?DEVICE NOT PRESENT ERROR
Commodore VIC-20
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
?DEVICE NOT PRESENT ERROR means the VIC-20 tried to communicate with a peripheral device that is not connected, not powered on, or not responding. This usually happens when trying to LOAD or SAVE to a floppy disk drive (device 8) or printer (device 4) that is not there. Check the cable, power, and device number.
Affected Models
- Commodore VIC-20
- Commodore VIC-20CR
- VICE emulator (VIC-20)
Common Causes
- Disk drive (1540/1541) not connected or not powered on
- Wrong device number in the LOAD or SAVE command
- Serial cable (IEC bus) loose or disconnected
- Datasette (tape drive) not connected when using device 1
- Printer not connected or powered off when trying to print
How to Fix It
-
Check that the peripheral is powered on and connected.
The VIC-20 uses the Commodore serial bus (IEC). Make sure the round DIN cable is firmly plugged into both the VIC-20 and the drive. The drive must be powered on BEFORE you try to access it.
-
Make sure you are using the correct device number.
Device 1 = Datasette (tape). Device 4 = Printer. Device 8 = First disk drive. Device 9 = Second disk drive. LOAD "*",8 loads from disk. LOAD "*",1 loads from tape.
-
Check the device number switches on the back of the disk drive.
The 1540/1541 drive has DIP switches or a solder jumper to set its device number. The default is device 8. If someone changed it to 9, 10, or 11, you need to use that number instead.
-
On VICE emulator: make sure a virtual drive or tape image is attached.
In VICE, go to Settings and check that a disk image (.D64) is attached to drive 8. For tape, attach a .TAP file to the datasette.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the VIC-20 come with a disk drive?
No. The VIC-20 came with only a datasette (cassette tape) port built in. The 1540 disk drive was sold separately and cost almost as much as the computer itself. Many VIC-20 owners used only cassette tapes for storage.
Can I use a Commodore 1541 drive with the VIC-20?
Yes, with a caveat. The 1541 was designed for the C64 and uses a slightly faster serial protocol. It works with the VIC-20 but loads at the VIC-20's slower speed. The original VIC-20 drive was the 1540, which is fully compatible.