Alrighty! Finally arrival of the much waited packet from Lotharek.
Inside: 1x SD HxC card.
Quick guide to get going:
1. format your SD card to FAT32 if it is not (as other FAT“s isnt supported (go to Control Panel/Administration then look at drives)
2. Download the latest emulator software here:
http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/index.html#SoftwareFloppyemulatorAnd better also get the Manual (new one):
http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/index.html#SDCARDFloppyemulator3. Open the Software and choose Drive / SD HxCFE settings file. Click on SAVE to make the HXCSDFE.CFG file (choose default options) and save it on your SD CARDS root.
4. DSKs need to be converted to the HFE file format. "LOAD" the DSK in the Software and "Export" it to HFE.
5. Put the SD card into the Board.
6. Set the right Jumper on the board (Default on my was "primary A:"). But as most people will probably use the drive as secondary B drive .. look up the right setting in the new manual.
7. Hook up the board to your Amstrad (i hope you have the right cables).
8. Powering the board you need a 5V from like a normal pc power supply. As you only need the 5V (usually red wire) and not the 12V (Yellow) perhaps it would be best use a extender (V-split) cable and cut the 12V cable so you dont fry the board. Better read the manual carefully, especially if you want to use the board internally where the Amstrad power is usually just opposite the pc one.
9. Have fun.
Using the Display/Board buttons:
1. First it will ask if its the A Drive (click middel button .. aka accept). Even if you use the drive as 2 drive you need to choose A Drive option here.
2. scrool between HFE image files using the left/right buttons.
3. Press middel button to select (insert disc). To choose another image later make sure to eject the current disc first (again middel button).
Good and bad:
The Good:
1. Really well made board (smaller than the USB one) and was well packed.
2. Nice blue screen (cool).
3. It works quite well and is less restricted than the USB version.
4. Reads all discs so far. Copies files or track from image to primary A drive with out any fuss.
5. You can turn off the track/read noice.
The Bad:
1. Cant get it to write anything (tried both single file and track copy) so cant use it as a backup drive and cant use it to transfer files to pc.
2. a 200kb DSK converts to 1mb HFE file.
3. the white power plug on the board dosnt have a "hole" so a normal power cable wont fit unless i file off the little white "tooth".
4. I realise again that most of the amstrad software isnt compatible to be loaded from a second B drive (not the boards fault of cause).