Modifying PC floppy drives for Amiga use - Page 4

Gavilan · 10 April 2008, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

I really like the simplicity of that one. :-)

Way to think outside the box on Elpiloto's part..

You don't even need to locate a DS0/1 switch, just twist wires 10-16 like on a PC floppy cable.. If you want to connect two drives to a big box Amiga, twist 4-6 as well.

On behalf of (surprise!) amazingly fast growing Amiga community from Argentina (more than 50 ACTIVE Amiga members right now), i can assure you guys that the hack made by my good friend elpiloto has been tested in at least 50 different floppy drives , all resulting in 100% compatible Amiga floppy drives.
We live in a part of the world where its very hard to find Amiga gear (read impossible), only solution being eBay.
Even tough, we are a bunch of truly Amiga fans, and we even have some very good skilled & talented people among us. (Not me!!!

)
We have many other proyects/ideas/hacks. ATM we are thinking about a cheap scandoubler/flickerfixer solution.
Sometimes we lack info, sometimes we lack time, most of the times we lack money!!! But hey, thats the funniest part of the thing, isnt it?

If we can share/exchange info/knowledge/ideas, please dont hesitate and get in touch with me! Not all the guys speak english in Argentina, but i can be a bridge between you & our people here!

Cheers
Sebastian

Fingerlickin_B · 23 April 2008, 13:37

Regarding the Samsung drives Narmi uses, this eBay seller has them:
http://stores.ebay.com.au/PTMe-Clearance

They currently have 6 used ones for $2.99 each and 2 new ones for $6.99 each in stock.

Postage within Australia is $7 plus only $1 each per extra drive...so I bought 3 of them and got half off the postage cost

A good source for those that don't have a recycling centre nearby that lets you rummage

PZ.

Fingerlickin_B · 23 April 2008, 13:47

Oh, and here are some brand new Pansonic JU-257A606P drives:
http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/14629/FD...DD144Beige.asp

Enjoy

PZ.

Fingerlickin_B · 01 May 2008, 13:39

Yes, yes, yes...GO NARMI!!!!

My three Samsung drives arrived today & after 5 minutes of modding I now have three 100% perfectly compatible drives!

PZ.

Overdoc · 14 August 2008, 17:09

Haven't been here for ages, but I found something out today which might be very interesting for many of you:

I once wrote a guide here how to modify a Chinon FZ-357 drive for Amiga use. Apart from setting the jumpers right, you also had to change a connection on some solder pad.

On the drive I had (Made in Malaysia) this was solder pad J2 which had to be closed on the drive's pcb.
But then people reported that the pcb was different on FZ-357 which were Made in Japan...

Yesterday a friend gave me a FZ-357 (Made in Japan) for repair/adapt for Amiga. Indeed, the pcb is different, and you cannot just close J2.
Now, on the FZ-357 Made in Japan you need to set different solder pads:

The connection on J20 has to be removed and the connection on J18 has to be closed. Just leave J2 as it is.
That's it

I hope this will help a lot of people who reported problems with their 'Made in Japan' Chinon FZ-357 drives.

tonyyeb · 15 August 2008, 16:12

Will a JU-257A607P work?

rkauer · 29 September 2008, 07:29

Does anyone used an Epson SMD340 drive? It appears to be a HD Amiga floppy.

If not, I will transform it in my special way.

Overdoc · 04 October 2008, 23:37

here is a pic:

http://www.pitsch.de/stuff/amiga/tepe/epsonsmd300.jpg

rkauer · 05 October 2008, 03:43

Wow!

Thanks Overdoc!

rkauer · 07 October 2008, 00:53

I've also found an ALPS DF354H127F in my stuff.

On this site (german), they said it can be converted OK for DD use.

But in this Czech Forum they comment the unit can be a real HD unit.

Can someone translate the Czech page/instructions, please? I'll love to have a proper HD floppy around.

21 October 2008, 19:37

Hello everyone.
I tried to change a floppy drive NEC FD1231H, following instructions from this site http://www.pitsch.de/stuff/amiga/floppy.htm#A4.
The problem is that it seems that I have a different version, because I can not find JA1 and JA2 contacts.
Can I solve this problem, by using the floppy cable hack which I have heard about ?
Where to find the instructions ?
The cable hack, work for all floppies and all programs/games ?

rkauer · 22 October 2008, 02:57

Yes, the cable hack works almost OK.

