• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

Wang Professional Computer Question

SteveG

SteveG

Experienced Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2020
Messages
151
Location
Millmeece Near Stafford UK
I am trying to get a working computer out of the two Wang Word Processors I have had stored away since the 1980’s.

When I boot up I get the following boot format error:-

7AA0F70B-348E-4DC0-A356-29EB80305772.jpeg

I have tried various Wang Floppy disks and even changed the floppy disk drive and always get the same error.

I have found the following error details on the Internet:-

Returns AH=80h if OK, else error:
01h: Drive not ready
02h: Controller fault (returning results when none expected)
03h: Read error (eg CRC)
04h: Format error (No Data / Missing Address Mark)
05h: Controller failed
08h: Too many sectors (would cross segment boundary)
0Bh: Cannot find file.

So does error 04h: indicate a faulty floppy drive or a faulty floppy disk?
 
I have not yet tried to clean the heads yet until I was sure that it was necessary.

Is it a simple case of rubbing the heads with cotton bud dipped in alcohol?

Or is there more information on how to do that properly?
 
Most people prefer to use a cleaning disk made for the purpose, but gentle cleaning with a swab using IPA should work.

You could also try swapping the drive for one that's known to work.
 
Thanks Chuck.

Do you know where I can buy a floppy disk cleaner. Are they similar to the CD cleaners with small brushes on a cd?
I assume these can’t have any disk cover.

If so can you send me a link.
 
There may be some on ebay, such as: https://www.ebay.com/c/807546803

The one I had was a normal floppy disk jacket but the milar/oxide disk was replaced with a felt-like paper disk. You'd put cleaning solution on the disk through the normal access hole, and then insert it into the drive and spin the drive for a bit (with the heads loaded/engaged).
 
1 step forward and 2 steps back ��

I have sorted out what was going on with the floppy disks and the keyboard interface suddenly has gone faulty.

I know it’s not the keyboard itself because it still correctly runs the diagnostics tests and stops with an error on the faulty Wang.

Apart from checking the electrical continuity between the plug and the motherboard can anyone propose any other checks that are worth doing to get the keyboard working again.
 
Very often, the socket on the motherboard develops cracks in the solder joints or traces. I'd start there.

Is this the Wang model that uses standard IBM keyboards? For quite some time, I used a Model M keyboard with the "Wang" logo on it.
 
Chuck I have checked the board connections and they appear to be OK.

I assume my Wang keyboard is not IBM compatible because the DIN connector has 4 pins not 5.
 
hi, what is the content of your wang diskettes?
are you sure there is an BIOS.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, MSDOS320.SYS and COMMAND.COM file on it? Without it will never boot.
You can make these diskettes also on a other IBM-Clone with 360kB Drives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top