Resurrecting a Legacy X86 PC..

[2cvbloke]

If you're formatting 1.44MB disks in a 1.44MB drive, then, er, yeah, you'll get 1.44MB formatted disks, but, if you took your 1.44MB disks and taped over the Double-Density/High-Density hole on a 1.44MB disk, it'll format as a 720k, though it won't be 100% reliable as HD disks aren't quite the same as DD disks (I don't know why, so, pointless asking me!!)...

 

[Channel Hopper]

Cant help you there Dave ..
Not seen a 720k floppy in years ..
I wouldn't mind getting CH has one in his lockup..

Probably not, but I would pull the Atari or the Commodore apart and run a lead or two from the carcass to the project.

 

[2cvbloke]

Probably not, but I would pull the Atari or the Commodore apart and run a lead or two from the carcass to the project.

Amiga drives don't work on PCs, they're wired up differently internally (some can be re-jumpered to work, if they're set up for it and you can find the instructions!!), dunno about Atari though, never used one of them...

 

[jeallen01]

No idea if the following might work but there are some 3.5" 720k floppy drive emulators on ebay - see here 3.5" 720k floppy drive -1.44 in Computers, Tablets and Networking | eBay

 

[Vipersan]

No idea if the following might work but there are some 3.5" 720k floppy drive emulators on ebay - see here 3.5" 720k floppy drive -1.44 in Computers, Tablets and Networking | eBay

I suspect you could use an emulator ..IF you already have the needed files ..and they are not on diskette..
If they are ..obviously you need a suitable drive to read the data off ..
sorry I cant help more ..

 

[davemurgtroyd]

If you're formatting 1.44MB disks in a 1.44MB drive, then, er, yeah, you'll get 1.44MB formatted disks, but, if you took your 1.44MB disks and taped over the Double-Density/High-Density hole on a 1.44MB disk, it'll format as a 720k, though it won't be 100% reliable as HD disks aren't quite the same as DD disks (I don't know why, so, pointless asking me!!)...

No I am using 720k DD discs.

I suspect it is down to the heads in the drives being different widths and the 720k drive I am trying to read them in may be slightly misaligned.

I am trying to transfer files I have downloaded and some on CD to make bootable discs for the Sinclair PC200

 

[2cvbloke]

Sounds like one of your drives needs a servicing then, whether you can get the heads realigned though, that's anyone's guess, I've tried before and, well, let's just say those drives never made it off the operating table alive...

 

[battenfan]

I remember 5" 360k drives didn't like 360k diskettes that had been reformatted in 1.2M drives as they had thinner tracks due to 80 traks per disk as apposed to 40. The old data didn't get overwritten well enough but if the diskettes were brand new it worked.

Since 1.44 and 720 has the same number of tracks it really shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Vipersan]

A big thanx to Terry ..
The 3 way IDE switch arrived this morning ..
Something to play with over the weekend..
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

Need some help with this oddity..
More digging in the loft ..and uncovered a ..possible rarity ..
Small form factor ..motherboard..
Odd because when I search for the number printed on it ..I dont finsd this mobo ..
totally different cpu socket ?
This on is a slot 1 cpu (possibly would take a PIII) vertical
(I have one but missing the fan)
Board identifies as N1996
Has an AGP socket ..
3 x PCI
2 x IDE
1 x Floppy
2 memory slots
20 pin power plug
to the rear sporting
2x USB
green/purple PS mouse n kb
game port
parallel and serial ports
Buit in audio 3 jacks
1 x 15 pin D so possibly has on board video also ..?
So all in all ..a very well endowed little legacy mobo ..
I'll add a photo later..
Im thinking ???? Dell
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

So ..hopefully this IDE switch is good to go now ..
Because of the missing power leads I had to graft som on myself ...and not having the small 4 pin molex type (not floppy disc size) ..I decided to solder the leads directly to the pcb and set them in latex ..
results in the photo..
I'll be reassembling the unit soon ..and then holding my breath to test it ..
rgds
VS

 

[2cvbloke]

View attachment 107714 Need some help with this oddity..
More digging in the loft ..and uncovered a ..possible rarity ..
Small form factor ..motherboard..
Odd because when I search for the number printed on it ..I dont finsd this mobo ..

What's printed between the two lower PCI slots (where the VER.1 print is)? Looks like it has an MSI model code to me (MSxxxx, typical MSI numbering), the N1996 is just some compliance thing rather than a model, as it appears on many boards made over the past 20 years...

 

[Terryl]

Hummm I thought you were going to run the IDE drives without going through the switch?

Or was it necessary to do so?

And on that mother board, I think it is a P3 CPU on a slot, I might even have one lying around out in the garage junk drawer.

I think mine was from ASUS...

 

[Vipersan]

Well ..stage 1 complete ..
Ist test passed ..
Plugged the GAG triple boot on ide 2 of the switch ..
and it found it no probs ..
Looking promising..
rgds
VS

 

[2cvbloke]

The Slot 1 CPU there looks like a regular Slot 1 CPU, though a good option here is to get an adaptor to run a Socket 370 CPU on a Slot 1 board such as this one:

NEW Socket 370 PGA370 FC-PGA to Slot 1 CPU Adapter Card | eBay

Easier to find good 370 CPUs rather than trawling for potentially iffy Slot 1 CPUs...

And of course, AMD Slot A CPUs are not compatible with Slot 1 (and vice versa) as they wired it all up in reverse, just to avoid patent issues...

 

[Vipersan]

Hummm I thought you were going to run the IDE drives without going through the switch?

Or was it necessary to do so?

And on that mother board, I think it is a P3 CPU on a slot, I might even have one lying around out in the garage junk drawer.

I think mine was from ASUS...

I was going to go direct Terry ..but there are some chips inside the switch unit ..and they need power ..
hence the hack-up..
Yep it is a PIII ...on that mobo ..but no way I can ID the board ...
Which is why it might be quite rare..

 

[2cvbloke]

but no way I can ID the board ...
Which is why it might be quite rare..

Look between the PCI slots...

 

[Vipersan]

Look between the PCI slots...

Already did ..and the mobo underside ..
The only ID is that N1996..
For such a tiny board it has a good many IO

Tell a lie ...
Found a paper label ..which I peeled off to reveal ..
MS6183 ver:1

 

[Vipersan]

A qick search found this ..
MS-6183 | Motherboard - The world leader in motherboard design | MSI Global
MSI grrrr

Only found one on fleabay ..complete with CPU in the states ...
Approx £30..
So not that rare afterall..
lol

 

[Vipersan]

Another issue with the IDE switch ..
There are only 2 ide to drive cables ..where there should be 3 ...
A standard UDMA cable wont do the job ..
Closer examination of the 2 I have show a cut out section in the ribbon length ..
I suspect this is to isolate ' cable select ' ..so will have to mod one of my own ..
doh!