New PCjr getting disk boot failures
New PCjr getting disk boot failures
I bought a new PCjr from Computer Reset a few months ago and it has been working great. Today, I used Norton Disk Doctor to try to fix some old disks that had gone bad, and after using it on one particularly bad disk, I can no longer boot. I get "Disk Boot Failure" on a number of boot disks and when I use the PCjr internal tests, I get a result "B" which says "Have your IBM PCjr serviced." Any suggestions?
Re: New PCjr getting disk boot failures
First, check to make sure that nothing has jiggled inside of the system. Disconnect all of the power, open it up, and make sure that the memory expansion card and the diskette controller card are firmly in place. Sidecars should not be wiggling. Remove any steel wool or sawdust that have accumulated. (Just kidding there ...)
Old diskettes can be really bad news - the lower quality ones tend to disintegrate and leave residue/gunk on the drive heads.
Disclaimer - be very careful before attempting any of this:
Clean and lubricate the drive rails: Dirty rails can cause positioning problems. There is a good description on how to do this on the last page of this PDF document: http://brutman.com/PCjr/Eugene_Club_Doc ... eaning.pdf . I clean the rails with rubbing alcohol (be careful not to contaminate the alcohol with a dirty Q-tip) and then use the very same "precision oiler" that the document mentions. A light sewing machine oil or silicone based lubricant can be used instead; just whatever you do don't spray it in there and don't knock the drive heads around. 3-in-1 type oil is too thick and will attract dust.
Clean the drive heads: if you have an old "wet style" cleaning diskette with solution, use that - they are safe and effective.
If you don't, then you need to be very very careful. You can clean the heads (both upper and lower) with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol should be 90% pure or better. Do not press hard, and do not jostle the heads in any way. Leaving cotton fibers on the heads or banging them out of alignment kills the drive. Be especially careful trying to gain access to the upper head .. the key to the procedure is to be gentle.
Mike
Old diskettes can be really bad news - the lower quality ones tend to disintegrate and leave residue/gunk on the drive heads.
Disclaimer - be very careful before attempting any of this:
Clean and lubricate the drive rails: Dirty rails can cause positioning problems. There is a good description on how to do this on the last page of this PDF document: http://brutman.com/PCjr/Eugene_Club_Doc ... eaning.pdf . I clean the rails with rubbing alcohol (be careful not to contaminate the alcohol with a dirty Q-tip) and then use the very same "precision oiler" that the document mentions. A light sewing machine oil or silicone based lubricant can be used instead; just whatever you do don't spray it in there and don't knock the drive heads around. 3-in-1 type oil is too thick and will attract dust.
Clean the drive heads: if you have an old "wet style" cleaning diskette with solution, use that - they are safe and effective.
If you don't, then you need to be very very careful. You can clean the heads (both upper and lower) with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol should be 90% pure or better. Do not press hard, and do not jostle the heads in any way. Leaving cotton fibers on the heads or banging them out of alignment kills the drive. Be especially careful trying to gain access to the upper head .. the key to the procedure is to be gentle.
Mike
Re: New PCjr getting disk boot failures
Thank you for the response. I will try a head cleaning disk first, since this happened after reading old, bad disks. I'll bet it is exactly as you say - gunk got on the heads.
Re: New PCjr getting disk boot failures
It was the drive heads. I bought 91% isopropyl alcohol and used a head cleaning disk. It did the trick.
Re: New PCjr getting disk boot failures
Excellent!