Philips Floppy Disk Drive Interface

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Por rolins

Champion (418)

imagem de rolins

16-12-2008, 01:39

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Can I connect a common PC floppy drive to this interface? I need this for my Panasonic MSX2+ that has a missing disk drive.

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Por RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

imagem de RetroTechie

16-12-2008, 02:04

No problem. There exist some (Sony, I think) floppy disk interfaces, where half the electronics is built into the interface, and the other half of the electronics sits inside the external drive housing that goes with it. However: this Philips floppy interface isn't one of those, it's a complete floppy disk interface. Plug into an MSX (works even on MSX1), connect ordinary 3 1/2" floppy drive with a 34-wire cable (1:1), and that's it. Two drawbacks though: 1) you need external power supply for the floppy drive (most modern ones will work with 5 volts only), and 2) most PC floppy drives are factory set as drive B: (and may not even be able to configure otherwise). So if you're using it with a not-so-old PC floppy drive, you may need to swap some wires in the cable (as opposed to setting a jumper). IIRC, this Philips floppy interface supports double-sided drives (720K) out of the box... (please someone correct me if my memory went bad)

I need this for my Panasonic MSX2+ that has a missing disk drive.

An MSX2+ that didn't come with a drive built-in? That's very unusual.... Question If it has room for a floppy drive, you're better off to fill that space than use an external floppy interface (believe me, it works but it's really a hassle and looks messy). All MSX2+ machines that I've ever seen, work with ordinary PC floppy drives as well, just the cable/wiring may be non-standard (for example my own MSX2+ also has +5V power on the standard-looking connector), but you *can* find info on that if you need it.

Por rolins

Champion (418)

imagem de rolins

16-12-2008, 04:02

No problem. There exist some (Sony, I think) floppy disk interfaces, where half the electronics is built into the interface, and the other half of the electronics sits inside the external drive housing that goes with it. However: this Philips floppy interface isn't one of those, it's a complete floppy disk interface. Plug into an MSX (works even on MSX1), connect ordinary 3 1/2" floppy drive with a 34-wire cable (1:1), and that's it. Two drawbacks though: 1) you need external power supply for the floppy drive (most modern ones will work with 5 volts only), and 2) most PC floppy drives are factory set as drive B: (and may not even be able to configure otherwise). So if you're using it with a not-so-old PC floppy drive, you may need to swap some wires in the cable (as opposed to setting a jumper).

Thanks for the quick response. Smile Knowing that I can connect PC drive from the start is a relief.


IIRC, this Philips floppy interface supports double-sided drives (720K) out of the box... (please someone correct me if my memory went bad)

Oh crap! I never really gave any thought whether this interface supports 720k. This was a compulsive buy...a FDD interface for $20 was too good to pass up. Now I'm thinking it was waste of money if this can only read/write 360k disks. Any modifications I can do to allow support for 720k disks?


An MSX2+ that didn't come with a drive built-in? That's very unusual.... Question If it has room for a floppy drive, you're better off to fill that space than use an external floppy interface (believe me, it works but it's really a hassle and looks messy). All MSX2+ machines that I've ever seen, work with ordinary PC floppy drives as well, just the cable/wiring may be non-standard (for example my own MSX2+ also has +5V power on the standard-looking connector), but you *can* find info on that if you need it.

I knew the disk drive was missing and bought anyway because it was cheap and thought I could easily add a PC drive. Problem is the mounting plate/bracket that props the drive in place is missing. Most likely the original owner cannibalized it for another Panasonic. Makes you scratch your head on whether to get creative and build a new mounting plate or just create an external cable. I'm going with the latter, but in the slight chance this doesn't work that Philips FDD interface is plan B.

Por Huey

Prophet (2694)

imagem de Huey

16-12-2008, 08:36

Hi Rolins,

Tell us if you have a try at connecting the interface to a drive.
I have the same interface (+the original BROKEN drive). I'd like to know too how to get things running.

Por Repair-Bas

Paragon (1165)

imagem de Repair-Bas

16-12-2008, 09:08

This is interface is single sided

It is easy to fix the original drive and easy to change it to double sided

Por Huey

Prophet (2694)

imagem de Huey

16-12-2008, 09:59

@Bas: Any tips?

Por Repair-Bas

Paragon (1165)

imagem de Repair-Bas

16-12-2008, 10:07

Change the belt. Most common problem. Easy to do. But sill 360 kB

Por Huey

Prophet (2694)

imagem de Huey

16-12-2008, 10:19

Ok. Thanks. And for making it double sided? Replace the ROM and drive?

Por Repair-Bas

Paragon (1165)

imagem de Repair-Bas

16-12-2008, 16:56

Yes you have to replace the rom and the drive.

connect the drive with the cable, remove the two extra prints on the back of the drive

Por rolins

Champion (418)

imagem de rolins

16-12-2008, 22:05

Yes you have to replace the rom and the drive.

connect the drive with the cable, remove the two extra prints on the back of the drive

What kind of disk rom do I need to get? When my FDD interface arrives I'll want to connect a PC drive to this asap.

Por RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

imagem de RetroTechie

17-12-2008, 01:52

This is interface is single sided

It is easy to fix the original drive and easy to change it to double sided

I've still got one of those - Philips Floppy Disk Drive Interface "Interface Lecteur De Disquette". Black cartridge with blue/silver label, looks exact same as in above picture (and it's the only *Philips floppy interface* I've ever seen / heard of).

First used it with a VG8020 MSX1, and remember using double-sided (720K) disks at the time. Didn't modify it then, can't remember modifying it later. Just plugged it into an MSX1 machine: it asks for date on startup (since no realtime clock in MSX1), "_format" asks for drive name first, then "1" or "2" for single or double sided respectively. Opened up the cartridge, and EPROM inside looks original / doesn't look like something I put in. EPROM is socketed in mine, btw. Again: looks factory done, not unsoldered. So the *interface* definitely supports 720K disks.

Probably these came as a set with an external single sided (360K) drive originally, like Sony (and perhaps other) floppy interfaces I know off. Difference being that it's very easy to hook up another drive or power suppy in combination with this floppy interface. Just use a 1:1 34-pin flatcable connector, PC cable may work if it doesn't swap wires in between (like you often see) - the cable shown in the picture is probably fine. If you already have a floppy drive at hand, check it for jumpers or soldering bridges at the back: if there's anything labeled like "DS0 / DS1", (drive A / B), set that to "DS0". If you spot something labelled "DC / RDY", set it to "RDY" (READY signal). That's what this interface would use (if it needs that READY signal at all). If you power up the floppy drive when connected to the interface, and the "in use" LED lights continuously without anything happening, try plugging in the cable reversed (you may need to remove a small plastic notch for that).

I knew the disk drive was missing and bought anyway because it was cheap and thought I could easily add a PC drive. Problem is the mounting plate/bracket that props the drive in place is missing. Most likely the original owner cannibalized it for another Panasonic. Makes you scratch your head on whether to get creative and build a new mounting plate or just create an external cable. I'm going with the latter, but in the slight chance this doesn't work that Philips FDD interface is plan B.

Plan A sounds like the better plan LOL! - good luck!

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