Looking for assistance, 1.44k TO 720K format ( downgrading )
Looking for some tech assistance, I need to convert some Mitsubishi 3.5" floppy drives from 1.44 to 720K format, there IS a way with these drives to downgrade them to the previous smaller format, it's been done, but I can't find my company documentation on it, model # MF356F-252UG , circa 1997 FD. Any help is appreciated, Thanks!
We use it in a special Internet Switch device, it won't even boot up when I plug it in ( since I don't have any data sheets, I'm assuming it's +5v only ). The older Mit drive, Model MF355F-3250MG, works fine. So I'm not even getting boot-up off our machine on it. It is NOT a PC we're using it in, so not sure what signals it it getting sent from our CPU. I believe some jumpers or SMD's may need to be relocated manually for this FD to work, but I'm not sure. I AM sure it is NOT plug-N-play in our equipment at the moment. +5 is on pin 4 of P2, Gnd on pin 3, and there is a 6-pin header with a single shunt running longways by the stepper motor. No idea what it's set for. Currently on two pins closest to edge of PCB and closest to motor. Would love to have a Data sheet on this device.We use it in a special Internet Switch device, it won't even boot up when I plug it in ( since I don't have any data sheets, I'm assuming it's +5v only ). The older Mit drive, Model MF355F-3250MG, works fine. So I'm not even getting boot-up off our machine on it. It is NOT a PC we're using it in, so not sure what signals it it getting sent from our CPU. I believe some jumpers or SMD's may need to be relocated manually for this FD to work, but I'm not sure. I AM sure it is NOT plug-N-play in our equipment at the moment. +5 is on pin 4 of P2, Gnd on pin 3, and there is a 6-pin header with a single shunt running longways by the stepper motor. No idea what it's set for. Currently on two pins closest to edge of PCB and closest to motor. Would love to have a Data sheet on this device.
I just changed the shunt, moved it around, and it started working when I moved it away one pin from the stepper motor - but it won't read the floppy, which DID work in the MF355F drive. But at least the boot light comes on, and it accesses now. Not sure if it's mechanically set for 720K, regardless of automatic mode built into the unit. May have to format disks on this unit, but shouldn't have to. Anyway, getting closer, but not solved yet.I just changed the shunt, moved it around, and it started working when I moved it away one pin from the stepper motor - but it won't read the floppy, which DID work in the MF355F drive. But at least the boot light comes on, and it accesses now. Not sure if it's mechanically set for 720K, regardless of automatic mode built into the unit. May have to format disks on this unit, but shouldn't have to. Anyway, getting closer, but not solved yet.
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Often these drives are continuosly selected by the controller and rotate even without a disk.
These USUALLY use the old 720K disks which are almost impossible to find. The common 3.5 1.44Mb floppies often will not work in these units.
You can SOMETIMES use the 1.44Mb disks by covering the second corner hole AND degaussing the disk with a tape eraser and then reformating the disk in the Clavinova.
The pre-formatted 1.44Mb disks without degaussing SOMETIMES leaves artifacts between the tracks used by the 720K disks that causes problems.
It is near impossible to get parts for some of the Technics things... Find a source dealling in scrap computer recycling... take your drive there and see if you can find some that will fit connection wise and mechanically and just try them...
IF your floppy is one of the old 720K drives, those are almost non-existent... You can tell if you use floppies disk that have two holes at the two corners instead of a single one those will use the 1.4Mb conventional rather than those 720K ones...
SOMETIMES you may have to jumper configuration pins to work with these synths...
This sounds like it MIGHT be a floppy drive problem rather than a full memory... REMEMBER to ONLY try recording a file no bigger than what the floppy will hold which is 720Kb.
NOTE: The disks used in this are not the COMMON 3.5 inch floppies, but the older 2DD 720K floppies. They have only one hole on corners where the new 1.44 Mb ones have two holes.
To USE the 1.44 Mb flopies do this: Use an opaque tape to cover the hole that does NOT have the write protect slider. THEN most omportantly DEGAUSS the disk with a degausser. THEN Reformat the disk in the CVP 65.
The pre-formatted 1.44 disk when formated at the 720Kb used by the CVP 65 will have ARTIFACTS between tracks since the higher density also have half the track spacing and the formatting doesn't always clean enough width leaving artifacts between the tracks when formatted as 720Kb These ARTIFACTS can cause trouble.
The 720Kb disks are ESSENTIALLY unavailable anymore.
Most floppy disks that you will still be able to find are 1.44MB DSDD disks, which a 720k drive will not be able to read. Check the capacity rating of the disks. Also the 720k drive has got to be at least 20+ years old, and the read/write heads may simply not work anymore. 1.44MB flopyy drives are literally a dime a dozen, you can probably pick one up at your local thrift store or electronics recycler for less than the bus fare it took to get there.
This drive supports Ready signal or Disk Change signal on pin 34 (RY34 or DC34), has a large number of jumpers for various settings, thus (unlike the standard 235HF drive which works in PCs only) this drive can used to replace a 720k drive on older computers such as Amstrad CPC/PCW or Commodore AMIGA.
1. Files format of the files saved on the Floppy disk is not readable on the OS or does not comply with the file format of the OS. So you really need to format it.
2. The floppy disk is brand new and you need to format it first.
3. The floppy disk is not working. Try a known working floppy disk.
Hi Elia,
Could be a couple of things:
-Your drive may only be a 720K drive. They will format 1.44 MB disks but only with a 720K format. The test is inserting a HD disk and try formatting it as HD.
-The disk could be mislabeled, HD disks have two holes on end opposite the slide, one to write protect the disk and the other to signal to 720/1.44 capable drives this is a HD disk.
-The HD disk could be formatted as a 720K disk even though it is an HD disk, reformat as HD.
-The new, used drive could be damaged.
-The drive could be configured as a 720K by the computers BIOS. You?ll have to enter the BIOS setup find the config for the A drive and set to 1.44MB.
Let us know what happens and please don?t forget to rate the posting.
We use it in a special Internet Switch device, it won't even boot up when I plug it in ( since I don't have any data sheets, I'm assuming it's +5v only ). The older Mit drive, Model MF355F-3250MG, works fine. So I'm not even getting boot-up off our machine on it. It is NOT a PC we're using it in, so not sure what signals it it getting sent from our CPU. I believe some jumpers or SMD's may need to be relocated manually for this FD to work, but I'm not sure. I AM sure it is NOT plug-N-play in our equipment at the moment. +5 is on pin 4 of P2, Gnd on pin 3, and there is a 6-pin header with a single shunt running longways by the stepper motor. No idea what it's set for. Currently on two pins closest to edge of PCB and closest to motor. Would love to have a Data sheet on this device.
I just changed the shunt, moved it around, and it started working when I moved it away one pin from the stepper motor - but it won't read the floppy, which DID work in the MF355F drive. But at least the boot light comes on, and it accesses now. Not sure if it's mechanically set for 720K, regardless of automatic mode built into the unit. May have to format disks on this unit, but shouldn't have to. Anyway, getting closer, but not solved yet.
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