Editing Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ Troubleshooting Guide (section)

== Loading faults ==

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:left;"
! Symptom !! Action
|-
| Loading bars appear but no program name || Almost always the tape deck. Clean the head and '''adjust the azimuth''' — with a tape playing, turn the azimuth screw for the sharpest possible note. If the note sounds at all muffled the Spectrum will not load from it
|-
| Program name shows as '''????????''' || Volume set too high — reduce it
|-
| Intermittent loading || Check the tension of the EAR/MIC socket contacts; they can be re-tensioned by pushing the spring contact down and inward rather than replacing the socket
|-
| No loading bars at all, tape deck known good || Change the ULA (IC1) first, then check the MIC socket, then '''D9 (1N4148)''' behind the MIC socket
|}

Sources: Service Manual Repair Data and the community repair guide.<ref name="sm48" /><ref name="ian" /> The manual notes that a recorder can play music perfectly and still be misaligned for the Spectrum, and that it is better to set volume for maximum treble than to use the midpoint.<ref name="sm48" />