Hello, I have a TDS754D. Works fine but I’m having trouble getting some simple screenshots out.
I used the hardcopy function, export as .bmp mono color and export to floppy. For some reasons it will sometimes work, sometimes the image is corrupted or just unreadable.
See here: https://imgur.com/a/hy1iFwE

Any idea why this is happening?
I’m reading the files using a USB floppy drive and a Windows 10 laptop if that helps.

On Tue, Dec 24, 2024 at 07:00 AM, Nick Stanley wrote:

Any idea why this is happening?

Assuming you have tried different discs my first choice would be
a bad drive, most likely the one in the scope.
If you can do GPIB you can get screenshots that way too.

/Håkan

I second the faulty floppy drive in the scope few of the scopes I've had on the bench were a bit flakey.


I recently converted my TDS784D and TDS794D to use the Gotek floppy adapters which work really well.
I purchased this exact one, which is a direct replacement with the FFC connector to use the original FFC interconnect cable:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1576036558.html

Depending on the floppy drive you have (narrow or wide type) you may need to 3D print or otherwise fabricate an adapter bracket. I have designed one you can 3D print here (You'll also need an additional M2.5 x 10mm screw):
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6871401

If you use one of these emulators, be sure to remove all jumpers on the Gotek floppy emulator except location S1 for proper operation.


Jared

Thank for the link to the replacement drive.
I re test with a bunch of different floppy disks, even a new sealed one. And it definitely seems like the drive is to blame.
I’ll order the replacement some time later.

If you need a disk drive, I have some spares that wouldn't be expensive to send as a 'small parcel'.
I'll be back in Japan just after new year, so I can test a couple and send you a working one for cheap.


Jared

Thanks Jaret, but I don’t think that will be needed for 2 reasons.

1st shipping form japan to Vietnam (my country) would probably cost more than the 30$ it would cost me to get the USB drive from aliexpress that you linked me.

2nd, Vietnam customs are really damn annoying. For some stupid reasons my country customs will refuse ANY used electronic.
I once had a buddy sent me a step attenuator for a spectrum analyzer from Australia. It got denied and held in customs for months before being sent back to Australia.

But I thank you for the kind gesture regardless.

Shipping looks like it'll be about 1000yen, but customs is another matter..... I could pack it neatly and label it as 'New Stock' but that might not help depending on how ornery customs is... :D

However, the USB Gotek adapter is probably the best option as it eliminates the failure-prone mechanical floppy drive completely.


Jared

Hi folks,
I wonder if this solution would work with the "Tektronix TDS500/600/700 NVRAM floppy backup and restore tool" posted here (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-tds500600700-nvram-floppy-dump-tool/).
I have tried more than three floppy drives bought at Ebay with a number of floppies (formatted on this drive) but could not make it work.
Regards,
Roger