A2000 A2286 Floppy access

[thanos]

Hey there anyone, and everyone.

I was hoping to access a standard 3.5" floppy with my bridgeboard.

I was under the impression that it should be possible.

I hoped to use a standard PC type 3.5" 1.44mb drive and cable.

I believe all the hardware is installed correctly.

How do I access the drive?

Can anybody help with finding a manual?

[Jeff]

You can use a standard 1.44 meg PC floppy drive however you will need to connect it to an ISA PC floppy controller. Use of an Amiga floppy for both the Bridgeboard and Amiga sides is also possible. You will need an Amiga specific floppy and different cabling to set this up. The ISA floppy/controller setup will be more reliable and faster.  I'm sure one of us can provide more exact specifics if you need additional help.

Good Luck
-Jeff

[Kronos]

It's been along times since I've used an AT, and i never had an 2286, but standard (PC) cables should work, just don't forget to adjust the BIOS-settings (AFAIR the 2286 came with a 5.25 drive at 1.2MB, so 1.44MB should be possible).

[thanos]

@Jeff

You can use a standard 1.44 meg PC floppy drive however you will need to connect it to an ISA PC floppy controller.

Hmmm, now where the heck do i dig up an ISA controller?

[thanos]

@ Kronos

It's been along times since I've used an AT, and i never had an 2286, but standard (PC) cables should work, just don't forget to adjust the BIOS-settings (AFAIR the 2286 came with a 5.25 drive at 1.2MB, so 1.44MB should be possible).

I found a little information that led me to believe that this was possible.

hmmmm, what about bios settings?  How would I change them?  I haven't read anything about that.

Having no manual really sucks...

[amigadave]

Jeff wrote:
You can use a standard 1.44 meg PC floppy drive however you will need to connect it to an ISA PC floppy controller. Use of an Amiga floppy for both the Bridgeboard and Amiga sides is also possible. You will need an Amiga specific floppy and different cabling to set this up. The ISA floppy/controller setup will be more reliable and faster.  I'm sure one of us can provide more exact specifics if you need additional help.

Good Luck
-Jeff

An ISA floppy drive controller...... now there is a tough find I would think, but maybe I am wrong.  Glad I was able to find the floppy controller chip for my GoldenGate, now if I could just find more time to get my 486slc w/doubler Cyrix chip to work.

Edit:  Good luck using your 286 Bridgeboard, the fellow user responsible for showing me my first Amiga had an A2000 with one installed in it and all I heard him say about it were four word expletives that can't be repeated on this family friendly forum.  :lol:

[Kronos]

thanos wrote:


hmmmm, what about bios settings?  How would I change them?  I haven't read anything about that.

Having no manual really sucks...

Most of them ATs had a startup-message going like this:

"Press DEL to enter BIOS"
 ;-)