CD32 ProModule

[alexh]

Are you sure it can use Amiga floppy drives? If it cannot that would explain why it will not work with a Gotek. You would need to make a modification to your Gotek (re-wire diskchange from PIN 2 (PC) to PIN 34 (Amiga) to make it work)

http://www.zonadepruebas.com/viewtop...=1&f=39&t=5373

AFAIK the proModule (unlike like the fWSI) contains real commodore chips for the missing floppy drive components. This is likely to make it very close to A1200 floppy disk compatibility wise.

I would imagine that floppy games which don't run on the ProModule also don't run on an A1200.

[Nibbler]

No,i am not 100% sure, because the User manual is in polish
(a friend of my familiy is from poland, and he translated the manual for me .....
so... i am not 100% sure )

I tested the Drive with various discdrives, (i had no pc drive at hand ) but 1 of the 5 amiga floppys worked. ( but maybe it was a converted pc drive, i dont know. )

I would test that, but the picture tells me i have to cut something.
Is that right ?

Not sure if i want that.....

[bebek]

I have not noticed problems with PC drives in promodule. The only problem is that data connector has to be on the right side of floppy drive - not much space between connector on the main and floppy drive.

ANy PC drive I have tested worked fine.

[Nibbler]

Are you sure ? I dont want to kill the Gotek just to find it out ?
and what i have to do exactly to make it a PC drive ?

I had never done such a thing ..... * nibbler in fear *

[alexh]

I am pretty sure the ProModule can't take Amiga drives. Why? Because there is no jumper. Auto-detect? Very unlikely.

Originally Posted by Nibbler

1 of the 5 amiga floppys worked. ( but maybe it was a converted pc drive)

AFAIR, late model A1200's came with PC drives and the conversion electronics either on the motherboard (or on an adapter).

Originally Posted by Nibbler

I would test that, but the picture tells me i have to cut something. Is that right?

Cut two tracks and solder a wire.

Originally Posted by Nibbler

Not sure if i want that

You could change the Gotek firmware if you were capable. The floppy disk emulation is just software. Part of that software tells it to use PIN34 rather than PIN2. It should be possible to change that behaviour with a few hacks.

OR

You could make a custom floppy cable.

[Nibbler]

HI Alex.
Thats a lot of infos .. thanks.

To hack the firmware is no option for me ( i cant do that )
(there would be guys in AMIGA-Board that can do that )

A custom Floppy cable .... hmm( i dont know .... i am so clumsy with a soldering iron )

hmmmm

can someone do that firmware mod ? there are so many awesome guys here that are great programmers.....

That firmware mod would be helpful to all ESCOM AMIGAS & CD32 Expanision users.

Someone , HELP US !!!!

[Nibbler]

SO, i tryed the floppy cable mod.... nothing...

I cut the pin 2 and pin 34 cables ... i let pin 34 (from the Gotek) to pin 2 ( to the pro )
nothing... ( so one line of the cable is open )

i try´d even a few combos.....

nothing worked.
I am to much Nibbler for this

(the cable pins are right ? right... Photo )

[Nibbler]

Now i just made it to an External Drive.

I heard that converted "PC Drives" are not as compatible as Amiga Drives.
(with some copy protections,trackloades n stuff)

So, i think i use it that way

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Nibbler

I cut the pin 2 and pin 34 cables ... i let pin 34 (from the Gotek) to pin 2 ( to the pro )

If I am reading the photograph and description on that Polish site correctly, then it is the other way around.

Pin 2 on the Gotek has to be wired to Pin 34 on the ProModule

Originally Posted by Nibbler

I heard that converted "PC Drives" are not as compatible as Amiga Drives. (with some copy protections,trackloades n stuff)

I don't believe the Gotek is capable of any of that. It only does standard ADF.

[Nibbler]

I try´d that also.... nothing happend. (and one cable is then unused ?)

You know alex, the "Vector Shuttle" is the same as the "Elsat Promodule".
I found a German Manual, but its pretty basic..nothing about the internal floppy drive.

Anyway, i think someone have to figure this out, but not me i guess

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Nibbler

I try´d that also.... nothing happend. (and one cable is then unused ?)

