Floppy Drive Emulator

  • Thread starter Thread starter Perry Burdick
  • Start date Start date
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Perry Burdick

Hello,

I am an electronics instructor (read as NOT an engineer) attempting to
create an interface that uses the forgotten floppy drive B connector. My
circuit would attach to the floppy drive controller and pretend to be a
floppy drive with a floppy disk in it. The "floppy disk" would contain a
single file that could be accessed by software. The "file" would contain the
info being passed from the microcontroller (i.e., CPU temperature, fan
speed, an iButton security system, etc.) What I have experience in is: PIC
microcontroller programming, disk structures (FAT/directory entry), fairly
experienced in the function of the floppy drive and the controller. What I
am seeking assistance in is:
The specific details of the values used for formatting a track (data address marks, etc.)
How to calculate the CRC for each sector
The specifics of each disk command (i.e., read sector, write track)
How does MFM encoding work and does it have to be 500kbps if I am
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providing the timing and the index pulse.
Is there an organization that maintains floppy drive standards like the ATA standards for hard drives?
What is the significance of the gaps?
Click to expand...

I am seeking information from people who might have attempted this before,
good, bad, or otherwise. Is this not feasible? Does it already exist? I am
willing to share the final solution. Please respond to
(e-mail address removed) Thank you very much, and thank you for not flaming me
for seeking expert advice.

Perry Burdick

There are 10 types of people; those who understand binary, and those who
don't!
 
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