Emax

I knew the chips aren't socketed. 
But they are common 74 series chips easily available, that was the point.
Not like if the Rockwell 6500/11 scanner goes bad or the NS32000..... which are expensive and limited sources available....

On the boards I have repaired where Floppy was not working there were no visible signs the chips were bad.
Digital IC's don't always literally explode or crack (though I have seen that too).

Again- this is where technical skill level / knowledge of the circuitry (generally speaking, not just Emax) comes in.
To test the chip you would need to use a logic analyzer or oscilloscope, or perhaps a chip programmer (some have that function, I have all three).
Also the schematics and knowledge of what the signal levels are expected to be as well.
However- as the chips are so cheap- once they are pulled and a socket placed, its just as easy to simply put a new one in and not even spend time checking the chip.


As to modifying that cable- I would say no.
Flat cable like that isn't designed to be modified.
That is why I used the JM215A or similar to make the ITX interconnect, so it could be modified.
The circuit on the actual drive would be almost impossible to modify as well, though I did look at that option.



On Feb 21, 2012, at 9:38 AM, soundsubs wrote:

>Perhaps IC54, IC5 and check RN1 resistor networks in regards to floppy.
>>>For reference: 
IC54 (Philips 74HCT14N) is not socketed
IC5 (74SOON) is not socketed either
RN1 (F221/331GA 10-pin Resistor Network) 
No burn marks or anything physically wrong with them to the eye. 
I suppose its possible that the drive is bad, as it clicks with "disk not formatted" even with a floppy removed from it. 

The floppy ribbon cable-- which seems to be a 4N093-A01-- is just like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-5N051-GX150-GX240-GX260-GX270-CD-SFF-DRIVE-CABLE-CN-05N051-/380372017920?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588ff06300

Not sure it can be modified? 





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