Spinrite 6.0 + IBM ThinkPad 600E - Freeze/Crash - Despair

[dstow]

Hi there, not sure where I should exactly post this thread, but here seems appropriate given no Spinrite sub

I have a ThinkPad 600E with an external floppy running Spinrite 6.0 to attempt to recover several old floppy disks

But I'm encountering a repeatable freeze in Spinrite on the "Select Drive and Partitions" page - Once the floppy is selected it will display "One Moment Please..." and freeze and hard lock

I've tried everything from downgrading/upgrading the ThinkPad BIOS - Booting off floppy with MS-DOS/FreeDOS - Even trying spinrite 5.0 which also crashes on the same page.

Does anyone have any clue what could possibly be the issue here as the floppy drive is seemingly fully functional and has no issued booting disks, or reading floppy's in windows?

At my wits end if anyone could offer some technical insight!

 

[Mervyn Haynes]

At my wits end if anyone could offer some technical insight!

If it a legitimate copy of Spinrite, Greg should help you at GRC tech support

 

[Mervyn Haynes]

GRC tech support

PS the email is support2021@grc.com

 

[PHolder]

I have a ThinkPad 600E with an external floppy running Spinrite 6.0 to attempt to recover several old floppy disks

Try downloading SpinRite 5. It's known to work better with floppies. Your license entitles you to older versions.

https://www.grc.com/sr/faq.htm#sr5

I've read that SpinRite v6.0 owners can also get the previous SpinRite version 5.0. How do we do that?

All you need to do is change the filename in the software download URL from "spinrite.exe" to "sr5.exe". To do that . . . Display a fresh copy of your SpinRite v6.0 receipt by entering your SpinRite v6.0 transaction code into our customer service page. Instead of clicking on the page's software download link (which would download a copy of "spinrite.exe" and use up the link), RIGHT-CLICK on the link and select "Copy Shortcut" to copy the link to your Windows clipboard. Next, RIGHT-CLICK in your browser's URL address line and select "Paste". This will paste the software download link into the address line without using it yet. Finally, edit the end of the URL, changing it from "spinrite.exe" to "sr5.exe", then press "Enter" to use that edited URL and retrieve your own individually licensed copy of SpinRite v5.0.

 

[Mervyn Haynes]

Even trying spinrite 5.0 which also crashes on the same page.

Try downloading SpinRite 5. It's known to work better with floppies

He has already tried that Paul, that is why I suggested to contact Greg.

 

[PHolder]

He has already tried that Paul

Oh, oops, I missed that, too much distractions while trying to scan posts.

If it's crashing on both versions, it's probably hopeless, but yeah, Greg is his only hope.

 

[Intuit]

Are there BIOS options for APIC interrupt handling? May try playing with them.

 

[JimWilliamson]

external floppy

By external floppy, I assume USB connected.

If you wish, I have native hardware connected floppy drives if you wanted to send the disks to me. If you're looking at a handful of disks - no charge - happy to help. Spinrite settings of your selection to be used.

For fun: https://forums.grc.com/threads/spinrites-development-roadmap.32/page-9#post-4723

 

[Intuit]

Was also wondering whether it was USB connected, drive bay connected or built into into the laptop. Never mind about the BIOS settings.

 

[danlock]

but yeah, Greg is his only hope.

"Help me Greggi Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."

 

[PHolder]

Upon some reflection, I wonder if the issue is something funky in the boot sector on the floppy. Assuming the boot sector is not damaged (and thus your need of SpinRite to scan it), you might try using something like HxD and backup the boot sector and blank it, to see if that provides any help. (Greg might try suggesting something like that... if you contact him.)

 

[Steve]

The trouble is definitely the use of an external diskette. There's no comparison with the use of any internal directly-connected drive.

@dstow : If you're looking to recover those diskettes, finding a machine with an internal 3.5" diskette drive is the way to go.

 

[dstow]

Thanks for the contributions everyone, including Steve himself!

Just to clarify the external floppy disk drive is the official IBM floppy drive pass-through with their custom proprietary D-Shell Connector to the laptop which from what I understand is merely a passthrough with the floppy logic on the ThinkPad not the external drive.

As this acts as a passthrough, wouldn't it be right to assume this is identical for all intent and purposes as having an internal drive on the ThinkPad as I would assume it's seen the same to software (SpinRite) as the ThinkPad's floppy logic is internal?

 

[dstow]

UPDATE: After being enlightened about the modular nature of ThinkPad's I've swapped the CD-ROM out with the External Floppy which now acts as an internal diskette and lo and behold the exact same issue is present in SpinRite - Hard Crashes when the drive is selected - dumfounded

 

[Lob]

ship the device to @Steve