Hey, I just found (in our shed) an Atari 520ST and an Atari 2600, along with a few extras:

Atari 2600:
- It works, although the power connector is "dicky".
- Has a three button "professional" joystick.
- Activision "Super Hit Pak":
- River Raid
- Grand Prix
- Sky Jinks
- Fishing Derby
- Checkers
- Atari Vanguard
- Atari Midnight Magic
- Atari Footbal (Realsports Socker)
- Double Dragon
- Enduro
- Megamania
- Skiing (WTF at psychedelic cover)

Atari 520ST:
- Appears to be fully working
- Inbuilt floppy drive might need cleaning/repairing
- No hard drive, modem or monitor.
- Atari 1st Word Manual
- Atari ST BASIC Quick Reference
- Atari ST Computer Owners Manual
- Ocean Wrestle Mania + Mint Cond. Manual
- Ocean Shadow Warriors + Mint Cond. Manual
- First Word
- U.K. Language Disk
- Afterburner
- Bombuzal
- Bomb Jack
- Xenon
- Super Hang On
- Star Ray
- Star Goose
- Double Dragon
- Starglider
- Overlander
- Super Huey
- Space Harrier
- Black Lump (I'm like totally enthralled... O_o)
- Outrun
- Predator
- Gauntlet 2
- Eliminator
- Nebulus
- Pac-Mania
- R-Type
- Pitfighter
- Go Moku
- Backgammon
- Robotron
- St Tour
- Music Maker
- Neochrome
- Express Check

So naturally I should explain that I've never owned anything made by or for Atari and I have got no idea about how to use any of this stuff.

I've tried to run a few games, but when I try to access the floppy disk it "whirls" for a moment than tells me the drive is not responding. Should I try to get a head cleaner? Or an external floppy drive? Or am I missing something obvious?

Is there a way I can backup these disks? Are they computer readable (with special software, perhaps)?

And is there anything else I should know/do?

OOOoooooohh..... :blink:

Get a new floppy-drive. Take a peek on Ebay or simulare. I see them selling them all the time on swedish auction-sites. Both Amiga and Atari-hardware are resonably easy to find.
(The swedish site is www.tradera.com if you'r having trouble finding it elsewhere.)

Well I have an Atari 2600 and I'm pretty sure it's functional even though I haven't touched it in ages. But it looks like all your problems are with the 520ST, so I can't help you. Making the 2600 work is as easy as making a NES work of course --albeit less rewarding LOL

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Japofran @ Nov 28 2006, 08:13 PM) [snapback]269114[/snapback]</div>by that you mean blowing into a cart for 10/15 mins and it still not f***ing running (believe me, i've been there and done that when i've rarely got my NES out and that's one thing i'm glad you don't have to do on emulators)

I remember that problem with NES when only blowing into the catrtidge, which helped a little but also ruined with the time the NES itself. Never encountered the same thing on more advanced video game consoles like SNES or N64 though, I wonder what was wrong with NES that such a thing came after some time...

I still have my NES and I never encountered probs with the cartridges. :blink:
I mostly don't even have to blow the dust away... :huh:

I think cartridges rule! :brain:
No loading time, hard to damage (REALLY HARD) and easy to handle! :max:

T3H <ar7r1dg0rZ!!! :kosta: :brain: :kosta: :brain:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Icewolf @ Nov 29 2006, 09:29 AM) [snapback]269205[/snapback]</div>I agree!

I have a Nes too, and SNES, and N64!

I never had such problems either with my Atari 2600 or my Sega Master System --both still working. I guess <ar7r1dg0rZ ( LOL ) had small capacity, but being prone to damaging wasn't surely one of the downsides you could throw at them.

(By the way Sonic pwns Mario all the way. :D And if you answer me you'll get your behind banned for going off topic. :bleh: )