Disc Conversions to PC, Spares,
Repairs,
Software, Manuals and Support for
AMSTRAD PCW
WORD PROCESSORS
Site Map Quick Links ......
The original PCW 8256 (left) and the later PCW 9512
BACKGROUND
The humble PCW has been around since 1985 and over 200,000 were sold in the UK alone. Though superseded by PC's for most applications these days, the good old PCW is still favoured by many people, especially authors and those who find difficulty handling a mouse, for its easy to use LocoScript word processor (or LocaScript to those in the USA) and its friendly keyboard layout . . . . and it's not affected by nasty viruses!
LuxSoft was based in the heart of the Cornish village of Luxulyan - hence the name - but re-located during Summer 2008 to the southern edge of Luxulyan parish, less than half a mile from the renowned Eden Project.
LuxSoft acquired one of the first Amstrad PCW 8256's in Autumn 1985 and soon released a series of Basic programs for PCW enthusiasts. Sales of this software raised over £500 for the Cornwall Air Ambulance and the RNLI (Lifeboats). LuxSoft was an Authorised Amstrad Business Dealer supplying new Amstrad computers until Amstrad pulled out of this market in the mid-1990's.
While so many PCW orientated businesses have ceased to trade or moved to newer pastures, our PCW business has actually grown year on year as it becomes more and more difficult for dedicated users to source consumables, spares, software and support for the venerable PCW.
The Achilles Heel of the original PCW's was their belt-driven 3" disc drives. Unfortunately, simply fitting a new drive belt is neither easy nor a panacea for all drive ills as stiffness or even complete seizure of the centre bearing of the drive may be the root cause of belt failure .... or the disc reading problems may be down to another cause, such as the sled motor. Hence we regularly receive PCW drives (by post) or even complete PCW's (personally delivered) for repair and servicing.
It's strange that in a world where PC's go out of date within a month, if not a week, and the computer pundits sounded the PCW's death knell in the press as early as 1986, here we are - well over 20 years after the PCW's debut - with people actually going back to PCW's because they are heartily sick of the complexity of Windows Vista and the constant threat of viruses.
The PCW is ideal for the job for which it was intended - a pretty flexible word processor - so it's a shame that when they do go wrong and a visit for advice is made to the local computer store, the average assistant, having been born long after the PCW ceased production, has never heard of them so recommends a sexy new PC and the local tip for the poor PCW ... all for the want of a rubber band or a bit of oil in so many cases. With sales staff also being ignorant of the possibility of converting LocoScript files on "those funny little discs" for use on said new PC, we shudder to think how many autobiographies, how much valuable research work, and how many literary masterpieces have already been lost for ever in this way.
We are committed to supporting the PCW for as long as is humanly possible - and at this rate we'll peg out before the PCW's do ! - but please note that we do not purchase redundant machines.
For active PCW users, there's a Help & Tips page which gives answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" and problems we find that folks have been having with both LocoScript and CP/M.
We are pleased to be able to offer you the following for your Amstrad PCW:
LuxSoft of Luxulyan
"Clinging to the trailing edge of technology"
Tel (01726) 81 2257
email malc@luxsoft.demon.co.uk
Amstrad PCW Discs - 3" and 3.5"
- CF2 3" discs for the Amstrad PCW8256, PCW8512 and PCW9512
Brand NEW 3" CF2 discs by Maxell & original Amsoft (not the cheap imports illegally being sold as Amsoft's) at £3.00 each.
Fully tested second user Amsoft or Maxell ones at £1.50 each. Please specify single density format (to suit 8256 & 8512 'A' drive) or double density (8512 'B' drive & 9512) when ordering so that we can reformat them ready for immediate use on your PCW.
- 3.5" 720k (MF2DD) for PCW9512+, PCW9256, PCW10 and 3.5" replacement drives
Few only left now -
Brand new (unformatted) at £6.00 for ten.
Second user, reformatted for PCW use and fully tested at £5.00 for ten.
Above prices exclude postage as this depends on quantity.
Please e-mail
first to check availability and accepted payment methods -
We can accept
payments via 
Amstrad PC & PCW Printer Ribbons
We regret that we are no longer stocking ribbons.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to previous customers.
We have the following in stock & ready to ship :
Replacement Keyboards - second user keyboards (8000 or 9512 style - both sorts suit all PCW's excl PcW16), clean & fully tested at £7.50 plus postage.
Replacement Printers -
8256/8512 series dot matrix in stock at £20.00 each plus £9.50 postage. Please specify whether your existing UK model printer is an A or C series (sticker underneath) or you need a non-standard foreign model.
9512 & 9512+ daisy wheels - These are £25.00 each plus £9.50 postage when in stock but good working ones are getting much harder to source now so please phone or e-mail first.
See below for individual spare parts or click here to find out about running instead a modern inkjet printer from your PCW.
Daisy Wheel Printer failing or missing out letters ?
If you are having problems with text alignment or even the PCW reporting "no printer", it may just be in need of a drop or two of oil on the silver bar along which the print head runs. Don't ditch the printer - e-mail us with the symptoms.
