Qume Qumetrack 542 track seeking issue

[Jay Jaeger]

On 11/4/2019 11:05 PM, rescue via cctalk wrote:

> 
> Been away for some time from the mailing lists....  getting back into my
> classic gear again....
> 
> I have two of these Qumetrack 542 drives.
> 
> While testing my 360K drive collection (8 drives.... I must be slacking
> :-) ...), 2 worked, 4 had issue (resolved with a good head cleaning),
> and 2 (both of the Qumetrack 542 drives (I have two of them)) have mixed
> results.  My testing is on a Tandy 2500SX/33 using the Tandy straight
> through cable and with the drives set do DS0.
> 
> I seem to have no issue with Dunfield's testfdc (using testfdc/x a:)
> with these drives, doing SS and DD and getting 'pass' from testfdc.
> 
> However, when I do a format a:, the drive will format through the 40
> tracks, then instead of the heads returning to track 0 quickly, they do
> these small stepping 'bursts' and DOS times out saying failure..... it
> probably would have worked if DOS would wait 10 seconds or more for the
> drive to move to track 0.
> 
> I've never seen behavior like this.  I even tried an external power
> supply in case the Tandy one wasn't up to driving the full height floppy
> drive due to an aging marginal supply, but that didn't help anything.
> 
> I've now also had one of them shut down the power supply (a shorted
> tantalum cap I'm sure).
> 
> I've looked through the manual on the drive, I've tried the HM, HS, and
> no jumper setting for stepper motor power, same results in all cases.
> 
> I'm trying too determine if these drives are good.  I'm planning on
> using them in a Tandy Model III that is upgraded internally to a Model
> IV, but I feel these are basic drives and should work in DOS fine too.
> 
> I hope someone has a clue, as I'm tapped out of them currently.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -- Curt
> 
> 

It almost sounds like your PC could be trying to go beyond the last
track.  You did include the proper DOS command parameter(s) to tell it
the drive type, yes?

JRJ