🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <na.72f0564769.a40080mchappell@argonet.co.uk>, Michael Chappell
<mchappell@argonet.co.uk> wrote:

> 1. If I have an external HD, I presume it would be an IDE disc; how is
> this connected to the computer?

With a very short IDE lead and a power connector running out the back. It's
exposed and connected via wires that pass through RFI/EMC shielding. Hmmm...

Have you a 2nd floppy disc? If not, you could fit it there. I have a 200Mb
ADFS::5 drive whizzing around under my floppy. It should be fine unless the
2nd drive you buy/have/whatever runs inordinably hot.


> 2. Can I fit an internal syquest into an A5000 ( I have a spare slot where
> the 2nd floppy would normally go) would this then connect to the same
> place as the existing HD?

Ah, you do. Well, as long as whatever device is no larger than your original
harddisc on the platter (is it the 40Mb Conner?) then yes. You may need to
plug the wires in before screwing the drive into place (no, I meant with a
screwdriver! <grin>) otherwise it is fiddly. 

You /may/ need a power lead splitter. Have no fear, unless you are running
some heavy stuff, your PSU will cope. The 200Mb is an older model so it is
rated pretty high compared to these modern drives.


Can't say for the SysQuest. Never had one. If it pretends to be an IDE drive
then it should work. A SysQuest won't be removable media unless it is small
enough to fit through the floppy disc cut-out. Certainly, if it is designed
to fit in a 5.25" bay (internal tape-streamer size) then it won't fit.


Having said that, there is NO option for another harddisc [1] so it might be
more cost effective to price up a 200Mb - 512Mb. ADFS cannot handle drives
larger than 512Mb [2] so buying a 1Gb drive won't work.


Once you have your drive, the only problems I see are getting the links
sorted. One drive must act as a "MASTER" (your current disc is probably set
up as a master, though some drives allow for a "only this drive"
configuration - usually laptop drives, but you never know). The other drive
must be set up as a SLAVE. It doesn't usually matter which is which,
although like standards usually are - different people implement them
differently. There are known incompatibilities where a certain drive won't
work with another type of drive and some drives won't work at all. Look in
the Acorn FAQ thing for more info on this.


If you require a step-by-step guide to hooking up a 2nd HD to an A5000,
follow the Frobnicate link on my homepage. Um... <clickety click> It's in
issue three, pages 6 and 7.

Actually, you /might/ be able to find it at   
"http://www.surcombe.demon.co.uk/frobnicate/issues/frob2.zip"
   (or try "frob02.zip")
though I cannot guarantee it. John may move all but the latest issue around.
Links are on his page (linked off mine - following links has got to be
easier than typing that lot in :-) ).


#include <smiley.h> [3]
PLEASE MEMORISE: FROBNICATE IS DISTRIBUTED AS AN ARCHIVED DTP FILE. IT
                 REQUIRES THE OVATION DTP SOFTWARE. A DEMO IS AVAILABLE
                 FROM GOOD ACORN BBSs. THERE IS NO IMPRESSION VERSION OR
                 HTML VERSION OR DRAW VERSION AND SUCH THINGS ARE RATHER
                 UNLIKELY. [4]


Okay. Hoped that has helped.
Roll the footnotes...


[1] Not /strictly/ true. You can buy an IDE card and fit another two devices
    to it. Then again, you could build yourself a 6502 podule instead of
    using !65Host. :-)

[2] Not /strictly/ true. There is a "Wizzo" ROM that fits into your 5th ROM
    socket to provide fancy stuff like partitions and large HDs and locking
    etc etc. Interested? Contact ICS.

[3] Just in case you didn't know, it is a C programming directive to get
    the preprocessor (bit that peeks at the text and twiddles things before
    the compiler gets it) to include a library (bit that defines a whole 
    load of other bits to save you writing it all yourself). In this case, 
    we include a library called "smiley" which prints a stonking [5] great
    smiley on the screen. It's a joke... :-)

[4] You'd be surprised how many people don't realise it is an Ovation file
    for Acorn computers... :-)

[5] Hey, Comic Relief is just around that corner. I think that entitles me 
    to utilise faddy words conceived by Lenny Henry... :-)



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  /__/         rmurray@arcticbb.demon.co.uk    (ZFCA)
 /  \ichard.   http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/rmurray