Date   : Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:18:32
From   : Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk@...>
Subject: Re: Disk drives

Littlefield Aaron wrote:
> Just out of interest, how many of you suffer with failing disk drives?

I don't see many, at least not ones that a good head cleaning doesn't sort out.

> got another last night as part of an eBay win; powers up etc but something
> inside is stuck or broken as I can't get the disk the whole way in! Grrr!

Others have mentioned the head shield; I'll also offer the following too:

1) fascia out of line with the rest of the unit, resulting in a jammed disk
(guideways for the disk edges don't line up properly).

2) load/eject lever out of line with the mechanism, meaning that the heads are
in the 'loaded' position even though the lever's up and a disk can be inserted
part way until it hits the heads.

3) eject mechanism being stuck somehow (this should slide backwards as a disk
is inserted, but may be jammed).

If you pull the lid on the drive it should be obvious what's up as you try and
slide a disk in, I expect.

cheers

Jules