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Desktop HD in webplayer?

New MessageDesktop HD in webplayer? (modified 1 times) boosted
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It seems no one is using a desktop IDE HD in the webplayer, is this doable? I'm sure I can hack the case to make it fit, that's not the problem. the problem is, I don't know what kind of converter I need to connect the 40pin desktop HD to the 44pin webplayer IDE controller. Also, how would I get power to the HD? I have so many spare HD laying around, it's just a waste to use them as dust collectors. Would the 44pin-40pin adapter (or cable) everyone used to get the files onto the laptop hd in a desktop computer work the other way? connect the 44pin side to the webplayer controller, and the 40pin side to the desktop hd. Then use the 12V provided from the 44pin connector and find the 5v some where else? Is this at all doable? Or I'm just crazy?

-boosted

07-02-2002 13:01:48

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) dan6863
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i'm pretty sure that the laptop hdd adapters that you use to hook them up to desktop computers will work in the opposit direction. There was a site posted here showing someone's use of a desktop ide style cf adapter through one of the laptop hdd adapters... i'm sure it wouild work with a hdd. My only wory would be that the hdd would draw more power than a laptop drive... but who knows. anyone else tried this?
07-02-2002 15:19:27

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) ChocoNutDancer
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I tried hooking up a desktop cdrom drive to the webplayer with no success. I powered the
cdrom drive externally with an old PC power supply. I tried two different cdrom drives and
two different power supplies. the WP would just hang during boot. At one point I connected the 5 volts together and it made no difference.

to connect the desktop drive I added a male connector to the laptop cable and plugged the laptop adapter into that. a regular desktop ide cable went from there to the cdrom drive.
if anyone has suggestions on how to get this working let me know. it would handy to install
Linux and some PC Apps if there was a cdrom connected.

Steve

07-02-2002 15:45:42

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) sheepdog
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Simply put.. nope, not gonna happen.

There is one large problem. Laptop drives run on 5 volts. Desktop drives run on 12 volts.

You would need a 12 power supply.

Also, unless you know of a desktop drive 12mm or less (I think there is only 9-10mm clearance), it will not fit inside the case.

07-02-2002 18:43:09

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) im_eguy
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What about for use in a car? Obviously, it would need a good voltage reulator. But, otherwise, a car should provide decent Power.
07-03-2002 12:53:16

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) random
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i have been able to attach a desktop hd using a 44 to 40 pin converter (the ones used to attach a laptop drive to regular 40-pin IDE cables). I found an adapter that is straight through for pins 1-40, and did NOT try to use the power pins (which aren't straight through, i think).

I did not use a converter which had a piece of PCB with the 40 and 44 pin connectors attached to each side. This seemed to share the ground from some of the pins 1-40 with the power ground -- i avoided using one of those because i was not sure it wouldn't short something out.

I also tested the adapter before trying it to make sure that the power ground was not common with any of the pins 1-40 using a multimeter.

The converter i used is too long (it is a single piece dongle-type) to allow me to put the cover back onto the webplayer. But i can hook up a drive to test and burn the flash.

I powered the drive via an external power supply (one for SCSI hard drives).

I tried booting a cdrom drive, but that did not work (it ignored the cdrom, and booted into the disk on chip). i may try accessing the cdrom as a slave device out of curiosity.

07-03-2002 17:12:18

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) boosted
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random, if using a straight through 1-40 adapter then powering the drive seperately would work, it would also work without the straight through wouldn't it? since the straight through is merely an extension of the converter cable without the power pins. unless pin 41-44 are mixed in with pin 1-40? I'm not familiar with how the cable is configured. I did read some where they're swapped every other pair, so 44, 43 swapped with 42, 41. it does not interfere with pins 1-40. It's just a matter of powring the drive seperately. Am I even on the right track?
About the clearance, (since I haven't gotten my webplayer yet) can the case be modded so that the drive extrudes out? Perhaps cutting away the case a rectangular the size of the HD, and sealing it back up with a box that extends out. Maybe I should wait til my webplayer gets here. But that's another week! -_-

-boosted

07-03-2002 23:40:56

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) sheepdog
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Yes just wiring it straight works. Just ignore the last 4 pins on the board..

I actually took a normal cable, cut it and soldered it straight to the board.

Then used an AT PSU to power it.

DON'T DO THIS!

It took forever and was a royal pain-in-the-you-know-what to solder all of those pins, make sure they were right, not touching each other, and that they would stay on.. But it does work.


Hooking up a CD-Rom does work, but if you use the 98lite image from I-Hacked, its missing the cd-rom driver. Copy the catroot3 file to your HD, it will make your life much easier. And it contains the cd-rom driver as well as many others you may need..

If you have a network setup, put a win98 disk on file where you can access it. Makes life much easier.

07-04-2002 01:40:44

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) im_eguy
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Hmm... now I need a two device 44 pin ide..
07-04-2002 08:37:21

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) sheepdog
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No, just copy the catroot3 file over to the DOC, then it will be able to read the cd.
07-04-2002 10:30:21

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) im_eguy
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I need a CD and a HD.. Got 10 gig worth of games and MP3's on my HD...
07-04-2002 12:08:59

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) sheepdog
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http://www.unitechelectronics.com/idecables.htm

This place may have what you need.

07-04-2002 17:41:09

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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http://www.cablesonline.com/102driv44pin.html is a two drive 44pin cable
07-04-2002 17:48:36

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) ChocoNutDancer
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im_eguy, I can make a custom laptop cable for you if you need it. I make them so that the laptop drive is on the left under the modem and the motherboard. the cable then runs over to the IDE header on the motherboard and then continues a few inches to a third connector. you can pop off the side plastic piece and connect up a second laptop drive to this extra connector for backups or file copying. you can push the third connector back inside and put the side piece back on for normal single drive use.
07-05-2002 22:31:27

New MessageRE:Desktop HD in webplayer? (modified 0 times) boosted
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those cable cost a bundle to ship over from AU. perhaps I should just get a laptop HD. 12v is going to be hard to get. though an external AT powersupply will work, it makes it much less portable.

-boosted

07-05-2002 22:49:24

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