AMSTRAD PCW8256 systems & sw available

[Chuck Guzis]

> > On 01/12/2007, Steven Martin <speedracer005 at mac.com> wrote:
> > > My dad is 82, a retired College Professor, he owns a Amstrad PCW 8256
> > > and his printer is broken. The printer head doesn't seem to go
> > > anywhere so it can't print. Is there someone in the USA that you know
> > > of that can help me, we are in California. If you do not know of
> > > anyone in the USA is there a way you can direct me to someone I can
> > > buy parts from that speaks english or at least can communicate
> > > through email in english.

I'm amazed that your father still can find 3" CF diskettes for the 
thing and that his diskette drive hasn't developed "belt slop" yet.

At any rate, there's a somewhat fuzzy service manual for the Joyce 
and its printer at http://www.amstradcg.nl/service.pdf . It might be 
readable enough to get you going. 

My guess as far as culprits, if the carriage motor hasn't gone south 
and the right signals are getting through to the printer, would be 
IC706 (HA13408) or Q701 (2SA1013) labeled "carriage enable" on the 
schematic.  

Cheers,
Chuck