Cheap CF Drive Link + How-to

I got this one off ebay, from china:
http://www.kabelpiraten.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=89&language=no

I have the internal zip so I didn't have to mod thepower supply and I used an old ide cable.

installed 1.2 OS, then installed the card reader but the OS didn't see any ATAPI at all.

I'm using a 1gb TwinMOS CF card but whether that works or not, it should still see the ATAPI right???

Or do I need a PNY card to factilitate the ATAPI recognition?

no you wont see atapi if theres no card in there, its the same if you have a non working card, no atapi shown at all.

Recommend you try a 1gb sandisk, im using the sandisk extreme III without problems, also a transcend "80x" 1gb.

Cards i have that didnt work were some generic brand, loads of kingston cards and even the 128mb akai mpc card didnt work.

Mekishiko wrote:This forum rocks, rather than ask questions that had been answered 50 times, I simply used the search feature, and took the time to read. (Albeit a lot of time) I did notice that there isn't a complete Compatibility guide as far as what Flash drives work with the MPC (I did find some info but as with most information regarding the MPC2000XL it was 5 years old!)

Before I get started I would like to propose a Sticky: Which contains a list, with purchase links, to Compatible hardware. On with the walk through!

MPC2000XL COMPACT FLASH UPGRADE/MOD GUIDE
This should take you about 30 minutes, less if you have taken the MPC2000XL apart before and know your way around the device.

Good Luck!

-Mekishiko

Hey everyone!
I just registered to this forum so I can thank Mekishiko (and all) for this thread.
I purchased my MP 2000XL ever since it came out and this easy to do upgrade really migrated me to FC and out of floppies.

The instructions were easy and I simply purchased everything as it was stated (addonics - sandisk products).

The only thing i did that is not mention was that I actually drilled my holes in the FC frame while it layed flush in the MPC's front plastic cover. in other words, I drilled the holes, while the FC bay layed in the MPC, in the two hole screws that held the old floopy drive. I was careful to drill straight downwards.

again, this thread helped and appreciate it.

Thanks for sharing the info.

dj c-los
Houston , TX

man, i am having trouble with the jumper cables...anyone know which kind of direct jum,per cable i can buy at frys?

nevermind i cut the wire and messed things up and recovered it by using a crimper to connect red and black wires together with electrical tape. good to go.

Ok, so i got the Addonics!

Only that i'm somehow confused regarding the power connection
Since i've ordered the specified reader model, no modification (with the colored power cables) is necessary i figured?


Is it that i dont need the cable, that came with the reader, at all, so i only replace the floppy drive with the card reader and just keep the existing cables in the mp and connect the reader to it? Is it THAT simple?!

Dont want to **** up my xl, so help would be really appreciated

I assume the Addonics requires a molex 4-pin hard drive power plug (most I've seen do). So you'll need to remove the floppy drive power plug and replace it with a Molex. Do you have one of those? It looks like this:



You only need the 5 volt power wires (red and black), so after cutting off the floppy drive plug, cut the yellow and black wire next to it about an inch shorter than the red and black wire next to it and tape them to the other two (this keeps them available but out of the way). Wire up the Molex plug to the MPC power cable, being sure to wire red to red and black to black. I like to use heat-shrink tubing to secure the connection but you can use electrical tape as well. Be sure that you twist the wires against each other, not just wrap one wire around the other.

I always suggest you test the power with a volt meter before plugging it into your drive (if you have one) but it's pretty straightforward, so unless you are really inept at this sort of thing, you should be okay.

That's about it - good luck and enjoy your new card reader drive!

And yes, that was the biggest picture of a Molex power plug I could find.

scsiforsamplers.com wrote:And yes, that was the biggest picture of a Molex power plug I could find.

soo also i made some high-res pictures (I numbered the plugs because i'm not really aware of the technical terms ):

This is the specific card reader that is recommended in this thread ->
It seems like it hast not the "molex 4-pin hard drive power plug" you mentioned, it has a really small one!



This is my mpc with the floppy disk drive which is currently in there ->
As you can see in the close-up(B),it has the same plug the Addonics has (A)



The cable that comes out of the mpc (C -> D) was connected to the small connector from the floppy drive (B)
And i dont have the yellow/black cable in there, at all!


Oh just to complete this, that is the cable which came with the Addonics



------------
Mhh does this mean now that i don't have to modify the cables?
And just plug the card reader to the existing "mini plug" that was used for the floppy ( A into D)?

Yes, if your CF bridge has the floppy style power plug (my favorite kind, for sure!), then just plug in what you already have (if it will reach). We include extensions for the power cable with our MPC60 and MPC3000 install kits because many of the replacement drives will have the power connector on the opposite side then the oiginal floppy and the existing Akai power cable won't reach. So the installer must extend his power cable. Pain in the rear, it is.

Ok, I see but if you can extend them easily the pain is moderate I guess.

AND: yesss, glad to hear this, that's what I was hoping for!
Will try it tomorrow.
One more thing: I just took an IDE cable out of our old pc. It has the 40 pins.
But it's not the regular one, because you can hook up 2 devices instead of just 1.
So in my case, it was connected to a DVD drive and then the cable doesn't end, it goes on and you're able to connect a second device.
I guess you know what I mean
Will this cable be good anyway?
And if yes, should I use the first connector in the middle of the cable or the one at the end?

And man, I have to say i'm so thankful for all your advices!
That's not the first time you're helping me out, I remember I had mad problems with an old iomega jaz drive but with your help I got that workin. At least somehow... still kinda struggling with that thing, glad when it will be finally replaced by the cf reader

Yes, you can use that IDE cable and you can connect the drive to either connector. I'd probably pick the last one just because. Or if it's longer than you need, you can take a pair of scissors and cut it right after the first connector, getting rid of the slack.

not to take business from you and i may end up going to your store anyways,
but what is it exactly that i need to ask for
a IDE CF READER? and i need a cable right?(which i think i have,taken from a internal zip)

i'm just one of those people that doesnt like to wait for things in the mail,if i can find itat the store i'd get there so i can put it i right away
i just need to know excatly what to ask for.

thanks for the help and you may hear from me if i cant find one .
peace

Sorry but you'd have very little chance of finding a IDE-CF bridge at a loal store. You'll have to go to eBay or straight to Addonics
to get one. If I were you, I'd get the one SMC is selling. He has it all figured out and if you buy his kit, you'll be able to install it and go. Plus I'm sure he will help you if you get stuck.

We don't sell those IDE things at SCSIforSamplers.com (not a SCSI product), so either go with SMC and his kit or go to eBay and takes your chances.

It's done

Tried it real quick and loading, saving no problem there it seems.

Big ups for Mekishiko for posting that guide and also S4S thanks for your help man!!

You are two heros of mpc-forums.com

Was cleaning up alittle today (making room for Traktor!) when I ran across my invoice for a card reader I ordered and installed in late December. It's from the OEM "manufacturer" that Akai got the original card readers from. PSI. The item number is PSI-IIC and can be had for $85 plus $10 for shipping and handling. It is hot-swappable, but you wil have to mod the power cord. It should pop right in. F.Y.I. it will stick out about a 1\4 inch. The actual maufacturer part number is R312XX00I50XB03R. Now for the particulars.....

Primary Simulation, Inc. (PSI)
2963 Mozart Drive
Silver Spring MD 20904, USA
(301) 572-2168, Fax: (301) 572-2169 http://www.psism.com

I hit the site about 8:30 EST tonight and they still have them. I would rather get a proven OEM part for $85 than pay $125 for a non hot-swappable rip-off. Just my 2 cents. one