1541 Disk Drive - How To Change The Device Number On The Circuit Board Commodore 64 - Episode 2631
0On the first 1541 drives, if you wanted to alter the device number, you had to void the sacred commodore warranty, and open up the drive and cut a trace or perhaps two if you wanted to have a device 11. It was quite easy to alter the number that the drive would answer to from between 8 and 11, and of course, 8 was the easiest, as that is how it came from the factory.
Otherwise, you could, when you went to buy a second drive, have the dealer alter the number for you at what I hope would be nominal or no charge...that would preserve the 90 days of hope that you got from mother commodore!
If you are not comfortable doing any of this, well, then do not and find somebody to help you...or, make sure that any drives you get are of the later versions such as the 1541-II, the 1571, or the 1581 as they all have dip switches and require no such internal operation...
The device can be changed back later with a soldering iron, and a glob properly placed solder...so, while this is permanent, it can be reversed as well...some users put wires on the opposing pads and put a switch or switches somewhere on or inside of the disk drive so they can switch it easily and at will...
For quick one time switches, there is a program on the TEST/DEMO disk that will let you temporarily alter the device number...and when the drive is reset, it goes back to where it came from...
The location of these pads changes quite drastically depending on the version of the 1541 circuit board...but they look much the same....just look around and if you are not sure, do not cut anything!