If it is missing out letters and the Daisy Wheel itself is intact, then the armature (the plastic arm that does all the hard work driving the daisy wheel hammer) has probably cracked or broken.
Picture at left shows a more modern grey plastic 'armature' (original ones were black) in position against the solenoid (electro-magnet).
New armatures are no longer manufactured and stocks nationwide are almost totally exhausted but ......
We currently have one brand new armature left in stock - sensible offers invited.
If you have a new daisy wheel armature for sale, do let us know !
Don't bin the PCW, see below about running an alternative DOS-compatible inkjet or laser printer from your 9512 instead eg HP Deskjet or Laserjet.
Front & rear paper feed trays for the 9512 Daisy Wheel printer at £4.00 each plus post.
Dot Matrix printer Bail Arm spring broken ? We have both A and C types in stock at £2.50 each plus a 40p large letter sae. Don't forget to say which type of printer you have (there's a small circular sticker on the underside of the printer with an A or C on it - if not there, tell us what colour your paper thickness lever is - red or blue).
Dot matrix pins not firing ? We have brand new 'A' and 'C' series print heads.
CPS8256 Serial/Parallel Interface - these enable PCW8256 and 8512's to talk to DOS compatible external PC printers like dot matrix, inkjet, deskjet, bubblejet and laser printers ... but you'll need Loco2 or later (with which we can also help). In original box £25, unboxed £20 excl post.
Please
e-mail first to check availability and accepted payment methods
-
We can accept
payments via
Original LocoScript & CP/M program discs
Original LocoScript/LocoSpell etc upgrade discs
LocoScript 3 Printer Support Pack
Official PCW Manuals for PCW 8256, PCW 8512 and PCW 9512
Mallard Basic Manual (Ring Bound Edition)
Program Discs are £5 each including postage to UK
destinations,
Official manuals are £7
incl post (they're heavy!).
also see our 'Free Stuff' page
Disc drive failed or monitor gone bang ?
The most common failure is the disc drive ... and these can be repaired. Call specialist PCW repairer Chris Austin on (01726) 850 391 before taking your PCW to the tip!
Please note that due to problems with both parcel post and couriers smashing PCW's for a pastime, we no longer accept complete PCW's for repair by these means ... but they can always be dropped in personally when visiting the Eden Project or Heligan.
Need more memory or a serial/parallel port?
We have a supply of these items in stock.
Want to run an Inkjet or Laser printer from your PCW ?
No problem on an Amstrad 9512 or 9512+, even with LocoScript 2 !
In a nutshell, if a printer is DOS compatible on a PC, LocoScript can drive it from a PCW.
The PCW 9512/9512+ is fitted with a standard PC-type parallel port so, provided that your LocoScript Start of Day disc contains the relevant "printer driver" file, you can print on:
most older Canon Bubblejets eg BJ10, BJ/BJC2xx and BJ/BJC4xxx
many Epson Stylus inkjets eg Stylus 200, 500, 600, 740 but not 400/440
most HP Deskjet printers eg 5xx. 6xx, 7xx, 8xx, 3820, & 6122
any HP Laserjet DOS compatible laser printer eg HP Laserjet 1200, Panasonic 44xx, Brother HL6xx, 7xx etc plus current products HL2070n. 5240, 5250dn; Samsung 1750 and the 2250. We also understand the Dell 1710 to be compatible.
.... without the hassle of upgrading to Loco 3 or 4. So at last you can have bold, italics, and a variety of type sizes as well as the luxury of auto sheet feeding. Call or e-mail for more info.
The same applies to Amstrad 8256 and 8512's that are fitted with a CPS8256 serial/parallel interface or equivalent, but if you are still running the original LocoScript 1, you will need to upgrade to Loco2.
Please note that whilst 'external' printers work OK in LocoScript, they cannot necessarily be driven by other programs run from CP/M. Your program's documentation should indicate the types of external printed supported.
Amstrad PCW disc conversions to PC & Mac
If you want to ....
publish that book you still have on LocoScript 3" discs
know what's on those funny-looking CF2 discs you have inherited from a deceased relative
re-visit your thesis but no longer have a PCW
take a security copy on CD of all the work you have saved on your PCW
e-mail your latest poems or articles written on your PCW to your publisher or magazine
........ we offer a range of conversions from 3" CF2 or 3.5" LocoScript discs to a variety of PC & Mac formats (incl MS Word, MS Works and Open Office) at just £5 per disc (with discounts for quantity).
click here for full details about our PCW disc conversions
"In Technology's Guard's Van rather than the Vanguard"
Tel (01726) 81 2257 - Fax 087 0051 7259
e-mail malc@luxsoft.demon.co.uk
Established 1986 - This page last amended 27th April 2009
All prices quoted are correct as at time of posting this page but prices can and do fluctuate so please call or e-mail for latest prices and availabilities.
We
can also accept payments via
- please e-mail for details
All text Copyright LuxSoft of Luxulyan 2000-2009
