Recommended Card Readers

SimonInAustralia wrote:MPC2000XL has an internal IDE/ATAPI port, which makes it much cheaper, as you just need the card reader, and if you don't want hot swap, they can be as low as $5-10.

MPC2000 has only external SCSI port, so you need to find a SCSI card reader, which are not easy to find, or a SCSI-IDE bridge with an IDE card reader, and the bridge is the expensive part.

But keep an eye out for cheap 2nd hand SCSI-IDE bridges, that would be the way to go, chuck it in a cheap case with a cheap card reader.

Thanks Simon. The SCSI-IDE bridge is definitely hard to find at a decent price. I'm a bit confused about some of the recommended CF readers on the first page of this topic. Some people have mentioned that one of the Addonics readers were non-hot-swappable, when the specs mention that they are (model # ADIDECFB). I'm not sure if it has anything to do with using the SCSI-IDE bridge that makes them non-hot-swappable. I tried to follow all the info in this topic the best I can. I'm not sure what I'm missing.

distortedtekno wrote:I'm a bit confused about some of the recommended CF readers on the first page of this topic. Some people have mentioned that one of the Addonics readers were non-hot-swappable, when the specs mention that they are (model # ADIDECFB). I'm not sure if it has anything to do with using the SCSI-IDE bridge that makes them non-hot-swappable. I tried to follow all the info in this topic the best I can. I'm not sure what I'm missing.

No, that one is not hot swap (it is the black version on this page)...
http://www.addonics.com/products/adidecf.php

If there are no active electronics on the PCB, some sort of IC in between the IDE connector and the CF slot, to provide the ATAPI protocol operation/functionality, on top of the IDE protocol, on the card reader, then it is not going to be hot swap.

That sort of reader you mentioned, like many of the cheaper readers, just electrically connects the pins of the CF card directly to the pins of the IDE connector/cable, as the CF card is electronically really an IDE drive.

Even if it does have an IC to provide hot swap functionality, there is no guarantee it will operate as hot swap with a SCSI-IDE/ATAPI bridge in an MPC, or hot swap with an IDE/ATAPI port in an MPC2000XL.

If it lists that it needs a driver or utility to provide hot swap operation with Windows and other computer OS's, it will most likely not work as hot swap with an MPC. They need to work as hot swap with Windows and other computer OS's with no driver/utility, to have any chance of working as hot swap with an MPC, and even then, it is no guarantee that it will.

Thanks again Simon. That explanation made things a lot clearer for me. Between certain drives and media, I can't ignore the fact that the MPC is a very picky machine. So I'll keep that in mind and hopefully find an affordable solution.

Last night, I was looking on ebay for the same model Addonics drive, and I believe it stated that it was hot-swappable in the auction. I had just double-checked Addonics site to see that was not the case.

Please can you help me? I am beyond desperate.. I just gave up months ago..

I have MPC2000xl for which I bought the ADIDECF card reader + 1 GB Sandisk CF card, both recommended by this forum.

However, I just can't get my MPC work with this card. I know my card reader is connected properly, because I found out it can read my friend's 8 MB card... I tried formatting my card by all means possible, I even tried the atcfwchg.com utility, but I can't make it switch my CF card to "fixed". What's weird is that the mentioned friend's 8 MB card shows Removable as well, but it works perfectly..... I just don't know anymore, I bought the reader and the card like 1 year ago and I wasted so much time with it....... with no success. I joined this forum to ask and you are my last chance, please help.

^ I am not sure if this will work or if you should even try this... but I would try it myself even with the very slight risk of it maybe messing the card up...

pop the card in the pc, click format in my computer (not quick format) and before it finishes for format, unplug it which will corrupt the card. Now see if you can put it in the mpc (put it in before turning on the mpc) and see if you can format it.

lemra wrote:Please can you help me? I am beyond desperate.. I just gave up months ago..

I have MPC2000xl for which I bought the ADIDECF card reader + 1 GB Sandisk CF card, both recommended by this forum.

However, I just can't get my MPC work with this card. I know my card reader is connected properly, because I found out it can read my friend's 8 MB card... I tried formatting my card by all means possible, I even tried the atcfwchg.com utility, but I can't make it switch my CF card to "fixed". What's weird is that the mentioned friend's 8 MB card shows Removable as well, but it works perfectly..... I just don't know anymore, I bought the reader and the card like 1 year ago and I wasted so much time with it....... with no success. I joined this forum to ask and you are my last chance, please help.

ADIDECFB card reader is just a bridge between IDE, but its metal mounting chassis make it perfect for installing on MPC2000XL.

If your Compact Flash card is compatible with XL, then XL will at least mount the card (shows up as ATAPI device, although it is not technically), so you don't need a special software (such as atcfwchg.com) to make it work.

(I've saild this many times, but) Your CF card must be inserted before turning on XL, and must not be ejected when XL is turned on. XL will treat the CF card just like internal hard drives on desktop PCs.

2GB Sandisk CF card also works well with XL, and it is easier to purchase (Sandisk still sells them.)

I've heard that there are a lot of fake Sandisk brand CF cards on the used market, and I don't think those work on XL. You might have one of those.

