PC Ditto 2 in a 1040ST

[8bitguy1]

Hi All,

 

I've just acquired my second 1040 STf and this one didn't boot up at all.  But I accidentally discovered it would boot when I applied pressure to the top-middle of the case (above the function keys).  So I took it apart figuring either something was loose and perhaps I could fix it.  Well it turns out the RF shielding has been cut away and a  PC-ditto II board is in there.  The system seems to boot fine without the cover on...so I find that weird as well.  Except, as is the case with every ST I've got...the floppy drive doesn't work!!!  However, I have no idea how to use this....a google search was only mildly helpful.  My questions are:

 

1) Is there any point to having this board anymore?

 

2) Can I "undo" this mod?

 

3) What is the deal with ST floppy drives, I'm on my fourth ST looking for a system that works and I've got no luck so far....very frustrating.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for any and all feedback!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tjlazer]

1) Is there any point to having this board anymore?

 

2) Can I "undo" this mod?

 

3) What is the deal with ST floppy drives, I'm on my fourth ST looking for a system that works and I've got no luck so far....very frustrating.

 

 

Thanks for any and all feedback!!

 

Can you take a pic of the board? Does it just snap on one of the chips or does it replace it and have a socket on the board for the chip? You can usually just remove the board and put the chip back to get it back to stock. You can try it and see if it works. I have a 520ST like that and it was flaky with the board installed, and it seems to work better without it. Also a RAM board, same deal. Would crash with it in, removed it and it works much better...

[Zogging Hell]

Hi All,

 

I've just acquired my second 1040 STf and this one didn't boot up at all.  But I accidentally discovered it would boot when I applied pressure to the top-middle of the case (above the function keys).  So I took it apart figuring either something was loose and perhaps I could fix it.  Well it turns out the RF shielding has been cut away and a  PC-ditto II board is in there.  The system seems to boot fine without the cover on...so I find that weird as well.  Except, as is the case with every ST I've got...the floppy drive doesn't work!!!  However, I have no idea how to use this....a google search was only mildly helpful.  My questions are:

 

1) Is there any point to having this board anymore?

 

2) Can I "undo" this mod?

 

3) What is the deal with ST floppy drives, I'm on my fourth ST looking for a system that works and I've got no luck so far....very frustrating.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for any and all feedback!!

 

Have you tried using a floppy disk cleaner in the disk drive? They are still available (any PC one will do). I've had STs with apparently dead drives, but really it was just gunk. Boot the ST without a disk and then insert the cleaner disk (with disk cleaner fluid applied). Then keep trying to access drive A a couple of times. Then get a floppy you're not to bothered about and try and format it a few times. If it doesn't work repeat. Hopefully you should get some response but if you keep doing it till it formats a whole floppy then you're in luck. Try formatting the disk single sided first, then double sided.

[youki]

Floppy Drive on St can be easly replaced by PC/IDE floppy drive.

 

If i remember well, you just have to plug the new drive.

 

The problem is just the shape of the ejection button. When i did that on my mega st back in time , i had to adapt the ST case to let the PC floppy button to be accessed.

 

But it worked very well.

[8bitguy1]

I did run a disk cleaner through it, but it still didn't work.  I've stuck in an old PC drive and it seems to be working fine (after making room for the eject button).   As far as the card goes...I've pulled it, the main part anyway and it just has the soldered in piece (which is right next to the disk drive, where the 2 cables attach) left.  The ST now boots every time.  I'm just storing the PC Ditto card in an anti-static bag now, can't see why I'd ever need it again...but you never know.

 

I've also followed all the instructions in the threads here about getting ST images to disk on your PC and had only limited success.  (sometimes it works and sometimes not).  I wish there was away to write .stx images to disk.....that would make searching the internet for old software a whole lot easier.

 

Anyway...my ST adventures continue....   

 

 

[oky2000]

I did run a disk cleaner through it, but it still didn't work.  I've stuck in an old PC drive and it seems to be working fine (after making room for the eject button).   As far as the card goes...I've pulled it, the main part anyway and it just has the soldered in piece (which is right next to the disk drive, where the 2 cables attach) left.  The ST now boots every time.  I'm just storing the PC Ditto card in an anti-static bag now, can't see why I'd ever need it again...but you never know.

 

I've also followed all the instructions in the threads here about getting ST images to disk on your PC and had only limited success.  (sometimes it works and sometimes not).  I wish there was away to write .stx images to disk.....that would make searching the internet for old software a whole lot easier.

 

Anyway...my ST adventures continue....   

 

Well you know...if you don't want it I'm sure others would give the board a happy home....

[8bitguy1]

I would have no issue with that, but part of it seems soldered in place....and I would need instructions and perhaps original parts (to put back) to fix it.  If anyone has the specs and can tell me how to remove the whole thing...I'd be happy to find it a new home.

[oky2000]

After a little bit of Googling it turns out it needs software to activate it. Seems to be similar in that way to the old Commodore Bridgeboards for PC emulation too.

 

Not really sure what the modifications to the board are to accept it, so it probably would be mostly useful to people who have one already that needs replacing. Best not to try removing the hard wired sections in case it causes problems with your ST probably.

 

It's a nice gesture though to offer it as is to someone

[crash]

If I remember correctly, the PC-Ditto II CPU clip is soldered onto many of the main CPU pins. Assuming your motherboard doesn't have a socketed CPU, it may be fairly difficult to remove that part without cutting the PC-Ditto portion of the pins and desoldering the leftover bits. PC-Ditto does require software to enable it, and MS-DOS OS and software obviously.

 

Cheers!