You still need to join ready with data signals. In the case of an unmodified drive, just join pin 2 with 30 and make the cable hack.

But I think it's better to modify the drive and keep the cable original (much nicer).

@UAE · 22 October 2008, 23:24

yapeee ... I have new Sony amiga drive ....

kipper2k · 24 February 2009, 06:03

i found what looks to be new amiga compatible 3.5" floppy drives...

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=111110...acture=Mitsumi

Mitsumi D359M3D 3.5" Floppy

$7.70 Cdn... a great deal.!

i found the pic below that shows how to mod this drive to work in an Amiga... the text is in German...
Can anyone translate the text in the pic for me please...

This is what i can see in the picture (correct me if i am wrong..

http://www.pitsch.de/stuff/amiga/tep...umid359m3d.jpg

- cut the trace on pin 12
- cut the trace on pin 34
- rebuild the trace on pin 10. (It looks like you use the trace that pin 12 was using)
- jumper pin 2 to pin 34 (Board side, not connector side)
- jumper pin 34 (connector) to pin 17 of the IC chip

Does this look right, Am i missing anything..

Thanks.

According to the store stock checker they only have 21,000 left... better hurry

weird... weight shows as 10lbs... i think thats a little wrong

here are the drive specs...
http://www.mitsumi.co.jp/Catalog/pc/fdd/d359m3d_e.html

cosmicfrog · 05 April 2009, 21:42

yay just converted 2 pc drives for the amiga

1 is a TEC FD-235HF and I don`t know what the other is yet seem to have lost itsh cover at the moment.

but a big thank you to rkauer for postin the 2 wire trick and cuttin trace 34

now whos a happy froggy

still got to do more testin but both drives boot wb and run a NDos disk, so its all better than no drive at all

rkauer · 06 April 2009, 05:22

Not my hack. "El Piloto's" one, great amigan!

Ratte · 18 April 2009, 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratte

Some guys on a1k did it.
http://www.a1k.org/forum/index.php?m...d=2&thread=572

I am one of the beta-testers and i made a testrun-movie.
http://www.a1k.org/download/area51/HDFloppyFix.mpg

Its a TEAC FD-235HF drive.
1760kb / 1440kb ofs/ffs/fat - read/write
880kb / 720 kb ofs/ffs/fat - read/write

First we had some problems with timings from the diskready-signal (hd-mode) in combination with an a1000.

... broken link .. here is the new one.
http://www.a1k.org/download/area51/OLD/HDFloppyFix.mpg

Working HD-FloppyFix .. read/write 1760/880kb with teac peecee-drive.

AB Positive · 11 May 2009, 14:43

Happy to report that the 'universal' mod works on a Sony floppy drive, I can put up pics later on if anyone's interested.

I find the hardest bit is finding a drive who's traces and pads aren't so fragile they don't just come up with the soldering iron. Still - works like a dream and using my null cable to make disks out of ADFs, thanks!

cosmicfrog · 11 May 2009, 14:52

Supamax · 11 May 2009, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratte

... broken link .. here is the new one.
http://www.a1k.org/download/area51/OLD/HDFloppyFix.mpg

Working HD-FloppyFix .. read/write 1760/880kb with teac peecee-drive.

I see a pcb with a SMD IC, etc.
Is it sold yet, or will it be in the future (at which price)?

24 February 2009, 06:03	#74
kipper2k Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Canada Posts: 4,323	i found what looks to be new amiga compatible 3.5" floppy drives... http://ncix.com/products/?sku=111110...acture=Mitsumi Mitsumi D359M3D 3.5" Floppy $7.70 Cdn... a great deal.! i found the pic below that shows how to mod this drive to work in an Amiga... the text is in German... Can anyone translate the text in the pic for me please... This is what i can see in the picture (correct me if i am wrong.. http://www.pitsch.de/stuff/amiga/tep...umid359m3d.jpg - cut the trace on pin 12 - cut the trace on pin 34 - rebuild the trace on pin 10. (It looks like you use the trace that pin 12 was using) - jumper pin 2 to pin 34 (Board side, not connector side) - jumper pin 34 (connector) to pin 17 of the IC chip Does this look right, Am i missing anything.. Thanks. According to the store stock checker they only have 21,000 left... better hurry weird... weight shows as 10lbs... i think thats a little wrong here are the drive specs... http://www.mitsumi.co.jp/Catalog/pc/fdd/d359m3d_e.html Last edited by kipper2k; 24 February 2009 at 06:35.

