Storage options for non SCSI MPC60

I just dusted off my old MPC60 after years of storage. I bought this one right on release back when, so is probably one of the first batch built. Other than a dirty pot and an occasional sticky key, it still works great. It has a Mitsubishi MF353C-62M disk drive which worked after a cleaning.

I have browsed the forums, but haven't been able to figure out if it is indeed possible to replace this floppy drive with a emulator/card reader type mod. It seems that if you have SCSI, the road forward is easy, but without, a lot more difficult. Are there MPC60's without SCSI out there using emulators or alternate storage systems successfully? Then after that, what are the options for salvaging whatever samples and data are on the disks?

I figure that without replacing the floppy drive this poor machine will not serve much purpose. If anyone could point me in the right direction...

do a forum search for hxc floppy emulator.... in my opinion it is actually better than scsi devices for the mpc60...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SD-Floppy-Emu ... 606wt_1272

auction has ended, but message hima nd tell him you want one for the 60.

I'll be getting one for my S950 at some point very soon.

Hey thanks. I had previously looked at that device but it only includes the MPC60 MkII on the compatibility list. I'm guessing from your responses that it will work fine with my MkI mpc60. I'll give it a try.

vitod wrote:Hey thanks. I had previously looked at that device but it only includes the MPC60 MkII on the compatibility list. I'm guessing from your responses that it will work fine with my MkI mpc60. I'll give it a try.

HxC emulator works with all MPC60's and many other old samplers that used older floppy drives.

There is also a USB floppy emulator (GOTEK SFR1M72-FU) which unlike the HxC SD card emulator is essentially plug n play and retains 720kb of work (samples, sequences etc) with its built-in memory. Much more convenient and straightforward than the HxC which relies on additional software and messing with disc images. However this requires the 3.10 OS to work.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=148895

http://www.suntekstore.com/goods-100168 ... ator_.html



http://www.ebay.de/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0931394040

A lot of posts in the thread (questions/ answers) as the USB emulator was a 'new' discovery at the time. But has been proven to work successfully by several of our members and is still slept on by those who only know about the HxC emulator which costs around 2-3 times as much money.

If I needed an emulator, I would definately get the USB version from China (or eBay) and call it a day. Check it out and save yourself some money...

thats really cool - those floppy emulators are REALLY cheap.

anyone know if they work in the S950??????? if they do I'm getting one today!

there is a ton of them on ebay - anyone know if there is various revisions, or do they all work the same, they sure look the same

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksi ... &_from=R40

not sure how true it is, but read this.

I just want to state, for the record, that the Gotek 720K floppy drive emulator DOES NOT work with MPC60II with OS 2.12. It sees the files, but can do nothing with them.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electron ... d-one.html

Thanks clint246clint, plug and play is definitely the preferred way for me, I'll look at that USB floppy emulator. I do have the 3.10e update installed.

@SEED78

Tests shown that OS 3.10 is required for the USB emulator to work, if you peep the thread in my previous post all the info is there. At least 3 forum members have confirmed successful installs. The USB emulator has to be the 720kb version, and manufactured by GOTEK model number SFRM72-GU FU or SFR1M72-FU. There are many USB emulators which look the same, but will not work so always ask the seller for the manufacturer/ model number before purchasing. Most sellers seem to be from China or Hong Kong.

The S-950 may or may not work as it uses DD/HD drives, it may need the HD 1.44mb version and a certain OS. The only way to find out is to test it...or ask Gertie if he knows. I may even buy a USB emulator myself for the hell of it at £30-40 compared to the HxC at around £100. Needless to say I don't need one as my MPC60 has SCSI and my S-950 has the Atari HD.

This is the correct USB emulator as bought, tested and used by Gertie (see earlier linked thread, page 6).

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... ink:top:de

36 Euros
30 GBP

thanks for the info bro - typically I didn't read the whole thread - have read through it now and am def considering a test of one worthwhile.

is the general opinion that it the only letdown is it doesn't format much higher than 720k compared to the HXC ones that do the 1.44MB (or whatever it is) partitions?

I wouldn't say it was a 'letdown', it emulates the floppy disc at 720kb per partition. For the MPC60 this is perfect, full stock memory saved to one partition, expanded memory saved to two partitions. I think the USB stick holds 100 partitions.

Excellent news, clint246clint. Your forum link above answered most of my questions. I ordered a SFRM72-FU 720KB USB SSD. Thanks for the help. I'll post how things turn out.

Partitioning these large capacity storage devices has always deterred me from getting one... but it seems as if itcould actually be a better use of space.