Toshiba T3200 floppy disk drive not working

[canman]

I've had this computer since the early 1990s. Toshiba T3200 286, 1 MB ram, 40MB hdd, 1.44MB fdd, DOS 5. Has not been used for a while.

Tried it recently, cmos battery error, but boots to hdd without issue. Using the fdd gives the message "Drive not ready--close door", the same message with no disk. However, with a disk there is a delay of several seconds before the message appears. The light comes on and the fdd seems to make the normal noises of a working drive.

This computer is tough to take apart to get at the drive. Was wondering if anyone has any insight, e.g. mechanical failure, dirty heads.

 

[VeryVon]

Here's something that popped up on a search. Different issue but suggests pulling the drive and giving it a good cleaning:

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/toshiba-t3200-floppy-drive-problems.58678/

 

[canman]

Here's something that popped up on a search. Different issue but suggests pulling the drive and giving it a good cleaning:

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/toshiba-t3200-floppy-drive-problems.58678/

In that thread the computer was set to use an external floppy drive. Easy fix for them.

If cleaning the heads is what's called for I might try it through the floppy door. I'm hesitant to take the display apart to get to the drive unless I know more about the problem.

 

[modem7]

Tried it recently, cmos battery error, but boots to hdd without issue.

Still, I suggest that you resolve the battery related problem, then see if the floppy drive problem remains.

 

[canman]

Fixed the battery error, floppy disk drive problem remains.

Anyone know if these floppy drives can be swapped with standard PC floppy drives?

 

[kerr]

I believe they're non-standard, 26-pin FDDs. It's possible to butcher a ribbon cable to work with standard 34 pin drives on the T5200, maybe it will work on the T3200 as well?