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Strand 520 USB floppy drive


AndrewGrant

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Hi all,

 

A couple of months ago I saw on the forum a post which told people about an IDE USB drive which could

replace the floppy disc drive on a 500 series. I remember thinking at the time that it looked pretty useful

but never got around to buying it.

 

Anyway, now it would be very useful and could do with it as the IDE to USB adaptor I've got doesn't appear

to work. I could really do with backing up my drive and doing this by floppy will take a very long time!

 

I don't seem to be able to find the thread anymore, perhaps it is nested inside another thread and my search

terms aren't specific enough. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

Thanks,

 

Andrew

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Hi Andrew, I don't know about USB IDE drives, but I did once get USB pen drives working on a 520 via the USB ports. You had to plug in the drive before turning on, and turn off before unplugging it, but for backing up purposes, it would work. I'll see if I can dig out my old instructions/drivers.

 

 

Ian

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Hi Andrew, I don't know about USB IDE drives, but I did once get USB pen drives working on a 520 via the USB ports. You had to plug in the drive before turning on, and turn off before unplugging it, but for backing up purposes, it would work. I'll see if I can dig out my old instructions/drivers.

 

 

Ian

 

Thanks Ian.....that would be great.

 

Andrew

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I also recall seeing something similar, but possibly not here. As I have as little as possible to do with the 500 series these days I didn't note down the details though...

 

I'm pretty sure it was on TBR. It was the same size as a standard 3.5" floppy disk drive which replaced the console floppy drive. It plugged in the same way, with a standard IDE 40pin cable.

I remember reading that someone was going to buy one and then report back, after this I lost track of the topic.

 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

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I also recall seeing something similar, but possibly not here. As I have as little as possible to do with the 500 series these days I didn't note down the details though...

 

I'm pretty sure it was on TBR. It was the same size as a standard 3.5" floppy disk drive which replaced the console floppy drive. It plugged in the same way, with a standard IDE 40pin cable.

I remember reading that someone was going to buy one and then report back, after this I lost track of the topic.

 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

 

It was definately on here- are you sure the desk was a 500-series? I have a vague recollection it was something froggy...?

 

E2A:

Aha! Damn search filters are being sneaky limiting results to 30 days! Was it this topic which is about Pearls?

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=49015&st=0&p=407026&hl=floppy&fromsearch=1entry407026

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It was definately on here- are you sure the desk was a 500-series? I have a vague recollection it was something froggy...?

 

E2A:

Aha! Damn search filters are being sneaky limiting results to 30 days! Was it this topic which is about Pearls?

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=49015&st=0&p=407026&hl=floppy&fromsearch=1entry407026

 

Oh no, I fear that was it. Bugger! My memory is failing me....

 

I just tried plugging a USB memory stick into my console and it didn't appear to recognise it. I did once hear though

that White Light 520s have had something done to them so that they can read USB sticks, so I'm sure it's possible.

Looks like I'm going to have to do all the files through DOS onto floppy.

 

I have tried previously installing the OLE on to my Mac using Virtual PC and then copying the folders across using IOFTPDOS

but I couldn't get this to work. I also tried similarly using the DOS Box method but again had no luck.

 

Can anyone suggest another method?

 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

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...snip...

 

I just tried plugging a USB memory stick into my console and it didn't appear to recognise it. I did once hear though

that White Light 520s have had something done to them so that they can read USB sticks, so I'm sure it's possible.

Looks like I'm going to have to do all the files through DOS onto floppy.

...snip...

 

It won't work unless you load the correct USB drivers at startup (What I have on my own OLE computer) I'll have a look and let you know how to do it when I get a spare half hour!

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I also recall seeing something similar, but possibly not here. As I have as little as possible to do with the 500 series these days I didn't note down the details though...

Is there an award for Most Pointless Post Of The Year?

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A little update.....

 

I was able to borrow a laptop which was running Windows 98 and install the OLE and the IOPFTDOS programme. It took a little time for me to figure it out but I imagine someone with more knowledge of FTPing through DOS would find it a doddle. All files are now backed up.

 

These two PDFs helped :

#1

#2

 

Many thanks to the Royal Court Theatre for the loan of the computer!!

 

Andrew

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  • 1 month later...

Just to let y'all know, the USB floppy drive has arrived (minus any instructions!)

 

I think I remember reading somewhere that the USB stick has to be split into 1.44Mb partitions, and the buttons on the front of the drive select which one of the numerous partitions is currently in use. I haven't got chance to try it myself at the moment.

 

If anybody wants to borrow it to try it out (subject to a £20 deposit and P+P costs) drop me a PM.

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