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23 April 2008, 13:37	#62
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Regarding the Samsung drives Narmi uses, this eBay seller has them: http://stores.ebay.com.au/PTMe-Clearance They currently have 6 used ones for $2.99 each and 2 new ones for $6.99 each in stock. Postage within Australia is $7 plus only $1 each per extra drive...so I bought 3 of them and got half off the postage cost A good source for those that don't have a recycling centre nearby that lets you rummage PZ.

23 April 2008, 13:47	#63
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Oh, and here are some brand new Pansonic JU-257A606P drives: http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/14629/FD...DD144Beige.asp Enjoy PZ.

01 May 2008, 13:39	#64
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Yes, yes, yes...GO NARMI!!!! My three Samsung drives arrived today & after 5 minutes of modding I now have three 100% perfectly compatible drives! PZ.

14 August 2008, 17:09	#65
Overdoc Commodore Collector Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Austria Age: 53 Posts: 944	Haven't been here for ages, but I found something out today which might be very interesting for many of you: I once wrote a guide here how to modify a Chinon FZ-357 drive for Amiga use. Apart from setting the jumpers right, you also had to change a connection on some solder pad. On the drive I had (Made in Malaysia) this was solder pad J2 which had to be closed on the drive's pcb. But then people reported that the pcb was different on FZ-357 which were Made in Japan... Yesterday a friend gave me a FZ-357 (Made in Japan) for repair/adapt for Amiga. Indeed, the pcb is different, and you cannot just close J2. Now, on the FZ-357 Made in Japan you need to set different solder pads: The connection on J20 has to be removed and the connection on J18 has to be closed. Just leave J2 as it is. That's it I hope this will help a lot of people who reported problems with their 'Made in Japan' Chinon FZ-357 drives.

15 August 2008, 16:12	#66
tonyyeb Has the Amiga bug again Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hull, UK Age: 43 Posts: 791	Will a JU-257A607P work?

29 September 2008, 07:29	#67
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Does anyone used an Epson SMD340 drive? It appears to be a HD Amiga floppy. If not, I will transform it in my special way.

04 October 2008, 23:37	#68
Overdoc Commodore Collector Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Austria Age: 53 Posts: 944	here is a pic: http://www.pitsch.de/stuff/amiga/tepe/epsonsmd300.jpg

05 October 2008, 03:43	#69
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Wow! Thanks Overdoc!

07 October 2008, 00:53	#70
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	I've also found an ALPS DF354H127F in my stuff. On this site (german), they said it can be converted OK for DD use. But in this Czech Forum they comment the unit can be a real HD unit. Can someone translate the Czech page/instructions, please? I'll love to have a proper HD floppy around.

21 October 2008, 19:37	#71
super64 Posts: n/a	Hello everyone. I tried to change a floppy drive NEC FD1231H, following instructions from this site http://www.pitsch.de/stuff/amiga/floppy.htm#A4. The problem is that it seems that I have a different version, because I can not find JA1 and JA2 contacts. Can I solve this problem, by using the floppy cable hack which I have heard about ? Where to find the instructions ? The cable hack, work for all floppies and all programs/games ?

22 October 2008, 02:57	#72
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Yes, the cable hack works almost OK. You still need to join ready with data signals. In the case of an unmodified drive, just join pin 2 with 30 and make the cable hack. But I think it's better to modify the drive and keep the cable original (much nicer).

22 October 2008, 23:24	#73
@UAE Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Dubai UAE Posts: 158	yapeee ... I have new Sony amiga drive ....

05 April 2009, 21:42	#75
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	yay just converted 2 pc drives for the amiga 1 is a TEC FD-235HF and I don`t know what the other is yet seem to have lost itsh cover at the moment. but a big thank you to rkauer for postin the 2 wire trick and cuttin trace 34 now whos a happy froggy still got to do more testin but both drives boot wb and run a NDos disk, so its all better than no drive at all

06 April 2009, 05:22	#76
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Not my hack. "El Piloto's" one, great amigan!

11 May 2009, 14:43	#78
AB Positive kachou ON! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Hampshire, US Posts: 192	Happy to report that the 'universal' mod works on a Sony floppy drive, I can put up pics later on if anyone's interested. I find the hardest bit is finding a drive who's traces and pads aren't so fragile they don't just come up with the soldering iron. Still - works like a dream and using my null cable to make disks out of ADFs, thanks!

11 May 2009, 14:52	#79
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557

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