Wanted: ISA 8 bit MFM hard drive controller (IBM PC)

[gekaufman]

I'm looking for an inexpensive ISA 8 bit MFM hard drive controller in working condition for an IBM PC (5150).

My purpose will be to check out David Gesswein MFM drive emulator before I try installing it into some vintage equipment, and also to test a few of the MFM drives I still have lying around here.

Thanks!

- Gary

 

[Stone]

I have an Adaptec ACB-2002A if that's of interest.

 

[gekaufman]

Looks like that would work, I'll send a PM.

- Gary

I have an Adaptec ACB-2002A if that's of interest.

 

[modem7]

I'm looking for an inexpensive ISA 8 bit MFM hard drive controller in working condition for an IBM PC (5150).

Relevant is the 'Hard disk drive' section of the IBM 5150 information at [here].

 

[gekaufman]

Relevant is the 'Hard disk drive' section of the IBM 5150 information at [here].

Very helpful, I've been to your site repeatedly as I've brought this 5150 back to life!

I just found a WDXT-GEN card (for $22 shipped) that hopefully will do what I'm looking for.

I use one of the CF-IDE cards currently which works nicely - although for some reason I don't understand I still need to boot from a floppy.

I'm only planning to use the MFM card short term as I've built one of David Gesswein MFM drive emulator boards - Once I'm sure it's working properly emulating a Quantum 540 I'll be moving it to a S-100 system using a CompuPro Disk3 controller. I'd just rather check out the emulator with a more "modern" system.

- Gary

 

[modem7]

I use one of the CF-IDE cards currently which works nicely - although for some reason I don't understand I still need to boot from a floppy.

When someone reports that they have a DOS-formatted CF card that is accessible via DOS, but cannot be be booted from, the usual causes are:
1. When FDISK was used against the CF card, the partition created was not made 'active'.
2. See the 'A common problem' block of text within the 'CF cards' section at [here].