🚀 go-pugleaf

"Randy McLaughlin" <randy@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:_5QLc.8876$yF.8852@bignews2.bellsouth.net...
> "Greg Andrzejewski" <pressyourluck85@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:6pydnZWjzcxR12LdRVn-ug@comcast.com...
> > Hi,
> >     I have a Tandy Coco 3 with a FD 501 disk drive. I'm trying to get
> Nitros
> > 9 to work, but I can't seem to figure it out. I've tried writing the
disk
> > images with two different computers with no change. The system will
either
> > lock while at the boot screen or not start booting at all.
> > My guess would be that the images are double-sided disks and the FD 501
is
> a
> > single sided drive. Would I be right in this assumption? If so, can I
swap
> > the drive in the FD 501 with a standard PC 5.25" high density drive? Or,
> > where can I get a single-sided version of nitros?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Greg Andrzejewski
>
> You can't use 5.25" HD but you can use 3.5" HD drives.
>
> With 3.5" drive you have to stick with DD (720K) disks (or tape over the
> density hole of a HD disk).
>
> Most 3.5" drives don't have jumpers for drive select anymore.  This can be
> overcome by modifying a PC cable.  The motor control line needs to be
> changed.  I'll look up the pinout and follow up later.  It is a relatively
> simple change and you can use current drives on many antique computers.
>
> You can mound 3.5" drives in your drive case with a standard 3.5" -> 5.25"
> mounting bracket.
>
> 720K disks usually have to be specially ordered but are still very
> available.
>
> bit.listserv.coco is a good usenet group for COCO discussions.
>
> Randy

I looked up the pinout (it's simple but I don't have it memorized).

Take a "standard" PC floppy cable and carefully remove the connector cover
on the end with the twist.
  If the connector has two covers the top one is a strain relief and usually
breaks when removed (not needed).
  The cable cover has tabs on each side, using a pocket knife carefully pry
each tab away from the connector while pushing up.  Sometimes the tabs catch
on a second notch before coming off, just repeat the procedure to finish.

Pull off the part of the cable that is twisted and straighten it out.

Separate the wires 10 through 12 (counting from the colored stripe).

Twist just those wires and push all the wires back on the connector through
the same holes.

Replace the cover.

You now have a cable that uses new drives on old computers without changing
jumpers.

Please note that the drive plugged into the connector just changed is the
first drive, the "straight" connector is the second.

If anyone is interested pin 10 is the first DS, 11 is ground, 12 is the
second DS.

Randy