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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: superfrog76 on October 02, 2018, 05:01:56 AM
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Hi all,
I have finally got a Gotek; now I am planning to install it but I don't want to loose the regular DF0, since I still run some floppy on my system.
I have a 1200 motherboard in a HTPC case; so I would like to set up both the Gotek and the DF0.
I did get a cable with 2 connectors but sadly it is a regular PC connector, so the cable has the cable twist. I want to use either drive, not both of them at the same time, so I did research a bit and I heard that it is possible to do so, by adding a switch on few pins on the cable.
Now, I have no idea how to do this...I have the 2 drives and the cable, but not sure how to "untwist" the cable, so the pins will be the same (it is a ribbon cable, I don't have a crimper so I can't add the connector just on top of the cable; which means that I need to cut some of the wires and attach them again using the iron probably), and the second question would be how to add a switch, so I can cycle between the regular floppy drive and the Gotek drive, without switch connector.
I know that the fastest way would be to just disconnect the connector every time I need to swap drive; but the case is closed and the monitor is on top of the case, so every time I would like to swap I would need to take off the monitor, the case cover and swap the drive...a lot of work to be honest, if I can avoid it :)
I assume someone else did install a Gotek and the regular floppy already; so I am curious to know how did you do it. Thanks
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HI there.
I may be able to help you. But hang in there. I'm getting setup.
I just dug out my Amiga from Storage and will be rebuilding it from Scratch, possibly on this old Thread that I started last year.
https://forum.amiga.org/index.php?topic=71885.msg840460#new (https://forum.amiga.org/index.php?topic=71885.msg840460#new)
IN that Photo which I just put up today you see my setup.
It has a Gotek on DF1: Floppy on DF0;
Both above are on a single Ribbon Cable coming from Mother Board.
The cable is Straight to Gotek, but between the Gotek and Floppy 3 of the Ribbon Cable wires are twisted and reversed (I'll get you a closeup photo)
Also I noticed on the Gotek I put a Sticker that Selects that Gotek is DF1: (Using a JUMPER)
There is no jumper for DF0:
Stay tuned.
I may have documented that in my Thread, but that's a lot of unrelated reading.
Right now I have my own problem. My floppies have gotten so old they Don't boot Workbench.
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I just read your post again.
and you say.
I want to use either drive, not both of them at the same time
Not sure why you want things to work that way.
Do you want to boot from Gotek Sometimes, and sometimes from Floppy? (So basically you want to allow both GOTEK/FLOPPY to be df0:)..with a Switch or something like that.
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What Kickstart ROM are you using?
Did some digging thru my old thread and played around with my Amiga.
I have all 4 Roms on a switcher KS1.2 1.3 2 3.1
This only worked on KS3.1 for me.
http://wiki.amigaos.net/wiki/AmigaOS_Manual:_Early_Startup
When you power up the Amiga, it will take you to a EARLY STARUP MENU (if you hold BOTH MOUSE BUTTONS)....Before Booting of a Floppy.
From there you can select which drive to boot from DF0: DF1, so if you get your GOTEK working as DF1: and Floppy on DF0: you may be able to boot from Either without any fancy cabling and switch.
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And I just got to Early Startup Menu with Kickstart 2.0 ROM
Booted off DF0: (Floppy)
Then Also Booted off DF1: (Gotek)
Appears no such menu in Kickstart 1.2 and 1.3
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And now this is interesting.
I found out with my Setup, if I have a FLOPPY in the DF0: drive it boot from it.
If I take Floppy out, it boots from the GOTEK
Doesn't matter which KICKSTART ROM I use (not need to go to Early Startup Menu).
One comment. I converted the FIRMWARE on my GOTEK to HXC (which is a great upgrade. Many feature more than Gotek Provides like booting directly off of ADF files on the USB Stick)
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Thanks a lot for the reply!
So fundamentally I wanted to have both as DF0: since many floppy won't boot from DF1, at least from what I recall (haven't touch the Amiga for ages). If there is a way to boot directly from DF1 as if it was DF0; I am just fine having both drives on the regular twisted cable, and set the jumpers as you did mention earlier in the post.
But if that is not possible, I would like to have the option to be able to boot from either, without the need to open the case and swap cables; possibly with a switch (although I still need to turn off the Amiga of course, does not feel right to hot swap on a 1991 computer to be honest).
I am on 3.1 KS, and I use 3.1 as Workbench (the enhanced version from Bloodwich, it has a ton of nice things already set up like MUI and such)
Thanks again!
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hmm.
I looked into what you want to do. Have GOTEK and Floppy both DF0: (choose one or other without opening case).
Never did that, but if I even needed it I'd figure out something.
Wonder if it would work if you turn off power on the one you don't want. Both setup on the cable as DF0: setup, but only one is powered up.
You would have a switch flipping the (+ Voltage) to one or the other.
Try that without a switch for now. Hook up both and power one off.
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Actually what I mentioned above won't work if you have the two drives on a Twisted Cable. (I think)
The cable if I remember correctly makes one DF0: and the other DF1: (I think)
What I was thinking is if you had a TWO connectors crimped on the Same piece of the ribbon cable, before the Twist.
