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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: mikey2001 on January 20, 2004, 09:54:47 PM

Title: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: mikey2001 on January 20, 2004, 09:54:47 PM

Hello all,

I have been offered a floppy drive out of an A500. Would it be possible to put this floppy in either an A2000, A3000 or A4000 and would it work? The A4000's floppy is not working properly and I badly need a replacement!  :-(

Any help gratefully received,

Mike

Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on January 20, 2004, 09:57:59 PM

sigh, I know the problem, two A500 fd's of mine died. But heck no, no way an A500 fd will fit in an A2000, the front isn't suitable.

Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: Dr.Bongo on January 20, 2004, 10:13:40 PM

A A500 floppy drive will physically work with any amiga, BUT you won`t be able to fit a fascia so it will look awful. I understand your problem as I`m trying to get a replacment drive for my A4000 as well. There are also a few adapters on the market that will let you use a standard PC High Density drive but I have no experience with these so I can`t really comment. Bye bye

Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: itix on January 20, 2004, 10:52:38 PM

You can buy 2nd external floppy drive and strip a drive with faceplate
from it. If you are lucky it *may* fit.

Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: ExtremeWays on January 21, 2004, 02:24:48 AM

I'm using an Eyetech EZDF0 PC floppy adaptor on my Amiga 1200 at the moment.  It works beautiful.  

I can recommend it to extend the life of a floppy based miggy.

They are a little on the expensive side though..  The adaptor alone costs $40 here in Australia :(  not good if you are replacing 2 or 3 floppy's :)

Good Luck..

Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: PaSha on January 21, 2004, 06:55:19 AM

The A500 floppy drive is (commonly) a Chinon FB-354, the same as in the A2000 and A3000, but it does not have a faceplate. It will also fit in the A4000 (replacing the FB-357A HD floppy drive, but obviuosly you will no longer have the possibility to read HD disks) If you are going to replace a faulty drive, you can simply move the faceplate (A2000/A4000) or the button (A3000) over to the 'naked' A500 drive.
So yes, it will work just fine, and even look nice.

-Paul

Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: Jope on January 21, 2004, 08:19:12 AM

Quote

PaSha wrote:
The A500 floppy drive is (commonly) a Chinon FB-354, the same as in the A2000 and A3000, but it does not have a faceplate. It will also fit in the A4000 (replacing the FB-357A HD floppy drive, but obviuosly you will no longer have the possibility to read HD disks) If you are going to replace a faulty drive, you can simply move the faceplate (A2000/A4000) or the button (A3000) over to the 'naked' A500 drive.
So yes, it will work just fine, and even look nice.

-Paul

Sometimes there are a few differences in the drive casing between the models. Ones not designed to take a face plate don't have the necessary clips on them, or if you use an A2000 face plate on an A4000 chinon, you need to file it down a bit as the attachment is different. :-)

I wonder why they couldn't just make the drives identical and just include or leave out the face plate. :-P

Title: Re: Amiga floppy drives
Post by: mikey2001 on January 21, 2004, 11:38:09 AM

@ Everyone

Thanks very much for all the replies and advice. I think i will either wait unitil i can get a proper A4000 floppy or a Catweasel.

Mike