SFD-1001/SuperPET weirdness.

Okay so I fired up the SuperPET after finding a Commodore disk operations manual.

As stated before, when I turn on the SFD-1001, it does two quick flashes, and then I get a green in the lower left. When I turn the PET on, it does the same thing.

If the previous owner was correct about the unit number being 8 with the unit select switch to the left, I do this command to get the disk directory:

CATALOG d0onu8

I get:

READY

There is no action with the drive.

It *should* be Drive 0, correct, as it is the only drive connected? I even tried running through various other unit numbers but mostly get the same thing..

If I try DLOAD d0,"*" -- I get Searching for "*", then File not Found with no actual action on the drive.

Anything I might be missing? It *is* a $2.20 drive, although it was reported to be reading ok.

Just a quick one. 8 is the default device number and the drive will restrain itself to drive 0 (obviously). Just try

DIRECTORY

Not sure about the syntax of "on u8". I sometimes do

DIRECTORY U9

to get to my drive 9

André

fachat said:

Just a quick one. 8 is the default device number and the drive will restrain itself to drive 0 (obviously). Just try

DIRECTORY

Not sure about the syntax of "on u8". I sometimes do

DIRECTORY U9

to get to my drive 9

André

Click to expand...

Same thing -- I get a 'READY' with no movement from the drive. I wonder if the connector at back maybe is flaky. I got this kind of behaviour before with my tape drive, which initially indicated it was doing something but in fact wasn't. After much cleaning of the contacts and fidgeting it went. However that drive directly receives power from the PET, so that's understandable. Wish this SFD had some kind of self test, beyond the circuit test it does.

Try this:

1. Power up the SFD
2. Power up the SuperPET
3. PRINT DS$

It should return a string like "73, CBM DOS V2.7,00,00,0" which tells the DOS version in the drive.
If you get garbage, something probably is wrong in the drive.
If you get nothing, something probably is wrong with the cable, drive or the computer.
If the computer freezes...

carlsson said:

Try this:

1. Power up the SFD
2. Power up the SuperPET
3. PRINT DS$

It should return a string like "73, CBM DOS V2.7,00,00,0" which tells the DOS version in the drive.
If you get garbage, something probably is wrong in the drive.
If you get nothing, something probably is wrong with the cable, drive or the computer.
If the computer freezes...

Click to expand...

I get three blank lines and then READY. I'm going to recheck that cable and connector... the guy supposedly tested the drive just before putting up on ebay and I believe him -- I think there's something maybe wacky with the PET or cable.

You may have a partly broken 6522 VIA in the SuperPET. If you have a known good chip, it could be worth swapping and trying again.