Not sure if there would be interference from the one powered off, but I think not. It's just a ribbon BUS.
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Hey,
I just tested my idea. (With GOTEK and FLOPPY Drive on the Ribbon Cable with TWIST) No changes.
0) I changed the JUMPER on the GOTEK to be DF0:
1) I pulled the power off the GOTEK and left Floppy POWER UP and [ALL I could see the FLOPPY as DF0:]
2) I pulled the power OFF the FLOPPY but had POWER on the Gotek [All I could see was GOTEK as DF0:]
Each try (1) & (2) of course needed a reboot.
So just build a switch to flip flop power between the two.
I would leave both GROUNDED, and Switch The (+Volt wire) with a SPDT switch.
The switch on long enough (3 wires) would go outside your case.
You just have to look up the Floppy Drive Connector Pinouts for which is the Postive Voltage Wire.
Wally
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Fantastic!
So they can be both connected as DF0 even if the cable is twisted; and all that it takes is to switch power?
I can easily do a Y cable with a switch to route power; that is brilliant. Thanks again for your help! I hope you did turn off the Amiga before switch power; not sure that the power rail on the floppy has any sort of voltage regulator or fuse to avoid to blow up the floppy; when powering it up. The gotek should be more lenient on that, since it is newer tech compared to a floppy drive :)
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Yes, I did power down between Unit Swaps. (That's what I meant by Reboot).
I don't want to Fry anything on this ancient piece of HW. Even bought and use Ground Straps for any fooling around inside the A2000.
Good luck, and let me know if you get it working.
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I did this same thing, but instead of using the power line, I just put the switch on DS0.
Both the drive and the Gotek were always powered on, but the switch controlled which one was the active drive.
Worked great, but my cable w/ the switch was UGLY.
I've been meaning to do that again possibly, but I have to figure out where I would put my Gotek. (In my A1000)
Although my Amiga 1000 internal floppy is really unhappy. So I'll also need to sort that.
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?p=946881&highlight=switch#post946881
(Note: ignore my comment in that post about the Gotek supporting a Kickstart, as it does that fine. I had a bad image/transfer at the time.)
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Interesting thought. Thanks.
I may go that way, but will have to think about how I want to do that.
I have a similar issue with some of my other Amiga Periperals.
They have Jumpers that I need to switch to make things work.
I am thinking of using an Ardiuno CPU Controller and some simple Relays, and then just step thru the various combos of Jumper, Gotek vs Floppy setups.
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I'm kind of wanting to do the same thing in an A2000 (have a Gotek but also have the ability to boot from the real floppy too).
With an A2000, which has provision for two floppy drives internally, would this be any easier?
I'm just thinking, maybe I should just put the Gotek as DF1: (drive 2) and use the early startup menu in KS3.1 to boot from DF1:
That would be just as good as making some hardware switch, no?
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I'm just thinking, maybe I should just put the Gotek as DF1: (drive 2) and use the early startup menu in KS3.1 to boot from DF1:
That would be just as good as making some hardware switch, no?
For the programs (games) that support it.
But some games are hardcoded to look for DF0.
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Ah, maybe the Gotek as DF0: and the real floppy as DF1: then when I need to boot from a real floppy I'll just use the early startup menu.
I'd have all my floppy games on the Gotek anyway, and only use a real floppy for productivity applications and saving files for transferring to other Amigas.
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Early Startup menu should work. I will try that (maybe I already did).
If it does work, then the only reason it would fail is if the Software/GAME on the DF1: Gotek (fails) since it somehow only wants to be booted from DF0:
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If it does work, then the only reason it would fail is if the Software/GAME on the DF1: Gotek (fails) since it somehow only wants to be booted from DF0:
Yep, which was unfortunately not uncommon for a lot of the copy-protected disks, and some of the cracked ones too.
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Won't devices like the ICD Shuffle Board allow you to do what you are asking?
http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/shuffle
Just put a switch on the shuffle board's jumper.
This might work with the A500 and A1000. I don't know about any other amigas.
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Right now I have my own problem. My floppies have gotten so old they Don't boot Workbench.
I bought a crusty game off of ebay recently and it dirtied my floppy heads causing read issues on most of my disks. Out came my head cleaning disk with 5 drops of cleaning solution and hey presto - problem solved. There's some head cleaning programs on aminet for those who aren't sure about where to obtain such software.
This game I bought was 'tested'... yeah right... the disk when inserted sounded horrendous and had more read errors than a retard reading Shakespeare. I was surprised when he actually wanted it returning! I got my refund luckily.
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If CD-disc, then you need to clean it with pure alcohol. Look at the light to avoid blemishes.
If the problem is in the drive: CD-ROM (DVD) ?, then you need to look at the drive head.
To look through a microscope or through a large magnifying glass (magnifies the image many times).
All clean. To avoid stains. Everything will be fine.
Sure. Checked personally.
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Yes that will work.
I tested it.
The only thing that won't work is (some program/game) really wants the Floppy to be in DF0:
Then you will have to switch the two floppies around (GOTEK/Floppy) DF1: /DFO: