Proto Trak MX2

[mess1207]

I am having floppy drive problems with my Proto Trak MX2. Everytime I try to boot my machine, I get the error "no bootable disk" I thought that the disk drive itself was bad but I have replaced it with a known working one and I still get the same message. I have also tried several disks that are supose to be the correct program. Any help is appreciated.

[jaybird22]

I've been having the same problem with mine. I also replaced the disk drive. I find that if I try to boot it over and over, after 30 or 40 times, it will catch. It's a real PITA. I went to leaving the machine on and booted once I got it to catch, but then had to replace a burned out power supply, so I guess that's not a fix either. I'll be watching this post to see if anyone has any ideas. I sure would like to have it like it used to be, there when I needed it without having to fight with getting it to boot.

Jay

[eddmead]

Has anyone found a solution to this problem, I am having the same issues.

[DMF_TomB]

Has anyone found a solution to this problem, I am having the same issues.

if i remember most MX2 Prototraks use 720Kb floppy discs. There is a hole on the floppy disc that can have tape put over it so computer reads it as a 720 kb disc.
.... a 1.44 floppy disc if tape is put over hole can be formatted as 720kb if you got a old computer that can format a disc as 720kb
.
i believe this is mentioned on SWI web site at one time and is probably mentioned in the MX2 manual

[eddmead]

Yes I am aware of that, and you can also format to 720 in xp if you know how, (cant remember off the top of my head, but it can be done) This is not the problem though. I am currently testing the floppy drive in mine because it simply isnt running during bootup. Not sure if storms have burnt something lately or what. I have had this problem before and the fix was just simply rebooting several times until it takes but its not working this time. Anyone know what the symptoms of a bad power supply would be on these. I mean to say would I have anything happening on the screen at all?? Thanks for the reply!!

[wizard]

Floppy drives, even magnetic hard drives, are notoriously unreliable in machine tools. We have almost monthly failures at work. Of course that is a lot of different "tools' but the point remains these storage devices are unreliable on a production floor.

Yeah I know this is expensive but the other reality is floppy drives are very old technology by the standards of the electronics industry. Getting parts and support will only get harder in the future as many manufactures transition away from installing floppies in their systems.

[eddmead]

All very good points wizard sadly I dont have unlimited funds. This is a garage machine so I must keep patching this thing back together. I did take the drive and have it tested and was told it was bad....bought one from him that was supposed to be good and it still wont boot up. Its odd , if I put the disk in my pc straight outta the machine, it wont read it....so I reformat it and reload the boot software, then the pc will read it. Put it back in the machine then the same problem..wont boot then the pc wont read it again. Hoping the disk drive is the problem. Has anyone tried these in a prototrak yet?? Upgrade 3.5" floppy drive to USB flash drive | eBay

[wizard]

My thought was that if you have access to the drives you could then split off the old controller and have an NC program running on your PC drive the machine. Unfortunately I dont have in depth knowledge of how this controller works but if it uses step and direction signals to the amps it could be an easy upgrade. Yes famous last words.

All very good points wizard sadly I dont have unlimited funds. This is a garage machine so I must keep patching this thing back together. I did take the drive and have it tested and was told it was bad....bought one from him that was supposed to be good and it still wont boot up. Its odd , if I put the disk in my pc straight outta the machine, it wont read it....so I reformat it and reload the boot software, then the pc will read it. Put it back in the machine then the same problem..wont boot then the pc wont read it again. Hoping the disk drive is the problem. Has anyone tried these in a prototrak yet?? Upgrade 3.5" floppy drive to USB flash drive | eBay

My suggestion is to avoid Zip / Jaz drives!!

As to the floppy drive I wouldn't even want to guess as to what is happening there. Frankly I would look for an alternative solution.