Hi, I've got some original md carts, but none of them work in my QL, I just insert the cartridge into any drive, type dir mdv1_ (or mdv2_), the motor starts but after 1-2 seconds it stops and nothing happens. The QL prompts some I/O error. Only some of the carts behave like this. Some of them dont 'stop' the motor, but run 'forever'.. with no success with listing directory or a try to reformat it.
The most annoying thing is that my old cartridges which worked fine, now, after trying those new carts, don't work anymore. Should I clean MD heads somehow? Or is there any other solution?
thanks
F6
Help with built-in microdrives
-
- RWAP Master
- Posts: 2891
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:51 pm
- Location: Stone, United Kingdom
- Contact:
Re: Help with built-in microdrives
A few issues can cause this:
a) Wearing of the felt pad at the top of the microdrive cartridge - as this ensures pressure between the tape and the tape head - it may be one has disintegrated and left particles on the QL mechanism!
b) Dirty tape heads - use any tape head cleaning fluid, or even a cd cleaning fluid
c) the rubber roller on the left hand side of the microdrive may be worn or ridden up the shaft it sits on - there should be a tiny gap at the bottom of the roller (just enough to hold a sheet of paper) - if it is more than this, then you can push the roller down again. It may also have worn - in many cases, you can get away with turning the roller upside down as the tape only tends to wear away the top half!
a) Wearing of the felt pad at the top of the microdrive cartridge - as this ensures pressure between the tape and the tape head - it may be one has disintegrated and left particles on the QL mechanism!
b) Dirty tape heads - use any tape head cleaning fluid, or even a cd cleaning fluid
c) the rubber roller on the left hand side of the microdrive may be worn or ridden up the shaft it sits on - there should be a tiny gap at the bottom of the roller (just enough to hold a sheet of paper) - if it is more than this, then you can push the roller down again. It may also have worn - in many cases, you can get away with turning the roller upside down as the tape only tends to wear away the top half!
Rich Mellor
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module - add a USB printer to your QL
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module - add a USB printer to your QL
Also Involved in:
Icephorm