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Guide to hook up a [[3½" & 5¼" Disk Drives|3.5" pc drive ]] to your Amstrad CPC 6128 or 664 (For non-techy people like me)
This guide is for people who own 6128/664 cpc's that has the 34 pin EDGE connector type interfaces. I know that people in the UK and DK has the Edge connectors.
People in Germany use the CENTRONICS type connectors also some of the cpc PLUS range use Centronics. Centronics users need a different kind of cable.For another guide, check [[Guide on how to connect a 3.5" drive to a CPC6128/664]]
Example of a final setup: [http[Image://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6102/quickyp3quickyp.jpg|400px]]
== What you need (minimum requirements) ==
Looks like so:
[http[Image://pchan.250free.com/BelkinFloppy1.JPG]]
BELKIN still sells this cable, I got mine locally but this one looks like its the one:
720kb floppies are hard to get, so just "make" some yourself from 1.44 floppies. Tape over the little "High Density" hole in the top left (both sides). That way the drive will think the floppy is 720kb only and act accordingly. Usually works ok, but make sure to make extra backups of your importent stuff as these tend to work less reliable.
Tape over this hole picture: [http[image://pchan.250free.com/Floppies1.JPG]]
== Paperclip & more ==
Motherboard pins are usually sold in long rows where you can break of smaller parts, like a set of 2 pins, then use normal pc jumpers on em to quickly set on/off.
Paperclips and pins picture: [http[image://pchan.250free.com/PinsJumpers1.JPG]]
== Powersource ==
You can also use a normal PC powersupply of cause, there are "complications". A modern powersupply dosnt turn fully on unless it detects a motherboard is present. So what I used to do was drag a whole pc box up next to the Amstrad and use that to power the floppy drive.
My current setup: [http[image://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6102/quickyp3Quickyp.jpg]]
== Setting it all up ==
Pretty hard to get it wrong as the edge connector only fits one way and usually the same is said with the floppy connector. BUT .. there IS a few floppy drives that have the pins upside down, so u might need to twist the cable around once .. most likely not tho.
So far: [http[Image://pchan.250free.com/CableOn1.JPG]]
Note that this type of pc cable usually has some internally twisted cables .. make sure the CPC/PC does NOT have the twisted bit between them.
Last thing you need to do is set the ready signal. This is done by connecting pin 33 and 34. Its the last 2 pins on the cable. Use a bend paperclip or a small wire to short the 2 pins like so (Marked in WHITE).
Like so: [http[Image://pchan.250free.com/CableClose1.JPG]]
Thats it. Now u SHOULD have a fully working 3.5" B drive !!
Type "|B" to change to drive B in basic (and make sure there is a floppy in the drive). If the drive spins up and you get "Ready" message, then it works. Dont forget that you need to format the floppy to use it like normal.
And up and running (my old setup): [http[Image://pchan.250free.com/AllUpAndRunning1.JPG]]
Errors at this point:<br>
- Read error on drive? Disc hasnt been formatted yet? Use software like Discology to quickly format drive B .. or to quicky copy a disc from A to B .. or make a test floppy on pc (see transfer bit later).<br>
- Disc is write protected error? Make sure the write tab on the disc is down (move tab down on right side of disc).<br>
== Two heads (OPTIONAL) ==
Anyways, right now your drive is using head 1 (aka side 1), but if you connect pin 31 and 32 it will change to side/head 2. Remove the short again to get back to side/head 1.
Pin 31 & 32 is marked in RED on the picture: [http[Image://pchan.250free.com/CableClose1.JPG]]
== Primary drive setting (OPTIONAL) ==
If you dont want to do this mod, just always run your software from drive A (and use B as backup).
Another closeup of all 3 pairs of pins without doodlin: [http[Image://pchan.250free.com/SuperClose1.JPG]]
== Transfering software between CPC and PC ==
== Links to other sites about 3.5" floppy drive hookup ==
[[Guide on how to connect a 3.5" drive to a CPC6128/664]] Another local guide<br>
http://www.cpcmania.com/ (Spanish & English)<br>
http://www.phenixinformatique.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=67 (French) <br>
http://www.amstradtoday.com/elements/upgrade/lecteur2.htm (French) <br>
http://www.terra.es/personal/diegovp/ (Spanish) <br>
http://usuarioscpcbegin.lycoshostingun.escom/putusoftcpc/emucpc/softwareeindex.htm php?pagina=software (Spanish)<br>[http://zonadepruebas.org/deepfb/ordenadores/amstrad/3,5eng.htm How to connect an internal 3 1/2 disk drive to an Amstrad CPC 6128 or CPC 6128 +] (English)
== Great sources about anything CPC (including 3.5" connecting) ==
== Tools to read CPC floppies on pc ==
[[CPCDiskXP: http://www.cpcmania.com/ ]]<br>ManageDsk: http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/download.php?dcategory=Utilitaires&sortby= [[ManageDSK]]<br>
22DISK: http://www.znode51.de/specials/22disk/ <br>
ReadDSK/[[WriteDSK]]: http://www.julien-nevo.com/arkos/tools.html<br>[[Dsktools]] "dsktools is a set of tools for reading and writing DSK and EDSK images to real floppy disks for use with theAmstrad/Schneider CPC range of home computers. The main target platform for dsktools is GNU/Linux."
Guide by Cholo
[[Category:Peripherals|*]][[Category:Hardware|*]][[Category:HowTo|*DIY]][[Category:DATA Storage]]
