On Friday, May 6, 2022 at 12:42:48 PM UTC-7, Paul F”rster wrote:
> Hi,
> On 06. May, 2022 at 09:54:55 CEST, "Daniel Path"  wrote: 
> 
> > SD2IEC works perfectly with a c128, but i think any other device will do. :)
> I second that. I love my SD2IEC. ¨ 
> 
> Cheers 
> Paul
So my physical 1541 prevents the C128 from completing boot up when the drive is powered on and serial cable connected.  If I kill the power to the drive while the 128 boot up is hung, the 128 completes booting.  Same if I disconnect the serial cable 
while the 128 is hung on bootup.  And the drive does not respond to load command, 128 reports drive not ready. 

I opened the drive case, board is internally very clean, and no burnt or bloated caps.  I am guessing one or more of the logic chips is bad.  Looks like the MOS chips are from 1984.  I am using an aftermarket serial cable, the cable pins look correct 
when compared to online pics, and continuity pin to pin on each end is good.  I guess these serial cables are supposed to be pin to pin straight wired.

If I get some ambition in the next few days, I will use my scope to check for activity on the logic chips.  My understanding is that with the scope ground on a chip ground and scope lead on address or data pins, I should see high speed voltage 
oscillation, indicating logic activity...

Hate to give up on all my floppies, even if I pick up an emulator...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05