[mdlug-discuss] Offtopic: C64 floppy drive, original 1541

[Peter Bart]

On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:35:53 -0400
"Ingles, Raymond" <Raymond.Ingles at compuware.com> wrote:

> Triggered by my niece getting me a TI 99/4a from a garage sale, I
> pulled the old C64 system I acquired years ago from storage, and my
> sons are playing with BASIC on it. However, the 1541 floppy drive
> seems to have failed. Now, I never really used a C64 system before,
> so I don't have old memories to go on for 1541 behavior.
> 
> Anyway, the symptoms are: Any attempt to read data results in a
> blinking indicator light and a lot of clanking and clicking and
> rustling inside the case. And it seems to go on until and unless the
> power's switched off. Commands to format or write to the disk
> complete with no posted errors, but any attempt to read give a
> 'device not present' error.
> 
> Anyone have any experience maintaining or fixing these things?
> 
	Pull apart all connectors, clean with liberal amounts of
	alcohol, swabs and rags and reseat connectors. I've not had any
	experience  with a C64, rather anything that has electrical
	connectors and has sat for a time. Whether or not the plugs
	stayed connected or not corrosion can form. Good Luck!
-- 
Best Regards,

Peter The Plumber
<petertheplumber at att.net>