LS-120: writing/reading Amiga diskettes?

Pfloyd · 15 July 2008, 15:48

Hello,

is it possible to read/write Amiga diskettes with a LS-120 floppy disk drive and a PC?

This drive reads and writes LS-120 diskettes, as well as 3,5" HD and DD diskettes in standard PC format.
Its interface connects to the IDE controller of the PC, not to the standard floppy controller with its well-known limitations.

Would a custom driver enable the drive to read and write Amiga diskettes in native format?

StrategyGamer · 15 July 2008, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pfloyd

Hello,

is it possible to read/write Amiga diskettes with a LS-120 floppy disk drive and a PC?

No.

I have never heard of anyone accomplishing such a feat on an Amiga either.

alewis · 16 July 2008, 00:05

No. The drive can be used on an Amiga (in LS-120 mode), but will only write PC format 3.5" HD/DD disks (and one needs a mountlist entry and dos driver for HD mode, iirc)

Wepl · 16 July 2008, 19:40

the drive connects to ide, which means all decoding is done inside (firmware). therefore it can only read floppy formats supported by the drive itself -> 1,44 maybe 2,88 and 120

MazinKaesar · 17 July 2008, 23:43

I think LS120 works well with IDEfix... some friends of mine used it, as I remember...

Boot_WB · 18 July 2008, 00:03

Lordy, it's been a long while since I hooked one of them up to my Miggy.

There have been numerous threads about this in the past (as I dimly recall from past reading - most of it has been erased by repeated applications of alcohol). I believe that the answer is no, there really is no (feasible) way to get these to read Amiga formatted disks.

I stopped using mine, because a) I could never get them to work reliably (write a 120MB disk, then be unable to read back from it!) and b) on the internal IDE interface of the A1200, writing 120MB is painfully sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.

Did I mention that it is slow?

MazinKaesar · 18 July 2008, 00:33

Well, I think they used it as PC floppy reader, even 'cause I NEVER saw a 120mb LS disk around...

alewis · 26 July 2008, 22:15

Back in 2001/2002 I had one hooked up one the Mig, one on a PC, and a couple with friends (on PC). The idea was for "quick" file transfer of <120mb of data, which would have been a waste of a CD-R. Still got two or three here, (one fitted), and an unused, sealed disk. it sorta got superseded by the SyJet drives, although kept in PCs as a boot floppy device. I keep meaning to back up data to it, 'cept 120MB aint enough for a PST file and a USB keydisk is faster anyway. Just cant get rid of old, interesting technology.

15 July 2008, 15:48	#1
Pfloyd Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bonn / Germany Posts: 88	LS-120: writing/reading Amiga diskettes? Hello, is it possible to read/write Amiga diskettes with a LS-120 floppy disk drive and a PC? This drive reads and writes LS-120 diskettes, as well as 3,5" HD and DD diskettes in standard PC format. Its interface connects to the IDE controller of the PC, not to the standard floppy controller with its well-known limitations. Would a custom driver enable the drive to read and write Amiga diskettes in native format?

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16 July 2008, 00:05	#3
alewis Monochrome and 8 bit Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Underbarrow, Gods Country Age: 57 Posts: 600	No. The drive can be used on an Amiga (in LS-120 mode), but will only write PC format 3.5" HD/DD disks (and one needs a mountlist entry and dos driver for HD mode, iirc)

16 July 2008, 19:40	#4
Wepl Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Germany Posts: 866	the drive connects to ide, which means all decoding is done inside (firmware). therefore it can only read floppy formats supported by the drive itself -> 1,44 maybe 2,88 and 120

17 July 2008, 23:43	#5
MazinKaesar Super Robot Pilot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Modena (Italy) Age: 48 Posts: 870	I think LS120 works well with IDEfix... some friends of mine used it, as I remember...

18 July 2008, 00:03	#6
Boot_WB Novice in the Black Arts Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Kingston upon Hull Age: 47 Posts: 263	Lordy, it's been a long while since I hooked one of them up to my Miggy. There have been numerous threads about this in the past (as I dimly recall from past reading - most of it has been erased by repeated applications of alcohol). I believe that the answer is no, there really is no (feasible) way to get these to read Amiga formatted disks. I stopped using mine, because a) I could never get them to work reliably (write a 120MB disk, then be unable to read back from it!) and b) on the internal IDE interface of the A1200, writing 120MB is painfully sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. Did I mention that it is slow?

18 July 2008, 00:33	#7
MazinKaesar Super Robot Pilot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Modena (Italy) Age: 48 Posts: 870	Well, I think they used it as PC floppy reader, even 'cause I NEVER saw a 120mb LS disk around...

26 July 2008, 22:15	#8
alewis Monochrome and 8 bit Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Underbarrow, Gods Country Age: 57 Posts: 600	Back in 2001/2002 I had one hooked up one the Mig, one on a PC, and a couple with friends (on PC). The idea was for "quick" file transfer of <120mb of data, which would have been a waste of a CD-R. Still got two or three here, (one fitted), and an unused, sealed disk. it sorta got superseded by the SyJet drives, although kept in PCs as a boot floppy device. I keep meaning to back up data to it, 'cept 120MB aint enough for a PST file and a USB keydisk is faster anyway. Just cant get rid of old, interesting technology.

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