Also,double check all connections, especially the power connector to the ADIDECFB card reader. Since there is no LED on ADIDECFB card reader, it is a hard to see whether or not the card reader is powered.

Good luck!

Thanks. Your post gave me a hunch where my problem might be. I borrowed 5 CF cards from my friend and tried them all one by one. I found out that my CF card reader actually works fine, but only with 1 of all those cards - 128 MB from the Apacer brand. So until now I have been using it and now I bought a new 1 GB card from a German e-shop in hope it will work, because my old 1 GB is from China and it didn't work...

Well, what should I do to make my 1 GB cards work - is there some special way to format them for example? Why only the 128 Apacer card works and others don't?

EDIT: I used the regular format tool in Windows 7 and I chose FAT - card still doesn't work with my reader

It's just matter of getting right (compatible) CF cards. It's that simple. The IDE CF card reader is just a bridge between CF card and IDE port. Therefore, the compatibily is entirely up to CF card.
Just get genuine Sandisk brand CF cards. 2GB Sandisk brand CF card just work fine with MPC-2000XL with a non-swappable IDE CF card adapter (although the largest partition size is 1GB.) 2GB Sandisk brand CF card is easier to find than 1GB Sandisk brand CF card.

JVC wrote:It's just matter of getting right (compatible) CF cards.

Ah, I get it now.. Sorry for bothering.

Anyway, I finally solved my issues. I ordered 5 CF cards from a local e-shop and paid a little extra cash for the possibility to return the unpacked goods without having to explain why (otherwise things like CDs and memory cards require to be returned in untouched original package here).

These are the 2 cards that work well with my ADIDECF reader:
- Sandisk Ultra 4 GB
- Kingston 4 GB

These are those that did not work for me:
- Sandisk 1 GB (bought from a Chinese e-shop, probably a fake one?)
- Maxflash 1 GB
- ADATA 4 GB
- Verbatim 2 GB & Verbatim 4 GB

I hope this at least helps someone in the future...

JVC wrote:(although the largest partition size is 1GB.)

I just don't get this, but I guess I will soon find out. Thanks everyone!

Hello,

This is an old topic.
I have an Mpc2000, not the xl zone, the 2000 first generation.
I have it since a very long time now. With the FX and the outputs boards.
I still have the scsi iomega 100 reader etc....

I would like to get it out from its box, removing the dust, and having fun with it again.

But... it really could be nice to replace the floppy drive by an sdcard reader.
A lot of informations everywhere about the xl, more difficult to find recent one about the 2000.

So, if anyone know how to do that with this configuration, I will really appreciate the help.

Thanks guys.

nimpo wrote:...
I have an Mpc2000, not the xl zone, the 2000 first generation.
I have it since a very long time now. With the FX and the outputs boards.
I still have the scsi iomega 100 reader etc....

I would like to get it out from its box, removing the dust, and having fun with it again.

But... it really could be nice to replace the floppy drive by an sdcard reader.
...

Sorry, an IDE CF reader cannot be installed on MPC-2000 classic. MPC-2000 classic doesn't even have IDE port.
With 2000 classic, you are stuck with SCSI devices and floppy drive.

Isn't there something like an scsi-usb adapter? Or an scsi hard disk... this would be way easier than all the floppy-to-mcd hassle...

Phra*DOC wrote:Isn't there something like an scsi-usb adapter? Or an scsi hard disk... this would be way easier than all the floppy-to-mcd hassle...

SCSI to USB adapter do exist, but what we need is USB device to SCSI host adapter, which does not exist.
SCSI hard drives do exist, but they are expensive (no longer in production) and makes it difficult to transfer data between MPC and PC, and less reliable than memory cards.

Phra*DOC wrote:Isn't there something like an scsi-usb adapter? Or an scsi hard disk... this would be way easier than all the floppy-to-mcd hassle...

To add to JVC's reply, scsi-usb adapters do exist (iomega made these years ago) but require drivers and the MPC does NOT do drivers.

SCSI hard drives have become expensive especially the 50 pin models but there are some 68 pin models that can also be used in combination with 68/50 pin adapters.

Because the MPC2000 does not have an internal ide port nor an internal scsi port, it is still possible to add an "internal" card reader but it must be connected to the external scsi port using customized ribbon cable. I did this mod years ago (pain in the a$$) and space was tight. Actually I did 2 different mods on 2 different MPC2000s, one with hot swap and another with non hot swap for a couple of associates. I just think it is just much easier to use an external card reader. I use one of those external compact scsi carders which is hot-swap and use both cf and sd cards from mpcstoragesolution. The pcmcia slot is the only one that works of all slots shown so a pcmcia adapter card is needed. It is the pcd-60b model.

Everything is expensive and scsi has become rare but can still be found.

Peace

LADiego wrote:I use one of those external compact scsi carders which is hot-swap and use both cf and sd cards from mpcstoragesolution. The pcmcia slot is the only one that works of all slots shown so a pcmcia adapter card is needed. It is the pcd-60b model.

Everything is expensive and scsi has become rare but can still be found.

Stratos Technology/Artmix RaizinMonster SCSI CF card reader is now available, new, at approx $129US + $16US shipping.

That would be the current best choice for an easily found SCSI CF card reader.