Off topic again, but it worked so well last time (thanks Mike @ UEA) that I thought I would risk it again :) I've got two old Amstrad PCWs. They both power on, but don't read any disks that you give them. The disks came from someone else, so they may or may not be blank :) In order for me to test these vintage computers, I need a working copy of CP/M for PCW or similar. That way, I can get them to boot into a workable state. Does anyone have one of these? I can supply discs (Amstrad 3 inch) for you to copy onto. Once I have a working disc, I can check if these machines work or whether they are going for a trip into the skip :) -- Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. http://www.ashleyhowes.com "A martial art is like a mirror in which you look at yourself before you wash your face in the morning. You see yourself simply, the way that you are." - Bira Almeidai
The message <20050411130921.GA1454@debian> from "Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D." <lists@ashleyhowes.com> contains these words:
Off topic again, but it worked so well last time (thanks Mike @ UEA) that I thought I would risk it again :)
I've got two old Amstrad PCWs. They both power on, but don't read any disks that you give them. The disks came from someone else, so they may or may not be blank :)
Par for the course.
In order for me to test these vintage computers, I need a working copy of CP/M for PCW or similar. That way, I can get them to boot into a workable state.
I shouldn't think there's anything wrong with the discs.
Does anyone have one of these? I can supply discs (Amstrad 3 inch) for you to copy onto. Once I have a working disc, I can check if these machines work or whether they are going for a trip into the skip :)
What happens is, the elastic band which spins the drive perishes, and borks. The motor still spins, so it seems to be OK, but nothing happens on the screen. You will find replacement belts if you google for them, or someone might know... I'd be grateful if any such person would post the address, or I might have to move my - er - self and do a bit of googling myself. Then I will have a working PCW innit. Oh, you'll need a very long Philips-type turnscrew to get the case apart - there are a couple of screws between the base and the body. -- Tony http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ The only way to tell when a Finn is in love with you is that they look at your feet instead of their own.
On Mon, 2005-04-11 at 15:56 +0100, Anthony Anson wrote:
The message <20050411130921.GA1454@debian> from "Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D." <lists@ashleyhowes.com> contains these words:
Off topic again, but it worked so well last time (thanks Mike @ UEA) that I thought I would risk it again :)
I've got two old Amstrad PCWs. They both power on, but don't read any disks that you give them. The disks came from someone else, so they may or may not be blank :)
Par for the course.
In order for me to test these vintage computers, I need a working copy of CP/M for PCW or similar. That way, I can get them to boot into a workable state.
I shouldn't think there's anything wrong with the discs.
Does anyone have one of these? I can supply discs (Amstrad 3 inch) for you to copy onto. Once I have a working disc, I can check if these machines work or whether they are going for a trip into the skip :)
What happens is, the elastic band which spins the drive perishes, and borks.
The motor still spins, so it seems to be OK, but nothing happens on the screen.
You will find replacement belts if you google for them, or someone might know...
I'd be grateful if any such person would post the address, or I might have to move my - er - self and do a bit of googling myself.
Then I will have a working PCW innit.
Oh, you'll need a very long Philips-type turnscrew to get the case apart - there are a couple of screws between the base and the body.
You'll probably find them if you take a quick look an eBay. They frequently get listed on their. The PCW 3" drives are basically the same as the CPC ones (in built 664 and 6128 and external 464) as well as the Amstrad built Sinclair Spectrum +3. The only shop I have personal experience of is Sintech (http://www.sintech-shop.de/) where you will find them listed under the Amstrad hardware section (AMSTRAD 6128 DISK DRIVE BELT for £1.36 + postage). UK wise Retro Trader also have them (http://www.retrotrader.com/) but I've not used them personally (delve into the Sinclair Spectrum hardware section and find a +3 drive belt for £3.99 plus postage). I seem to remember the front panels of the PCW drives being bigger so it may be worth checking the compatibility on the units, but I think most 3" drives were made by Hitachi and are the same - the proviso being that all this is from an increasingly hazy memory :) Although I do have a cupboard full of old retro computer bits! -- Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. | http://www.aptanet.com/
The message <1113433113.1847.168.camel@orca> from Paul Tansom <paul@aptanet.com> contains these words:
I seem to remember the front panels of the PCW drives being bigger so it may be worth checking the compatibility on the units, but I think most 3" drives were made by Hitachi and are the same - the proviso being that all this is from an increasingly hazy memory :) Although I do have a cupboard full of old retro computer bits!
Thanks. By emu from Ashley Howes: --------======== < QUOTE > ========-------- http://www.pcwking.freeserve.co.uk/pcw4u2.html Drive belt replacements are 1 pound each, with a SAE. --------======== < UNQUOTE > ========-------- -- Tony http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ The only way to tell when a Finn is in love with you is that they look at your feet instead of their own.
On Thu, 2005-04-14 at 00:24 +0100, Anthony Anson wrote:
The message <1113433113.1847.168.camel@orca> from Paul Tansom <paul@aptanet.com> contains these words:
I seem to remember the front panels of the PCW drives being bigger so it may be worth checking the compatibility on the units, but I think most 3" drives were made by Hitachi and are the same - the proviso being that all this is from an increasingly hazy memory :) Although I do have a cupboard full of old retro computer bits!
Thanks.
By emu from Ashley Howes:
--------======== < QUOTE > ========--------
http://www.pcwking.freeserve.co.uk/pcw4u2.html
Drive belt replacements are 1 pound each, with a SAE.
--------======== < UNQUOTE > ========--------
I knew I'd been to a PCW specialist site before, I just couldn't find it! That's the one - I'll bookmark it, although given the proliferation of old bookmark files I'm building up that need to be merged I'll likely find it in one of my old ones!!! Thanks, -- Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. | http://www.aptanet.com/
participants (3)
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Anthony Anson -
Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. -
Paul Tansom