Tincanalley
Experienced Member
Yes, it was stupid. I should have paid more attention.
I have a 286 clone machine with dual 1.2MB drives. I had them connected to a WD1003-WA2, but removed it as I had no MFM drives and wanted to install a controller that would handle IDE. I never got around to doing it and the other day got my hands on 2 MFM drives of questionable condition. So I reinstalled the WD controller and mindlessly connected the floppy cable and the MFM drive cables. I booted the machine and nothing went as expected and the floppy drive lights were on. I realized I put the cables on wrong. I reversed them and I cannot see the floppy drives anymore. I another floppy/IDE controller and I was able to access the drives, but the boot floppy was toast. I used another boot floppy and both drives are working fine. I reinstalled the WD and it still won't see the floppy drives. The HD grinds a bit and then the message about drive controller failure.
So, I can't trust the board to read the HDs correctly as I did something to fry it's ability to control the floppies as well as hose the floppy in the boot drive. Is this the end of the card? Did I kill and IC? Should I even attempt to fix it, or just toss it in a box and think of it sadly from time to time?
Thanks
I have a 286 clone machine with dual 1.2MB drives. I had them connected to a WD1003-WA2, but removed it as I had no MFM drives and wanted to install a controller that would handle IDE. I never got around to doing it and the other day got my hands on 2 MFM drives of questionable condition. So I reinstalled the WD controller and mindlessly connected the floppy cable and the MFM drive cables. I booted the machine and nothing went as expected and the floppy drive lights were on. I realized I put the cables on wrong. I reversed them and I cannot see the floppy drives anymore. I another floppy/IDE controller and I was able to access the drives, but the boot floppy was toast. I used another boot floppy and both drives are working fine. I reinstalled the WD and it still won't see the floppy drives. The HD grinds a bit and then the message about drive controller failure.
So, I can't trust the board to read the HDs correctly as I did something to fry it's ability to control the floppies as well as hose the floppy in the boot drive. Is this the end of the card? Did I kill and IC? Should I even attempt to fix it, or just toss it in a box and think of it sadly from time to time?
Thanks