Running an A1200 with no floppy disk drive

StevenJGore · 15 March 2023, 19:31

Are there any unwanted side effects to running an A1200 with the floppy disk drive completely and permanently removed, i.e. making it a CF card-only system? I've tried it briefly, and the floppy drive light lights up for a few seconds on boot, and I get "df0:???" icons on workbench, I haven't explored any more than that. I'm going to use the floppy drive case opening to mount an SD card adapter.

Jope · 15 March 2023, 19:35

Not really. The bootup slows down a lot under 3.1 and older if DF0 is missing.

3.2.x ROMs finally do not require a DF0 at all. 3.2.1 or 3.2.2 is recommended due to a black screen bug in 3.2 if no bootable devices are available at all.

Oh yes, and you can buy or create a little dongle that bypasses the delay under 3.1 and older. They are sold as "df0 terminator" devices, but in reality they do not do any kind of bus termination, they just fool trackdisk.device.

Predseda · 15 March 2023, 19:37

You can use simple terminator made from a floppy cable and a resistor to stop Amiga from searching for a FDD.

Jope · 15 March 2023, 19:52

It's a diode between pins 2 and 10, ring towards pin 10.

StevenJGore · 17 March 2023, 11:41

Thanks guys! I'm using 3.2.1 ROMs so sounds like it won't be a problem.

15 March 2023, 19:31	#1
StevenJGore Amiga Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Age: 46 Posts: 726	Running an A1200 with no floppy disk drive Are there any unwanted side effects to running an A1200 with the floppy disk drive completely and permanently removed, i.e. making it a CF card-only system? I've tried it briefly, and the floppy drive light lights up for a few seconds on boot, and I get "df0:???" icons on workbench, I haven't explored any more than that. I'm going to use the floppy drive case opening to mount an SD card adapter.

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15 March 2023, 19:35	#2
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	Not really. The bootup slows down a lot under 3.1 and older if DF0 is missing. 3.2.x ROMs finally do not require a DF0 at all. 3.2.1 or 3.2.2 is recommended due to a black screen bug in 3.2 if no bootable devices are available at all. Oh yes, and you can buy or create a little dongle that bypasses the delay under 3.1 and older. They are sold as "df0 terminator" devices, but in reality they do not do any kind of bus termination, they just fool trackdisk.device.

15 March 2023, 19:37	#3
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,538	You can use simple terminator made from a floppy cable and a resistor to stop Amiga from searching for a FDD.

15 March 2023, 19:52	#4
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	It's a diode between pins 2 and 10, ring towards pin 10.

17 March 2023, 11:41	#5
StevenJGore Amiga Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Age: 46 Posts: 726	Thanks guys! I'm using 3.2.1 ROMs so sounds like it won't be a problem.

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