Hybrid ZIP Problem (Please Help)

Hi.

I have an MPC2000XL, and an Iomega ZIP 100 Plus. I'm trying to get it to work, but am having a little trouble. I have set it to ID#5, and the MPC still doesn't detect it. I've also tried ID#6 as well.

To connect it, I have both units off, then switch the ZIP drive on, and then the MPC. I've tried doing it the other way, as well. But, I've had no joy.

I've noticed that when I scroll through the SCSI ID numbers on the MPC, that ID#5 is missing from the list. It scrolls through from #0 to #7, but misses #5 out. What does this mean?

Here are some pictures of the exact drive and cable I'm using:







I also have an external CD-ROM drive, and this works perfectly using the same port on the back of the MPC.

Thanks for any time/help you can give.

Judging by the cable you are using, you are plugging into the wrong port on the back of the zip drive. You need to connect the port that say's AUTODETECT above it to your MPC.
As you can no doubt see, this is a male socket,not the usual female one.

I have an idea that you also need to use the special cable that came with the zip plus. It's a blue cable with one male plug at one end and a female one at the other which also say's AUTODETECT on it.

Seeing as the male end is a 25 pin job, you would need some kind of conversion in order to plug it into the MPC2000XLs 50 pin socket.

I have never tried the zip plus on the MPC2000XL but I will have a go now and get back to you if it works.


btw. It has been said on many occasions in this forum that the zip-plus is bad news for MPCs.
I have never had an issue with it so far but be aware that it may cause problems.

Pilchard wrote:Seeing as the male end is a 25 pin job, you would need some kind of conversion in order to plug it into the MPC2000XLs 50 pin socket.

If you look at the last picture, this is the 50-pin SCSI-2 cable that I plug in to the MPC.

Would I be right in thinking that I need to convert the SCSI-1 male end, in to a female, and then plug that in to the AUTODETECT port on the ZIP drive?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Yes that should work.

I just tested a zip plus on my MPC3000 with a regular cable (from a paralell drive) and it worked fine so it seems you don't need the special cable to get it to work.
I couldn't find any suitable adapter in my box of SCSI cables so, I can't try it out with the MPC2000xl but it should work.
I think you may have trouble finding such an adaptor. I just took a search around and found nothing.
Seeing as Zip-plus has a bad reputation for MPCs you maybe better in the long run buying a regular SCSI zip drive. They are cheap enough on ebay.

Or , dareI say it, check out the CF card drives that you can fit internally in your MPC2000XL. They are far more reliable than zips, and the CF cards are dirt cheap now.

Hope youget something sorted.



Pilchard.......


EDIT
ps.

I've noticed that when I scroll through the SCSI ID numbers on the MPC, that ID#5 is missing from the list. It scrolls through from #0 to #7, but misses #5 out. What does this mean?

I think you will find it is #6 that is missed out, because, that is the ID# of the MPC itself. Your zip should be set to #5

.

Thanks for your help, Pilchard. I really appreciate it!

I've found this one in America. It looks like it should do the trick.

Thanks again!

Well found
Looks like you may need to remove the screw posts to get it to mate with the zip drive but, it's cheap enough.

Should work fine



.

Would you be able to point me in the right direction to one of those CF internal drives? The only ones I can find are USB.

Thanks!

What country are you in?

Pilchard wrote:What country are you in?

Same as yourself, the UK.

Thanks!

Check out this excellent guide to installation while i try and find where I bought mine.


http://home.tiscali.nl/~smeyer/mpc/



.EDIT


My reader/writer came from this place

http://www.digitalera.co.uk/product/ide ... riter.html

they sell the same units that cimple-spares sell but for less than half the price.

If you don't want to cut any cables inside your mpc you will need a power cable.They are pretty cheap from cimple but they might keep you waiting for weeks so take your pick

http://www.cimplespares.com/product.php/11310/18/


You will also need a ribbon cable but,these can be obtained from any computer supplies

http://www.cimplespares.com/product.php/11311/18/


Lastly....Stick with CF cards. They are more reliable on this set-up


.

Thanks, Pilchard! I really appreciate the effort you've put in to helping me out! Nice one, mate!

Hiya, sorry to thread-jack, but, I bought a 2000xl off ebay a few days ago which already has an internal zip drive. Am I right in thinking that I will not need to buy power cable, ribbon etc. if I want to install the card reader (I am also in uk and had my eye on the exact same one!) And I will just need to remove the zip dive and replace with the card reader?
Many thanks, Dave