Alright, so I ended up getting some extra bits this weekend. I've been trying to find an SF314 drive, but they are as rare as hens teeth. I thought I'd check out craigs list and found a local guy selling his old 1040STf setup that he has had since '86-'87. He said the computer started giving him little bombs across the screen last year and he put it away. He took it out of storage a few weeks ago and it wont even boot now, just goes to a dead white screen. Said he didnt want to toss it in the trash or dump it on goodwill because they might just toos it in the trash. He though a collector could repair it or use it for parts. So I got the 1040STf, external SF354 drive, clean and working SC1224 monitor, all the manual's, mouse (damn things are breeding on me as I have three now,lol), and some software for $25.00. I'll see what I can do to fix the computer later this week or put it in the parts closet.
I would still like to focus on the 520STm that I started this thread with as I see how much smaller and lighter it is. By the way, it was jtoubeaux that sold me the moded 520STm. So here is a question for you guys before I start opening everything. If I can not fix the computer, could I swap the internal 720k floppy drive from the 1040STf with the drive inside the SF354 enclosure? Or is the interface adaptor in the SF354 limited in someway to the single sided drive its attached too? Also, I would assume that if I can swap the drives out (again, only if I cant fix the 1040), that the power brick for the 354 would work with the new mod. But just in case, thought I'd check to make sure from those here who have many years on these systems.
I guess, I have to ask this as well. Now that I have both the SM124 mono monitor and the SC1224 color monitor, is there a switching device that lets the user pick which monitor to boot too? I dont like the idea of plugging and unplugging the big old dins on these aging plastic based machines. Seems a sure fire way to start cracking things. This would mainly be for the 1040STf if I can fix it, as it can only use a monitor. The 520STm has an svideo port and left/right RCA jacks so I can use a TV on it.
If I can fix the 1040 then I will stick the SM124 on it, and get a memory upgrade to bring it up to 4MB and use it for a cubase based MIDI rig (when I can get a copy and dongle for 3.0 or 3.1). I really like the idea of sticking a C64 with a MSSIAH MIDI cart inline with the 1040 . I will also get another set of 1.4 roms and try to upgrade the 520 to 1MB as wells as put the UltraSATAn in it and use it as a game rig. I dont know where that will place the SC1224, but I'm guessing it will stick with the 1040.