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Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 5:53 pm
by Muttley Black
Hello all!

Yesterday i get a Sinclair PC200. I tried to boot to system disk but the floppy didn't work. To be more specific, when i switch on the computer i hear a very short sound from floppy drive but no farther. Also the led that floppy drive have never see it blink. Then, i got the usually message on the screen " insert system disk and press any key" When i do that, i saw the "drive A" & "drive B" blink but no sound from the floppy. I here the floppy ONLY when i power up the machine.

I open the floppy to clean it. I saw 2 capacitors that was in bad condition.


Image

I change them both but nothing good happens. Same thing.

I dont know if someone have a pc200 and he can help. To be honest, i dont know how floppy must work in this machine, or if the floppy led should blink or not. But i want so much to fix this problem

Thank you

Re: Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 5:55 pm
by p13z
Disc drives of a certain age invariably require a drive belt replacing :(

Re: Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 6:36 pm
by Muttley Black
This drive have no belt

Re: Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 11:20 am
by 1024MAK
The PC200 is a desktop version of the Amstrad PPC-512.
So apart from possibly using different connectors, I would expect it to be possible to connect a different floppy disk drive. Or connect the disk drive from the PC200 to another suitable computer in order to test it.

Mark

Re: Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:37 pm
by Muttley Black
I tried a floppy from toshiba t1100 with no success. Toshiba is the only pc that I have with 720k drive.

Do you have a pc200 in your collection?

Re: Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 1:40 pm
by 1024MAK
Muttley Black wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:37 pm Do you have a pc200 in your collection?
No. I also don’t have any of the similar Amstrad models.

Mark

Re: Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:33 am
by Muttley Black
I will try to mod an 1.44 floppy drive and post the results here. I find I guide.

Re: Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 5:28 am
by Muttley Black
Problem solved. I modded a Sony MPF-920 and now it works perfect!

Re: Sinclair PC200 Floppy problem?

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 5:39 am
by 1024MAK
:D

Mark