[ Jeff Davis wrote in 041117 MMDigest: ]

> The problem with the diskette error message sounds like a bad disc
> drive.  Usually this happens when a diskette is removed at the same
> time it is being read, thus misaligning everything.  It is easy to
> replace but the drive is available only from PianoDisc.  A drive
> from a computer store won't work.

There is a way to get a generic PC floppy disk drive to work if it
supports a "Ready/Diskchange" jumper.  PC-AT computers use "Diskchange"
to save the directory for faster reloads.  PC-XTs ignored this signal.

For the PianoDisc computer to recognize the drive, the jumper needs to
be set to "Ready."  Often this is marked on the silkscreen.  Sometimes
the jumper is a 0 ohm surface mount resistor, which is unsoldered.
Other times it is a shunt strap referred to as a "jumper."  Not all
drive units have this jumper.  Many drive units intended for PC-XT
class systems do not have this signal.  Make sure that the drive is
intended for "PC-AT."  In a few cases the jumper is behind a cover
plate or access panel.

This will probably void the PianoDisc warranty.  I was able to
resuscitate a PianoDisc box a few years ago using this method.  I make
no claims as to the usefulness of this procedure.

There exists a set of utilities by Gary Giebler that allows PianoDisc
diskettes to be backed up to a computer hard disk.

I will also make available to the MMD a program I wrote called
"PDFile.exe".  This runs under the DOS command line.  PDFile.exe allows
PianoDisc and Yamaha diskette directories and disk images to be listed.
In addition, it allows for the recovery of individual songs from a bad
or corrupted disk.  There is also an option to allow for the creation
of uncompressed raw disk images.

Julie Porter

 [ Thanks, Julie; I received the data file okay and next week
 [ I'll place it at the MMD Tech site, http://mmd.foxtail.com/Tech/
 [  -- Robbie