rietveld Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Hi. My Adam disk drive will read disks but no longer formats blank ones. I used a head cleaner but still no luck Any suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikrananka Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I have no experience with the ADAM disk drive but I do with those from Commodore. Was that a head cleaner disk you used? If so, then consider opening up the drive and using a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alchohol to not only clean the head but the mounting that the head is in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
128Kgames Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 57 minutes ago, Ikrananka said: I have no experience with the ADAM disk drive but I do with those from Commodore. Was that a head cleaner disk you used? If so, then consider opening up the drive and using a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alchohol to not only clean the head but the mounting that the head is in. Old school tape head cleaning at its finest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rietveld Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 The disk does read fine. It just wonnt format a blannk disk. I keep getting a write protection error. Is there a sensor that see the notch on the disk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPix Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 3.5” drives detect write protection optically from the switch in the corner. 5.25” from the notch in the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Check out this thread with details on adjusting the Variable Capacitor... if all else fails from what I talked about in the other thread that you started about formatting ADAM disks. BTW, I posted more info in that thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamcon Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 8 hours ago, rietveld said: The disk does read fine. It just wonnt format a blannk disk. I keep getting a write protection error. Is there a sensor that see the notch on the disk? YES, there are 2 sensors along the left side of the drive mech; if memory serves. They are a light and sensor, if the light is bad, the sensor won't see it and says the disk is write protected. The 2nd sensor is disk IN I "think" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rietveld Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 2 hours ago, adamcon said: YES, there are 2 sensors along the left side of the drive mech; if memory serves. They are a light and sensor, if the light is bad, the sensor won't see it and says the disk is write protected. The 2nd sensor is disk IN I "think" FIXED !!!! Replaced a bad light in the write protect sensor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Glad to here it was the write protect light. As I mentioned in the other thread, this happened to the first disk drive that I owned some 37 years ago. What type of light is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rietveld Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 very tiny LED . just swaped in one from my junk box. not identitical but does work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.