Re: How can I determine if my floppy drive is dead?

In article <info-1CCEF8.15533714122024@news.individual.de>, "Sebastian P."
<info@cornica.org> wrote:

In article <vintageapplemac-1412240638060001@192.168.1.134>,
 vintageapplemac@gmail.com (scole) wrote:
 

 
So, I'm leaning towards the drive being the issue. I do have 4 or 5 spare
drives so I intend to try them all out, but I've had two drives so far
behave in the same way. Is there any software test I can run to prove if
the drive is operational? Could they need a clean? Would dismantling them
and cleaning help???

 
I've had this happening with floppy disk drives too. Exactly the same

problem. I

can, however, give you some hope - In both my cases, the reason was

simply dirt

inside the drive. Both drives do work again now.
 
I'd take out the drive and open it up, then cleaned it with some pure alcohol
and a cotton swab. I lubricated the moving parts and suddenly the thing

started

to read and mount disks again. It was sure great to see an original 1988

Mac SE

floppy drive coming back to life!
 
These floppy drives are much more reliable that they are usually

credited for.

Often it's just the dirt of decades leading to problems such as yours

(another 

common one being brittle plastic gears breaking, but even these can be

replaced)

 
It's not hard to do. If you have no experience, watch some YouTube

videos on the

matter before you start. They will give you an idea on what to look for

and what

to avoid at all costs (e.g. bending the drive head too much)
 
Good luck!

Thanks for the reassurance that I'm probably not barking up the wrong
tree, much appreciated. :)

OK, looks like I've got myself another mini-project for the Xmas holidays!