CD-ROM Drive on an A1200?

[ent0mbed]

Hello.  Recently powered my A1200 up for the first time in ages and I've been cataloging my old software.  I'm not very literate when it comes to Amiga hardware and I was wondering what my options are for hooking up a CD-ROM to my A1200 are.  I currently have an old CD-ROM drive (CD32 compatible) and it hooks up with some cable that goes from a 25-pin connection on the CD drive to the PCMCIA slot on the Amiga.  However, truth be told, the drive has never worked very well (doesn't really recognize CDs written on the PC well at all).  Thought there must be something more reliable out there.  Can someone give me some pointers as to what I should look for (so I can at least watch ebay, etc.)  Thanks in advance!

[Effy]

There are many options, but to give a funny example, check this link out :

External DVD drive for A1200 at Vesalia

[ent0mbed]

Effy wrote:
There are many options, but to give a funny example, check this link out :

External DVD drive for A1200 at Vesalia

That is hilarious.  I take it they are more reliable now then the ones that first came out?  Do they still connect via the PCMCIA port?  Thanks again.

[x56h34]

You are required to open your Amiga to install the IDE adapter, and modify its case slightly in order for the IDE cable to be able to stick out from the case.

If you want a "cleaner" connection, then you need a PCMCIA controller (e.g. CD1200 or Squirrel SCSI) or a SCSI external port that mounts in the free expansion slot next to the floppy drive.

[ent0mbed]

x56h34 wrote:
You are required to open your Amiga to install the IDE adapter, and modify its case slightly in order for the IDE cable to be able to stick out from the case.

If you want a "cleaner" connection, then you need a PCMCIA controller (e.g. CD1200 or Squirrel SCSI) or a SCSI external port that mounts in the free expansion slot next to the floppy drive.

Ok, well... I guess I already have the IDE adapter installed.  I have an external hard drive (540mb) with the ribbon cable running out of the computer (I remember having to use a razor blade to trim the case a little for that.  Other than that... are there CD drives that will use the PCMCIA slot located on the left side of the computer?  I don't see an expansion slot near the floppy, but I do see a small removable plastic area on the back of the computer behind the area the floppy resides in.  I can take pictures if I'm not coming across well.  I just want to make sure I get what I need instead of throwing money away. Thanks!

[Effy]

ent0mbed : "are there CD drives that will use the PCMCIA slot located on the left side of the computer? I don't see an expansion slot near the floppy" ... please don´t be offended, but the floppy is on the right side and the pcmcia port on the other side, at almost the same place as the expansion port of an Amiga500, but then a lot smaller. This port can also be used for networkcards of PC laptops like , but of course also for a pcmcia IDE interface, also a PCMCIA Card Driver Disc to Read and Write Smart Media / Compact Flash / PC Card ( Flash Disc) on Ebay ...

PCMCIA card network : click here ...

[Orjan]

Or, if you dont want an external drive, heres a trick:

http://home.twcny.rr.com/wicksall/1200CDMod.html

[Xamiche]

@ent0mbed

Hi there,

Have you thought about doing a tower mod on your Amiga 1200? It might be the best way to go if you don't want nasty cables running out of your Amiga case. Sure it's a big job, but it looks so nice when done. That way you can add a CD Drive to the IDE bus and you will still have your PCMCIA slot free for other things, like networking. The tricky thing I found with tower modding was how to connect the keyboard. There are a few ways to go about it, but I found creating a "translator" controller from a PIC the best way, since then you can use a standard PC keyboard and not pay expensive prices for Amiga keyboard, or adaptors.
Slightly off topic here sorry. :-)

Xamiche

[Effy]

Orjan : hey dude, a mega ´thank you´ for that link !! Now I am also gonna try to get a slimline CDrom into my A1200´s desktop that already has got a Powerflyer mounted on board !! At this moment I have got a 40 Gb external HD and a 48X CDrewriter somewhere close to the floppy drive. It´s not so good looking but at least I got it working. But with that link you gave I can try to mount a 2,5" hd and slimline on the inside !!! Thanks again !!

[Orjan]

@effy

Sure thing. I´m gonna try it myself aswell... Just got my hands on a TEAC slimline cd-rom... I hope I have the skills for it...

[ent0mbed]

Effy wrote:
ent0mbed : "are there CD drives that will use the PCMCIA slot located on the left side of the computer? I don't see an expansion slot near the floppy" ... please don´t be offended, but the floppy is on the right side and the pcmcia port on the other side

Absolutely no offense taken.  x56h34 had stated that I could use a SCSI external port that mounts in the free expansion slot next to the floppy drive.  My statement meant that I didn't see an expansion slot on the right side (unless it's internal and I just misunderstood).  I would prefer to get a cd drive that can just plug into the PCMCIA slot... are there reliable ones out there?  As always thanks for the advice!

[Effy]

You need a pcmcia IDE controller, that´s all.Omce you have that you can put any CDrom inside it, from a 4 speed to 56 speed and probably also any CDrewriter too !!!

[Effy]

Orjan : while searching on my favourite Ebay (german) for pcmcia networkadapter-cable (have networkcard but no adapter to plug networkcable in) I found this Slimline to IDE adapter  :-)

[Orjan]

Yep. I have already ordered one from a computer store here in sweden... And I have a TEAC 224E in my possesion...