Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Gwion on December 26, 2007, 10:51:59 PM

Title: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: Gwion on December 26, 2007, 10:51:59 PM
I have heard there is a difference between a modern day parallel and the amiga parallel.
So what do i have to do to make a modern day zip drive on the A1200.
@adonay you can say what type drive it is :D
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: bloodline on December 26, 2007, 10:54:45 PM
Quote

Gwion wrote:
I have heard there is a difference between a modern day parallel and the amiga parallel.
So what do i have to do to make a modern day zip drive on the A1200.
@adonay you can say what type drive it is :D


You'd need a driver... I have no idea where you'd find one now...
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: lillPiP on December 26, 2007, 11:05:38 PM
Maybe an internal Zipdrive or preferrably a scsi.
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: Gwion on December 26, 2007, 11:09:03 PM
only interested in a Parallel Zip Dive so do i need to swap any pins on the parallel cable?
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: Homer on December 26, 2007, 11:19:52 PM
Gwion, you need to be sure that drivers exist for it before going any further. I use an IDE one in my A1200t but I don't know about parallel or SCSI. Good luck  :-)
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: adonay on December 26, 2007, 11:35:51 PM
@Gwion. Try goggle it is your friend also forum search here as there were a guy that did this hack sometime this year with good results..

http://aminet.net/search?query=ppazip
http://www.amigau.com/zipdrives/aFAQ.html#Q2

This took me 2 mins to find ..

Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: amazing on December 27, 2007, 12:43:50 AM
then he could also read that its a experimental driver

so u better go for ide with a cdrom
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: Amiduffer on December 27, 2007, 03:05:35 AM
Quote

Gwion wrote:
I have heard there is a difference between a modern day parallel and the amiga parallel.
So what do i have to do to make a modern day zip drive on the A1200.


I put that parallel Zip drive hack together and it worked, somewhat. It was slow as hell, and it did funny things to the files. Its a nice project if you like making projects like that.
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 27, 2007, 08:51:28 PM
Quote

adonay wrote:
http://aminet.net/search?query=ppazip
http://www.amigau.com/zipdrives/aFAQ.html#Q2

This took me 2 mins to find ..



That was a good find mate :pint:


Quote
The parallel port on the Amiga is different, hardware wise, from a PC parallel port, and is incompatible. Besides that, it's a waste of time and speed. However, if you're daring, download a program called ppazip.lha which is an experimental parallel port driver and hardware hack. Your Mileage May Vary. Personally I think it's a waste of time; Get yourself a SCSI controller.



Yep! Sounds like the kind of thing I'd spend weeks trying, and then listen to the advice I was previously given and go SCSI ;-)


@ Gwion

I have both Amiga and FAT Zip drivers that can be set to any device and unit you like :-)

Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: tokyoracer on December 27, 2007, 10:25:32 PM
I got an external one of them too that came with the tower, got apsolutely no idea how to get it running.
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: A4000_Mad on December 28, 2007, 12:00:22 AM
@ tokyoracer

Are you requesting any help?

They made an almost identical looking blue Iomega Zip 100 drive that can be either Parallel or SCSI. If you have a switch on the rear to set the SCSI ID to 5 or 6, then it is this version that you have :-)

(or you could have something completely different :-D)
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: tokyoracer on December 28, 2007, 08:51:09 PM
It has 2 ports on it. It does fit in the parallel port I know that, and it's an Iomega that's all I remember. I'll dig it out and have a look for you soon.
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: InTheSand on December 28, 2007, 10:11:17 PM
Hi,

The original parallel port Zip drive plus Aminet hack and driver work fine, but slowly!

Never had any issues with things being mangled, so the driver is pretty solid. And using the likes of XFS with it gives access to long filenames on PC-formatted Zip disks.

 - Ali
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: motrucker on December 29, 2007, 04:08:40 AM
zip drives are slow enough to start with! Do yourself a favor - find a SyQuest EZ-135 (or 270 or?) SCSI. These are real, removable hard drives that are fast, and work very well. Ive used one for something like 10 years with no problems. The last EZ 135 drive I bought, I got on eBay for $1.00 + shipping (and it works fine after over a year).
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: InTheSand on December 29, 2007, 07:08:46 AM
Quote

motrucker wrote:
zip drives are slow enough to start with! Do yourself a favor - find a SyQuest EZ-135 (or 270 or?) SCSI.


True, and the parallel version is the slowest of them all! But... once the (very cheap to build) interface has been built, at least it can be used on a basic unexpanded and HDD-less Amiga...

 - Ali
Title: Re: Zip drive on A1200
Post by: rkauer on December 29, 2007, 06:28:23 PM
 Or a IDE internal version of the LS-120 unit.

 It works as a floppy reader (DD & HD!) and LS-120 disks (120Mb). But you need to put it in a tower.