papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) (07/07/88)
How to use a BridgeCard AND a 5.25" internal Hard Disk
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When I bought my Seagate ST-251 hard disk for the Amiga 2000, I did not
think about further expanding with a BridgeCard. Then a project I got
involved with required the BridgeCard and so the problem cropped up.
The BridgeCard comes with a 5.25" floppy disk that "should" go in the
same slot I used for the Seagate drive. So I thought that I could just
get a hard disk for the PC side, make it autoboot PC-DOS and then use
AREAD/AWRITE to get data to/from it through the Amiga side. It turns out that
both AREAD and AWRITE don't work at all, unless there is a DRIVE A: in the
system.
So I got the A1020, the externally powered 5.25" PC drive and tried to
install it as DRIVE B:. Again, it turns out that drive B: won't be
properly configured by PC-DOS unless there is ALSO a DRIVE A: on the system.
One gets "seek errors on drive B:" messages and no data can be read/written
on the B: drive.
One possibility was to do what Dave Haynie did. That is, route the SELECT
DRIVE A: signal from the internal PC-compatible pinout to the SELECT2 on the
external connector. Unfortunately this does not work since then the external
pin responds to requests for both DRIVE A: and DRIVE B:. To fix this, one
should also CUT the connection to drive B:. This seemed to me to be too
radical, besides voiding my warranty right there, and making even servicing
a nightmare.
The solution was pretty easy, though. I had hoped that the internal drive
shipped by CBM with the Bridgecard was of the same type as the floppy drives
now sold with PC-clones. In fact it is. So I started looking for a nice,
cheap drive enclosure with switch and included power supply. I found one
that fits perfectly the CBM-provided drive; that has a good power supply with
fuse and on/off switch; that has a beige case like the A2000, and is actually
1/2 the size of the A1020. Price was pretty reasonable, too: $59.95.
Installation required: 3 minutes.
This is the data on the drive enclosure [includes ALL parts]:
JMR 5.25" Floppy Disk Drive Enclosure
Part no. DDE1HH
BIN Location: QB3 - Summer Flyer #137
Price: $59.95 [Ca resident add TAX]
Warranty: 90 days.
Order from: Jameco Electronics -- (415)592-8097
As usual, I have no connection with Jameco Electronics, except as a satisfied
customer.
Enjoy.
-- Marco Papa 'Doc'
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