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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: mingle on November 17, 2008, 10:50:09 PM

Title: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: mingle on November 17, 2008, 10:50:09 PM

Hi,

I've just installed an IDE to CF adaptor in my A1200 and it all works fine, apart from now the yellow HDD LED on the front of the A1200 doesn't flash when the CF card is accessed.

The adaptor does have a tiny surface mount LED, which also doesn't do anything when the card is accessed.

However, when I connect a normal 2.5" HDD along with the CF adaptor on the same IDE cable (with the CF adaptor set to 'slave') the LED on both the A1200 and CF adaptor flash when the HDD is accessing, which is a bit strange.

I've also tried the CF adaptor on its own, set to 'slave' and still no LED activity...

Is this the way they usually behave?

Cheers,

Mike.

Title: Re: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: ZeBeeDee on November 18, 2008, 12:17:54 AM

Some cheaper variants of the adapter's work in this fashion and it's hit and miss to get one that will actually light the A1200's LED during access.

When I was originally writing the 'How-To' I came across this problem through testing various CF interfaces - normally the cheap Ebay ones from Hong Kong are the culprits but they work, just no light show.

Provided the CF card and adapter are functioning correctly, you can ignore this minor inconvenience, but please take a little bit of extra care to ensure  all read and write operations are complete before resetting or switching off the A1200.

Title: Re: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: tribz on November 18, 2008, 12:18:50 AM

Mine does the same. One of the IDE pins (39 or 40 I think) is for activity, suspect the CF card doesnt send any info on that pin.

Title: Re: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: Fingers on November 18, 2008, 01:15:07 AM

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=35893

PZ.

Title: Re: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: mingle on November 18, 2008, 04:11:28 AM

@Fingers,

That looks like it!

The adapter is the same as mine...

I'll give it a try (as soon as I get a tiny-teeny tip for my soldering iron!)

Thanks again!

Mike.

Title: Re: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: NovaCoder on November 18, 2008, 05:58:16 AM

Quote

mingle wrote:
@Fingers,

That looks like it!

The adapter is the same as mine...

I'll give it a try (as soon as I get a tiny-teeny tip for my soldering iron!)

Thanks again!

Mike.

Just buy one of the ones in the thread that supports the HD LED by default...mine only cost $10 delivered :)

Title: Re: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: mingle on November 18, 2008, 11:26:26 AM

Hi there,

So where did you get the CF adaptor?

I can get one from Hong Kong for $AU 4.79 delivered (hardly seems worth the effort for the seller!), but it's the same type as the one I already have...

Cheers,

Mike.

Title: Re: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: tribz on November 18, 2008, 06:06:47 PM

Quote

Fingers wrote:
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=35893

PZ.

Thanks for the link. Tried it this afternoon but didnt work for me. DOH! I have the same type of adaptor as in the link.

Edit: Just read the full EAB thread and I have an onboard LED on the CF adaptor that is fitted the wrong way round. Soldering to the other side of the LED has fixed the problem and I now have HD activity working :-D

Title: Re: A1200 IDE-CF adapter, works but no HDD LED activity!
Post by: NovaCoder on November 18, 2008, 10:28:04 PM

Quote

mingle wrote:
Hi there,

So where did you get the CF adaptor?


Cheers,

Mike.

All the details are in the EAB linky  :-)