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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Akira on April 24, 2008, 08:51:50 PM

Title: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Akira on April 24, 2008, 08:51:50 PM
Hey guys,

I read all about running those PCMCIA CF adapters on the Amiga  and stuff, but would any of these multireader PCMCIA adapters work too? I have a {bleep}load of memorysticks and I would preffer to use these instead of having to buy old CF technology. I read the specs on the back of the blister but they dont say teh voltage of the thingy, just  "PCMCIA TYPE II COMPATIBLE", which I -assume- would run in the Amiga (then again, they -might- be cardbus)

Also, what is the max CF size the Amiga can take in there?

What about CF to IDE card size? Would a 2GB CF be OK using FFS or do I need to put SFS in it?

Thanks in advance ;)
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Zac67 on April 24, 2008, 09:00:39 PM
PC Cards (PCI style) usually have a golden contact stripe - these won't work.
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: motorollin on April 24, 2008, 09:18:27 PM
You can get adapters to use a Memory Stick in a Compact Flash slot. That could then go in an Amiga compatible CF->PCMCIA adapter.

--
moto
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Matt_H on April 24, 2008, 10:15:07 PM
Basically, if you can connect it via PCMCIA, it'll work with the cfd.lha package. There are a variety of x to PCMCIA adapters on the market; many support multiple media types.
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Akira on April 25, 2008, 04:07:49 AM
What do you think of this one?

*link broken*

i think it's the same one i saw today at the shop
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: countzero on April 25, 2008, 04:19:18 AM
Quote

motorollin wrote:
You can get adapters to use a Memory Stick in a Compact Flash slot. That could then go in an Amiga compatible CF->PCMCIA adapter.

--
moto


I would avoid using memory stick (sony trademark here) at all costs. Compact Flash and SD works nicely.
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Akira on April 25, 2008, 02:25:20 PM
Quote
countzero wrote:
I would avoid using memory stick (sony trademark here) at all costs. Compact Flash and SD works nicely.

Can you please explain this to me? is there any real technical hindrance to using Memory Stick in an Amiga or is this just anti-Sony fanboyism?

Please elaborate :)
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Akira on May 27, 2008, 12:37:13 AM
I guess I could help someone with this.

I succesfully took one of these adapters and, after slightly modifying it (filing the side so it's not cardbus notch anymore), I am reading SD, MemoryStick and other types of cards with my Amiga! Certainly cool so you don't have to buy CF cards (usually more expensive).

The reader in question can be bought, in Europe, in the Conrad chain of stores, and it looks like this:

(http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1931/dsc002361yw5.jpg)

Ran it using the CFD device and Fat95 for file transfer. Probably works with any other filesystem too.
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: darksun9210 on May 27, 2008, 02:21:42 PM
just for the sake of my curiosity,

if you got one of these compactflash pcmcia adapters, and formatted the card to have an RDB, and amiga partition layout and etc...

could you boot from it in the pcmcia slot?
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: countzero on May 27, 2008, 02:33:32 PM
I have a pcmcia - memory stick adapter that doesn't work. (yes it's PC Card 16 bit) did you actually use a memory stick in your adapter ?

yes I hate sony. if you have some sense you would too. Just 15 minutes of Sonicstage use is enough. If not, a rootkit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Sony_BMG_CD_copy_protection_scandal) installed in your computer should do it. sony must die.
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Piru on May 27, 2008, 02:45:53 PM
@darksun9210

no
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: darksun9210 on May 27, 2008, 02:56:30 PM
cool. thats just saved me a tenner finding out :-)
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on May 27, 2008, 03:23:46 PM
Quote

darksun9210 wrote:
cool. thats just saved me a tenner finding out :-)
Wrong answer. You should have said: "But.. but.. but this or that it must be possible" :lol:
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Akira on June 08, 2008, 01:20:46 PM
Quote

darksun9210 wrote:
just for the sake of my curiosity,

if you got one of these compactflash pcmcia adapters, and formatted the card to have an RDB, and amiga partition layout and etc...

could you boot from it in the pcmcia slot?

Why would this not work? I never tried. You are supposedly able to boot from PCMCIA if you want, it's in the early startup options and it doesn't have a priority of -128. I'll give it a whirrl, there are 9 euro 2GB SD cards I could try ;D

I DID try it with a MemoryStick (that's what I mostly have, I own a Sony digicam and a PSP). Check out video here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VsH6t-rThLA

It didn't work with my MS Duo Pro but I guess because it was 4GB
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: countzero on June 08, 2008, 01:28:20 PM
no, I bet it didn't work because of the crappy magic gate copy protection scheme. I used both a 16mb and 128mb memory stick pro cards, they both didn't work. so people be aware. don't buy memory stick adapters thinking they will work with your amiga.
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: Piru on June 08, 2008, 02:46:00 PM
Quote
Why would this not work?

Because carddisk.device doesn't support CF.

Quote
You are supposedly able to boot from PCMCIA if you want

IIRC that stuff is for the custom amiga bootable PCMCIA cards.
Title: Re: Will this work in the Amiga?
Post by: alexh on June 08, 2008, 02:55:04 PM
I think the CFD drivers might be rommable and so could fit in flash on a Deneb, Kickflash, eFlash, Algor etc. which would allow you to boot from PCMCIA CF cards.

You can always stick a CF->IDE adapter inside.