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Designer 1 Floppy drive failure? Replacement options?
iSewQuiltArt Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 2008 Posts: 2057	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/31/12 5:00 PM So I went to embroider some names and motifs for bag tags for my children the other night and inserted a floppy disk into my Designer 1. Nothing. No churning away sound of any sort or hourglass symbol, or loading of designs, just a message saying there was no floppy disk inserted. So I switched disks thinking perhaps the disk was dodgy. Four attempts later it finally sprung to life! I put in the original disk that had failed to load and no problems obtaining the design after the machine had got itself organised. It had been embroidering only a few days earlier quite a happily. The machine is nearly 12 years old, which is relic in computer terms. I am really hoping this is not the beginning of a floppy drive failure...has anyone had this happen or know if this is the beginning of the end of the drive? This happened once many years ago and I just assumed it was a glitch, but has never until now happened back to back with different disks. I am interested in your thoughts, I was about to go buy an external floppy drive (they are not cheap where I live) and a bunch of floppies as my new computer lacks a floppy drive but now I'm reluctant to if the machine itself is having problems. I had thought about the USB years ago and was advised by my mechanic even 5 years ago that it was not worth it for the age of the machine versus the cost of installation and software patches or upgrades necessary etc... Do they do floppy replacements or repairs or only the USB upgrade in case of floppy drive failures? And now I am thinking, as I have been for some time, about embroidery options when the D1 dies. I had somehow imagined it would just stitch on forever till the machine went puff! I am thinking since all my other machines are Bernina and I love them madly, I will go that way-and would rather sink money into that than trying to resurrect an already antique embroidery machine. I have an Aurora 440 with no module, but I believe you tether it to a laptop or computer to run embroidery, so I am wondering if that is a pain to do or if I would be better with an Artista? Difference in hoop sizes available for those? Any users of either the 440 or Artista embroidery machines care to comment on how easy it is to embroider and use software? You get a lite version with the module, yes? How do you find it? Did you find you immediately needed the full software suite? And there I was thinking I was set with machines for the foreseeable future... ------ Will quilt for fabric! Sewing up a storm in Canberra ACT
threaddy   Advanced WY USA Member since 2009 Posts: 1199	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/31/12 5:14 PM I am sure it was just a glitch in reading the floppy. ------ formerly kirstensews "The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." Theodore Rubin "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life's about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw Bernina vintage and embroidery serger 234 and BLcoverstitch
iSewQuiltArt Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 2008 Posts: 2057	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/31/12 6:55 PM It just seems odd that four different disks did not load up. I hope you are right and that it was simply a glitch. ------ Will quilt for fabric! Sewing up a storm in Canberra ACT
biochemistress   Advanced VA USA Member since 2005 Posts: 107	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/31/12 7:04 PM It may have been the disks, too. I work on a 17-yr-old industrial embroidery machine that takes only floppies. I had to buy an external drive (cheap on the web). Well, the whole first batch of disks they sent me wouldn't work! They said they were new. I bet they were, nearly 20 years ago! Unfortunately, the floppies work with magnets, and magnets eventually go bad. It's why everything went to CD, then flash. I know nothing about Berninas but accept my sympathies with the floppy drive. There was talk of my company upgrading their machines to accept flash drives. I'll wish you well with your upgrade, and wish me well with mine! :)
iSewQuiltArt Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 2008 Posts: 2057	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/31/12 7:21 PM biochemistress, Yes I wondered if it were the disks but it was odd when I tried four different ones of differeing ages and none worked, and then once the drive did spring back to life one of the oldest disks functioned. So that is what is making both hubby and I question if the problem is not infact with the floppy drive. Shame you were sent a bad aged batch of floppies, that was rather cheeky of the sales staff to send such old stock to you. I hope they replace the lot? I guess time will tell if I get a repeat performance if it is a glitch or a failing floppy drive. I am interested to hear from those who can shed info on how they like their 440's or Artistas for embroidery. I am sure either would be lovely to embroider on but am curious how easy it is to transfer designs from the computer to the sewing machine with either machine. -- Edited on 1/31/12 7:22 PM -- ------ Will quilt for fabric! Sewing up a storm in Canberra ACT
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 2009 Posts: 518	Login to reply to this post In reply to iSewQuiltArt Like this post Date: 1/31/12 11:36 PM Floppy disk cleaner kit, where you put a little cleaner liquid on a special floppy, and try to run it to clean it up in there. They used to sell those, back when they sold floppies. It might be worth a try?
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 2009 Posts: 518	Login to reply to this post In reply to iSewQuiltArt Like this post Date: 1/31/12 11:44 PM An internal floppy drive in a tower PC computer, is connected onto your IDE cable, by connection in there. Don't know what it would be "on" in your sewing machine, but what ever it is, maybe a loose connection for a while and now jiggled loose? Possibly something to have checked, if you don't want to just give up on it yet.
threaddy   Advanced WY USA Member since 2009 Posts: 1199	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/1/12 1:05 AM You know you can get a USB upgrade on the Des1's! I think it is $600. It might be worth keeping that in mind and check it out as the Des1 is one of the last GREAT Vikings ever made...a real classic! Plus since you already have the Bernina...just go with the embroidery capabilities it offers. it will be a lot cheaper than a whole new machine. ?? Just some thoughts. ------ formerly kirstensews "The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." Theodore Rubin "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life's about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw Bernina vintage and embroidery serger 234 and BLcoverstitch
iSewQuiltArt Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 2008 Posts: 2057	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/1/12 1:55 AM Yes I have decided after a phone call to my mechanic and asking his advice that I will simply add the module to my 440. He said it is without doubt that the floppy drive is simply worn out and that all good things come to an end eventually. The machine itself still works just not the embroidery side of it. Module would function fine and hoops of course so I will find a new owner for those. He also said it makes no sense- and both hubby and I agree on this- to sink more money into an alread old machine. $600-800 is the price I have been told by various places the USB upgrade would be and even then it is being put into a machine with a limited life expectancy. Wiser to buy the module and use on the great 440 I already have that is only a few years old. I have wanted to embroider on that machine since I received it so its nice to look forward to that. Thanks for your thoughts! ------ Will quilt for fabric! Sewing up a storm in Canberra ACT
mssewcrazy   Advanced MS USA Member since 2003 Posts: 1755	Login to reply to this post In reply to iSewQuiltArt Like this post Date: 2/1/12 7:01 AM Do the D1's only have one way to input a design. all my older brother/babylocks also have an option of inputting with a card and reader box which is a cheap fix should the floppies stop working. I have an external floppy drive for the computer that lacks a drive. I asked a tech once what if the drive goes out and he said the machine drive was easily replaced so that might be a cheaper easier fix than the usb update. I think I would look at how heavily the machine had been used rather than its age to decide for one of mine. There may even be a part available cheaply from a machine that the computer boards have gone out so I would check around a bit with some other techs than the dealer before making the call. My bernina dealer told me I couldn't get a new foot pedal for my old serger that works great so I bought a new serger. I found a new foot control easily from a non bernina source. I thought he should have mentioned I might obtain the identical control from some place else. I am sure had I traded it in on the new one he would have stuck one on it and probably listed it on ebay.

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