XM1541 Adapter

[Tempest]

Since an 1541 Ulitmate is out of my price range at the moment, I have one of these coming to me:

 

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 380221653766

 

I know this is a bit more limited than an Ultimate, but it should work for what I need. As I understand it, this cable should allow me to hook a 1541 up to my computer and copy disk images over to a real C-64 disk. I do something similar on my Apple IIe to transfer games.

 

However from what I've read the cable is really picky about the hardware it works on and the software is even more picky. I'm not sure if my machine will work with it. I'm using a Serial/parallel card and Windows 7 64-bit. My Apple and Atari haven't had issues, but I'm wondering if this will. I can boot into XP, but I'm not sure if that's enough.

 

Anyone have experience with the XM1541?

 

Tempest

[JamesD]

I have one of the cable versions. All mine required was a PC with a parallel port. It worked great first try but I read up on it before I ordered the cable. I hooked mine to a 1571 but the software works the same.

[oracle_jedi]

 

Anyone have experience with the XM1541?

 

Tempest

 

Yes, and its picky as hell.

 

Couldn't get mine to work under Win2000 or XP at all.

 

Ended up taking an old Dell laptop and installing DOS6 on it, then running Star Commander, which allowed me to transfer singe PRG files, but then timed out after each transfer.

 

Since alot of people got theirs to work ok, either im doing it all wrong, or my desktops have something in the parallel port/windows drivers thats interfering.

[JamesD]

http://sta.c64.org/xcables.html

<edit>

I think I have one of the later versions of the cables and I had to configure the motherboard parallel port in the bios so it would be sure to work correctly. I haven't used it in years so I don't have the exact details.

Edited May 5, 2010 by JamesD

[+HatNJ]

Thats the site I recommend I have an XE1541 and XA1541 both owrk good for me

[Rybags]

I built one for someone else a few months back. Worked fine on my Core2/WinXP system.

 

Fiddly thing to build but not too much work. Someone posted elsewhere a good page that actually describes the lengths to trim off each diode lead end for a snug fit - I just did mine on the go based on a schematic.

 

If you happen to have old PCI header brackets with the printer plug and ribbon cable - the molded removable plugs are often just the right size to fit everything in.

 

I just made mine with a short lead and female DIN plug, easier to just hang that off the back of your box, then plug the 1541 serial lead into that, and put your 1541 on top of the PC or on the desk.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Rybags