Recent content by guibrush

Hi, a friend of mine got his hands on a nice Imsai VDP-40. We are trying to bring it back to life, but have some problems getting a working prompt. We have certainly 2 different problems as we have different results when the machine is powered on: - sometimes we have only a black screen...

in theory, I totally agree with you, but in practice, there is no manual on the web that explain the modification needed to put the micro complex board In the SOL-20, and therefore no idea what has to be reversed (trace cutting, IC changed....), and in addition, about 36 IC where removed to put...

Still waiting the Northstar from my friend to arrive. If this card work, I will certainly go the dual floppy route, you are right. Meanwhile, I'm not really sure that my problem come from the floppy controller of from the SOL-20, because I have some strange behaviour without the floppy board...

Ok, got it now. Sorry, English is not my native tongue :-)

Actually, I wanted to go with only one drive. Why do you say that 2 drives are mandatory? It's for convenience, of it's not possible with only one drive at all?

very well done, you‘re a master! I plan to do some external enclosure too, but I think that I will go for a more simple approach: I will use a SCCI CD-ROM enclosure, paint it in matching blue, and maybe ask a friend of mine to make 2 wood side panels. But first, I have to make the whole thing...

ok, perfect. Thanks for the precision.

https://deramp.com/vsg.html To use a soft sectored floppy drive on a hard sectored controller.

@deramp5113 Can a 720K 5.25 floppy drive + VSG adapter also be used on a Northstar SD controller, such as an MDC-A4?

It will only be a loan from my friend, to test it, and if it's conclusive, my plan is to take yours :-)

Many thanks Hugo for your offer. It’s very kind of you. I just want to investigate a little further to make sure that the controller board is the problem, and not the SOL-20 itself. This morning I managed to make a complete transfer from a CP/M disk to my floppy drive. Obviously, it doesn't...

Hi Hugo, this is a nice offer, I will PM you :-)

ok. Looks like the majority of disk images available on your web page are double density. I better try to find a double density controller.

Ok, thanks. I Guess I have to find a Northstar Controller. They are so me Single density on Ebay, are they any good for the SOL-20, or a double density is absolutely needed?

the IC is in the right position, confirmed. but the IC is very hot. Fun fact : I removed it, and pctofloppy is still able to see the floppy drive when I select it. I assume that this is the boot rom and it's not needed at this time? I have big stability problems when the Phase Lock II...