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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Stedy on July 19, 2004, 11:03:11 PM

Title: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: Stedy on July 19, 2004, 11:03:11 PM

Hello,

I have been experimenting with replacing an Amiga floppy drive with a PC one and I have found a few anomalies I would like some help with.

I was given the following two diagrams/pages to work from
Page 1 instructions (http://www.ianstedman.co.uk/Downloads/amega.jpg) and Page 2 interface circuit. (http://www.ianstedman.co.uk/Downloads/amega2.jpg)

This will work if I boot from the floppy drive, but when I boot from the hard drive I get DF0:NDOS on the workbench.

Looking at the Amiga's floppy wiring, do I need to switch Pins 10 (SEL0) and 12 (SEL1) with pins 14 and 12 respectively of the PC floppy drive?

Am I missing something simple here?

Title: Re: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: JaXanim on July 20, 2004, 01:14:49 AM

I think you'll need a Catweasel or similar kit to do this properly.

Cheers,

JaX

Title: Re: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: orange on July 20, 2004, 12:28:09 PM

to get the "ready" signal you need to connect one diode. There are various solutions on aminet that include simple pcb for RDY. I tried that one diode solution and it worked for nonDOS game that required it (Super Cars 2).
The diode is really cheap (less than 1 dollar) and can be bought almost anywhere.

and YES, catweasel would be best solution if you are rich, (total rip-off)

Title: Re: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: BoingBoss on July 20, 2004, 07:21:41 PM

Hi Stedy,

The following PC disk drives work on the Amiga:

Teac FD-235HF 3201-U
Teac FD-235HF 3217-U
Teac FD-235HF 3240-U5
Chinon FB-354

These disk drives can be found in old PC computers (10 to 15 years old).  I sell them, in new condition, for only $250.00 each.  Limit 2 per customer.   :-D

Title: Re: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: Holley on July 20, 2004, 09:44:10 PM

Eyetech used to make a little convertor kit for use with Sony HD disk drives.  I have such a kit, unused as it was made to fit A1200 floppy connectors and didn't fit my A3K ... I've always been led to believe there was a timing difference that meant they couldn't be swapped ...

Title: Re: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: BoingBoss on July 20, 2004, 10:54:14 PM

NOT TRUE!  Many of the older PC disk drives will work on the Amiga and Atari ST computers.  They just will read at 880K or 720K, not at 1.44 MB.

Title: Re: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: Stedy on July 20, 2004, 11:56:16 PM

Ok,

Erm, any other suggestions?

I took a new PC floppy drive and plugged it straight into my knackered Amitek external drive casing + interface, worked perfectly first time. This external drive has a 22V10 PAL that allows a PC HD floppy to work with the Amiga. I want to 'engineer' it's functionality, for an internal drive for a repair guide I am working on.

Back to the workshop.......

Title: Re: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: TjLaZer on July 20, 2004, 11:59:41 PM

@Doomy

So those PC drives you mentioned are drop in replacements to work on the Amigas?  That would be great if that is the case. Or do some mods need to be performed on them?

Title: Re: Replacing floppy with a PC one.
Post by: BoingBoss on July 21, 2004, 01:09:45 AM

Hi TjLaZer,

Quote

So those PC drives you mentioned are drop in replacements to work on the Amigas? That would be great if that is the case. Or do some mods need to be performed on them?

Yes, they are drop in replacements.  No mods needed, just change a few jumpers.  I uploaded a picture of the Teac jumper settings here on Amiga Org.

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=693=8

If anyone needs the jumper settings for the Chinon disk drive just let me know and I will upload a picture of that disk drives jumpers (set up for the Amiga).   :-D