connectors.
THIRD: to experiment.

A1ST, GT, WX and WSX have one thing in common concerning their disk drives, and that's the lablility of the drive belt. Most of the FDD issues on one of these machines have the belt problem, but yours seems more or less like a drive head which cannot reach the end of a disk. Maybe some troublesome garbage fell in when you were doing your hardware project on the A1ST. I don't recommend opening of the thing though, unless you're so confident of yourself. Anyway, you can give it a try, if all else fails.

ooh that got the fucking belt...

just change it....

a old belt can do that issue... because when the head is at the end of the disk, outside part it makes more friction (disk/head) and if the belt is very old the belt will slide

Make sence... I'll order silicon belts from Ikeda

Here is neat info on PC floppy drives in MSX computers:

members.chello.nl/h.otten/drive.htm

Such a belt won't cost you a kidney and you don't have to import it either. I think it should be available in Canada somewhere, but don't ask which shop...

It's a flat belt, specific for late 80-s and early 90-s Panasonic designs. I remember Ikeda mentioned that some electronic typewriters have exactly the same drive as in WX/WSX/ST/GT

Anyway, Ikeda has a stock of silicon flat belts which are somehow better then rubber...

Heh, I tried to use special cleaning floppy with alcohol, and it didn't do nothing good

The problem is with the belt. I need new belt, or a PC floppy drive...

Hello

belts in stock.
http://bas-ditta.info/msx/teksten/onderdelen.htm

silicon is expansive.
How long lives a normal belt, 10 years?
and a silicon???

but you have to use your computer some times, if you do not use it for years, then every belt is getting dry.

Bas

Quote:

The problem is with the belt. I need new belt, or a PC floppy drive...

Don't replace the drive if you can get around it. There's nothing like an origininal MSX fdd in your MSX. I've had 'trouble' with my PC drive ever since I installed it. I seem to get a lot more read/write errors than I did before...

Sonic, I know by now that you are a preservation fanatic. But the thing is - if it's all original and doesn't work, it usually end up in a dumpster and then crushed to dust.

If it works - it's still in use, despite the changes.

WX/WSX floppy upgrade could be done in such a way, that on the outside it will look exactly as it was before the upgrade.

You where asking not to upgrade SCC+ to 128KB. Well, again, if a person have lame hands and break everything s/he opens, then yes, don't touch it. But I did the upgrade and put everything back together, and it looks like it wasn't open. AND! I can play all Konami 1 MegaROM (as well as many others) games with the help of excellent ROMLoad 1.99p tool from BiFi. Now it's a great MSX hardware add-on. Before upgrade it wasn't very useful aside from runing 8/16/32 KB roms and playing Snatcher, cracked SD-Snatcher and Konami Game Collection disks...

Same goes for my WSX memory upgrade. 512KB vs 64KB make huge difference!

So don't try to stop people from making upgrades. If you can't handle it right, doesn't mean other people can't.