Reconfigure Backpack parallel port tape device as a floppy drive? \ VOGONS

Reconfigure Backpack parallel port tape device as a floppy drive?

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First post, by keenerb

Posted on 2021-09-11, 02:40

keenerb Offline

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I've got a MicroSolutions parallel port tape drive and a MicroSolutions 2.88mb floppy drive. I've examined both of them and they seem to be identical other than one has the tape drive attached and one has floppy.

I was hoping I could repurpose the tape drive as an external HXC enclosure but there's some identifier the backpack drivers use to determine the type of device.

Anyone know what that identification process might entail? Has anyone repurposed one of these like this?

Reply 1 of 2, by BitWrangler

Posted on 2021-09-11, 02:45

BitWrangler Offline

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Does it grind the empty drives on power up or driver activation? Just thinking later 486 up could autodetect drives on their controllers, so it might just be doing that. Failing that, look harder for a ROM on the interface board.

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 2 of 2, by keenerb

Posted on 2021-09-11, 03:11

keenerb Offline

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Joined: 2006-11-13, 16:24

Driver reports that no floppy is found.

The board only has three chips, a floppy controller, a 256mbit dram, and what I'm guessing is a proprietary microsolutions chip labelled:
MicroSolutions
50772a
9338MVa39

I think that IC is the issue and probably not something easily bypassed on the hardware side.

I wonder if the driver detection could be bypassed...

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