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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Jose on August 05, 2006, 12:25:16 PM

Title: A4000T PC floppy adaptor wanted (was floppy drive problem...)
Post by: Jose on August 05, 2006, 12:25:16 PM
Hi. Is there somehting that needs to be done or set for a PC or 880K floppy drive to be used in an A4000T ? The only jumper in the disks module works the same as in the A4000D, setting DF1 to 880k when ON or HD/none when OFF. I've tried with 2 880k drives and it didn't work. Then even took off my PC's floppy drive, wich I know is working, same result, light flashes when boot screen appears trying to boot but then if I insert a disk, nothing.
However the Chinon HD floppy drive from my A4000D works!
Title: Re: A4000T floppy problem
Post by: Jose on August 05, 2006, 03:03:21 PM
Update, think I found the problem but can't solve it...

If I leave a disk on the drive before booting the machine, it will read and boot from it. When workbench is completely loaded an icon saying DF0???? appears, wich probably means the drive is being used as DF1. This is in the phase where it tries to boot from floppy before showing the bootscreen. If I only insert the disk after the boot screen it won't do anything and the drive doesn't click.

Now the bugger, the A4000T DOESN't have a jumper (nor the disks module) to redirect DF0 like the 4000 does! How do I change it to use the drive as DF0 then ?
 :madashell:
Title: Re: A4000T floppy problem
Post by: Jose on August 05, 2006, 03:41:42 PM
Ok found the problem....
My A4000 doesn't have the PCB adaptor thingy to use PC drives. :-x Link (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/download_photos/a4000tfloppyadaptor1.jpg)

Anyone has a spare one ?
Title: Re: A4000T floppy problem
Post by: Matt_H on August 05, 2006, 03:47:48 PM
I don't have one of those either. Is it supposed to allow PC floppy drives to work without modification? Amiga drives work fine without it.

Some PC drives can be used with a modified data cable.
Title: Re: A4000T floppy problem
Post by: Jose on August 05, 2006, 03:56:39 PM
Hey Matt :-) Didn't knew some PC drives only needed a cable mod. I have 3 PC drives here so I think I prefer to get the PCB adaptor thing. Getting an Amiga HD drive would be the best but it's too expensive..
Title: Re: A4000T floppy problem
Post by: X-ray on August 06, 2006, 08:13:46 PM
@ Jose

Sorry dude, but that PCB won't let you use standard PC drives on your A4000T. I also tried that. The drive still has to be modified.
I suggest you ask PaSha for the solution. He has a very good understanding of the A4KT and its drives.
Title: Re: A4000T floppy problem
Post by: Matt_H on August 06, 2006, 08:18:35 PM
@ X-Ray

Do you know what that PCB is supposed to do?
Title: Re: A4000T floppy problem
Post by: X-ray on August 06, 2006, 09:10:47 PM
@ Matt_H

I don't know what it does, sorry. All I know is that it is 'married' to the floppy drive that came with the A4KT. The one has no purpose without the other (that's my understanding of it).

Edit: check this thread (http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14578) from last year.
Title: Re: A4000T PC floppy PCB adapter NEEDED (was floppy problem)
Post by: Jose on August 07, 2006, 08:31:41 PM
@X-ray

If it's married to the floppy drive that came with the A4KT then it's all good cause I have that drive8-) It's an Alps Electric thing right ? Apparently the seller took the PCB off along with the disks module:oops:

Or maybe someone has the schematics for it (dunno where I'd have it made but it'd be better than nothing I guess)
Title: Re: A4000T PC floppy PCB adapter NEEDED (was floppy problem)
Post by: djbase on August 07, 2006, 08:54:43 PM
This PCB is the FloppyFix from the ESCOM A1200 and was made by DCE. Seems it was also used in the A4kT.

Title: Re: A4000T PC floppy PCB adapter NEEDED (was floppy problem)
Post by: Jose on August 07, 2006, 09:27:47 PM
Good, so there must be some around. If someone has one....
Long term plan is still getting an HD floppy but judjing by how much these things get used today I don't know... Myabe I'd better off getting just an DD Amiga drive.
Title: Re: A4000T PC floppy adaptor wanted (was floppy drive problem...)
Post by: PaSha on August 07, 2006, 09:48:45 PM
Quote

Jose wrote:
Hi. Is there somehting that needs to be done or set for a PC or 880K floppy drive to be used in an A4000T ? The only jumper in the disks module works the same as in the A4000D, setting DF1 to 880k when ON or HD/none when OFF. I've tried with 2 880k drives and it didn't work. Then even took off my PC's floppy drive, wich I know is working, same result, light flashes when boot screen appears trying to boot but then if I insert a disk, nothing.
However the Chinon HD floppy drive from my A4000D works!


A 880kB Amiga floppy drive (ie one from a butchered external drive) will normally work out of the box. Just plug it in (on a straight, untwisted cable).

Using two drives is a bit more tricky, read the thread already mentioned above.

-Paul
Title: Re: A4000T floppy problem
Post by: Markus_Bieler on August 07, 2006, 10:50:51 PM
My A4000T didn't had the PCB-Adaptor, but IIRC there was a line crossed from pin 2 to 34 and visversa. AND three lines to change the drive ID, but I no more remember which one. Sorry

It has something to do with disk ready (or diskchange). But as I ripped the PANASONIC JU257 (IIRC) out and gave the A4000T two real CHINON FZ357A, I had to reverse the Original Hack made by Escom.
(My Serial # of the Tower 000000032 19-Dec-95) The later
builded system had the PCB-board installed.

2. Try to change the jumpers from DS0 to DS1 on the back of the drive.

3. Find a CHINON FZ354 or FZ357A

Markus