_                       multialign.doc
_                       ##############
_                 written by rex r. collins
_                 #########################
_
_this document file has been created in order to explain, as
_best as possible, how to get the most out of multialign.
_much of this file will talk about how to assemble,
_disassemble, and align your 1541 while multialign is
_running.
_
_don't be scared! even if you know nothing about mechanics
_whatsoever, taking apart the 1541 is pretty easy. i've done
_it at least two dozen times, sometimes in less than five
_minutes! and i can assure you, it is completely safe. i have
_aligned at least half a dozen drives with no consequences,
_using this program and a phillips head screwdriver. nothing
_more.
_
_but before we go into disassembling the 1541 drive, let's
_first go into the features of multialign:
_
_
_
_
_
_
_                  multialign - loading up
_                  #######################
_            load"multialign",<device #> and run
_            ###################################
_
_the first question that appears is:
_
_how many drives will you be using? (1-4)
_##################################
_
_yes, that's right, you can test as many as four drives, with
_devices 8 thru 11. if you select "1", the program will
_prompt you to insert a formatted disk in the drive.
_
_if you answer "2", "3", or "4", the program will ask:
_
_do you need to set device #'s? (y/n)
_####################################
_
_if you have set the device #'s by slitting the solder
_jumpers, then answer no. but is you need to set the device
_#'s using the software method, answer yes and follow the
_prompts. you will first be asked to:
_
_turn off all drives - press any key.
_####################################  then you will be asked
_to turn on each device as you want  it to be set, first by
_setting device 11 (if you choose  4 drives) then 10 (if 3
_drives) then 9 (if 2 drives) then finally device 8.
_
_once that is done, you will then be asked to insert
_formatted disks in all drives and press a key to begin...
_
_the testing starts out at track 18, the directory, on device
_8. the red light will flash as each sector of track 18 is
_checked.
_
_the function key menu will display on your screen like this:
_
_  f1 = back 1/2 a track
_  f2 = move to track 1 
_  f3 =forward 1/2 a track 
_  f4 = move to track 35 
_  f5 = move to track 18 (dir) 
_  f6 = next device # 
_  f7 = end program
_
_you may check all tracks from 1 to 40, in half-track
_increments. do not go past 1 or 40 when moving from track to
_track, otherwise you may damage the disk inside.
_
_if the result line shows "o.k." after 20 sector checks,
_chances are that track is perfectly aligned! any other
_message, accompanied by a sound, is an alignment error of
_some kind.
_
_check your track indicator - if the program is looking for
_track 18 and reading track 17 or 19, your stepper motor is a
_full track off. this has been known to happen!
_
_half tracks must always read the track of its base number,
_ie. track 18.5 must always read on track 18. if it is
_reading on track 19 the stepper motor is a half track off.
_
_when using more than one drive, the f6 command advances to
_the next high- est device number, and then when at the
_highest device, goes back to device 8.
_
_the f2 command does not create "the knock" so you can relax.
_it uses half- track routines to "click" its way to the
_outside track without hitting the metal stop inside the
_drive.
_
_but when you end the program, you must initialize your
_drives using the dos command: open1,device,15,"i":close1.
_turning the drives on & off won't work because the
_half-track routines are imbedded in the disk drive rom.
_
_this program cannot be blitzed or otherwise compiled. the
_sound routines use pokes that crash the program when
_operating in a compiled state.
_
_
_
_
_
_now that i've expained that, let's go on to:
_
_              multialign - aligning your drive
_              ################################
_
_
_                  to disassemble the 1541:
_                  ########################
_
_1) turn the drive upside down and,
_   with a size 1 phillips head screw- driver, unscrew the
_   four screws that hold the casing together.
_
_2) turn the drive right-side up and
_   lift the top off. you will see a metallic grid covering
_   the circuit board.
_
_3) remove the two screws holding the
_   grid to the chassis, on the left hand side of the drive
_   as it is facing you.
_
_4) carefully take the grid off. you
_   will then see the circuit board and various connectors.
_
_5) remove the three-prong connector
_   with the red and black wires. that is the connector to
_   the green power light imbedded in the lower casing of the
_   drive.
_
_6) look down in the cracks of the
_   chassis, between the chassis and the casing, and you will
_   see six screws holding the chassis to the lower casing.
_
_7) remove these six screws and lift
_   the chassis from the casing. put the grid and both
_   casings aside for now.
_
_8) carefully turn the drive upside
_   down. you will see a flat cylinder with a white label on
_   it, held in place by two screws that have been sort of
_   "painted on" to keep the motor in place.
_
_9) set the drive upside down in a way
_   that does not pinch the connectors or resistors. then
_   loosen, don't remove, the screws to the stepper motor --
_   just enough so you can turn the motor by hand. be
_   careful! these screws are made of flimsy metal and the
_   threads strip very easily. you may have to take a raz- or
_   blade and scrape the paint off before you use the
_   screwdriver.
_
_
_
_
_   to use the drive with multialign in its current state:
_              ################################
_
_1) turn the drive right side up and
_   plug it in to the computer and the power strip. try to
_   set it on a surface where you can reach the stepper motor
_   with your hand. if you have a mini-cabinet, for exam-
_   ple, you can set the back half of the drive onto the
_   cabinet and let the front side sit open. the rear of the
_   drive is heavier than the front so balance should not be
_   too much of a problem. but if it is, try to prop up the
_   left side of the front drive, as the right side contains
_   the stepper motor.
_
_2) load the program (perhaps with
_   another drive) and run it.
_
_3) as the program checks the disk for
_   alignment, reach underneath and ro- tate stepper motor
_   slowly. if you hear more beeps than you did before, you
_   are turning the motor the wrong way. you must turn it
_   very slowly, and only a little bit at a time. you may
_   also have to remove your hand to get proper readouts from
_   the pro- gram. if you hear no beeps after 10 seconds,
_   that track is aligned!
_
_4) once you have set track 18, proceed
_   to other tracks and check their alignment. you may find
_   this frust- rating at first as one track may be in
_   alignment and another track is not - but the disk must be
_   perf- ectly aligned on all tracks and half-tracks or else
_   some parts of your disks won't load!
_
_5) once all tracks have been confirmed
_   as aligned, tighten the stepper motor screws very
_   carefully! you don't want it to go out of alignment again
_   by turning the screws too fast or jolting the chassis
_   while the screws are loose!!
_
_
_                  to reassemble the 1541:
_                  #######################
_
_1) replace the chassis into the lower
_   casing and the six screws that hold it in place.
_
_2) replace the green light connector.
_
_3) replace the metal grid. be careful
_   not to pinch any wires. you don't have to screw it in
_   place but you can if you wish.
_
_4) replace the upper casing and the
_   four screws that hold the casings together.
_
_
_
_
_
_there you have it! a step-by-step guide to using multialign.
_
_i hope you make as much use out of
_