From what I know, PC drives don't generate DISKREADY. That is why there is no need to use that cable.

(The other difference is that DISKCHANGE is on pin 34 instead of pin 2. Which you've fixed with the custom cable).

Maybe it needs pin 2 to not be floating?

[Nibbler]

I try´d that to. But it didn´t work...

But thank you Alex, you are a great supporter !!

[amigoun]

Does anyone know, if internal floppy drive in promodule can handle properly RDY/ NDOS floppys? Mine seems not. NDOS games fail, and XCopy as well.
Also seems to me only PC floppy drives (set to ID0) work. Amiga floppy drives or Goteks do not.

[Timtheloon]

I know this is an old thread but using a copy of an polish manual which i got from @amigoun and google translate I can confirm the internal floppy drive required for the ProModule is a PC Floppy Drive

Here is the Floppy Disk drive part of the manual which I think I have translated correctly.

DISK DRIVE INSTALLATION

The CD32 ProModule allows you to mount HD drives from IBM PCs. It works like the usual Amiga disc drive, i.e. As 800kb or 720kb PC.

If only the condition is that on its socket was generated a signal to replace the disk DRIVE CHANGE.

Necessary for proper cooperation with the Amiga operating system In most of the drives it is brought there permanently in others it may be necessary to switch the appropriate jumpers.

If you do not use the internal disk drive, switch the JP12 jumper to DF0.

The external disk drive will then be seen as DF0, not DF1.

To mount an internal disk drive:

1. Switch the jumper located on the disk drive, so that it is selected as drive d0 (A) and, so that the DISK CHANGE signal (instead of READY) is led to the connection.

2. Remove the screws to the top cover of the module.

3. Remove the top cover.

4. Connect the disc drives to the motherboard with four screws (metric) through the holes in the bottom of the housing, placing insulating pads under it.

5. Connect the power and signal cables to the drive.

6. Place the signal cable on the "Internal Floppy Connector" header.

7. Apply and tighten the top cover.

8. Connect the interface to your computer according to the instructions in the CD32 ProModule INSTALLATION section.

9. Switch jumper JP12 in position DF1. The internal disk drive is always seen as DF0. switching is therefore necessary to avoid confusion in the selection of disk drives by the Amiga.

Page 5.

[Timtheloon]

little update for you lot, I managed to get my Gotek to work by setting the jumpers on S0 and JC making it an IBM PC Floppy as stated on the FlashFloppy Website


IBM PC compatibles have a non-Shugart interface which must be explicitly configured in FlashFloppy:
IBM-PC interface mode must be configured
Strap jumper JC at the rear of the Gotek; or
Specify via FF.CFG: interface = ibmpc
Strap select-line jumper S1 at the rear of the Gotek
S0, S2, MO should all be left open

[alexh]

Nice to know. I did think that would be possible 7 years ago in this thread.

Is FlashFloppy ok using Amiga disk images with PC disk drive emulation?

I imagine you are limited to DD disk images.

[Timtheloon]

Originally Posted by alexh

Nice to know. I did think that would be possible 7 years ago in this thread.

Is FlashFloppy ok using Amiga disk images with PC disk drive emulation?

I imagine you are limited to DD disk images.

so from what I've read, flash floppy works as normal and the jumper is just setting the gotek to function as if it was a PC drive

what I've experienced so far with this settings is the Gotek loads ADF's has normal and NDOS disk images load normally.

Now I'm using my promodule with a TF360 so obviously I get crashes when loading most games due to the 060 need to test has a standard cd32 with promodule without the TF attached.

in workbench when selecting different disks they also pop up as if the gotek was setup if running on a normal amiga setup.

I'm not sure if HD images will work with it because the promodule manual actually states that the normal PC HD floppy drive would work has a standard Amiga DD drive.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Timtheloon

I'm not sure if HD images will work with it because the promodule manual actually states that the normal PC HD floppy drive would work has a standard Amiga DD drive.

PC floppy disk drives read HD data at 2x normal speed. The Amiga chips can't take data at that rate so Amiga HD floppy drives spin at half PC speed. I

It is highly unlikely the Promodule will be able to support HD disk images.

Perhaps there is a way to make the flash-floppy send data at half rate?