Super disk and XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeff
  • Start date Start date
J

Jeff

I discovered that I have some ancient files I need that were backed up ages
ago on a "Super Disk". Fortunately, I found in my basement both the super
disks AND the external Super Disk drive I had used.

Question: will XP automatically recognize and install the LS120 Super Disk
drive or do I need to download some special drivers?

Jeff
 
If you have the original external drive, why not just plug it in and
find out?

If the drive is not immediately recognized, you have a question for the
drive's manufacturer.
 
Ted said:
If you have the original external drive, why not just plug it in and
find out?
Click to expand...

Because, cautious me - I first went to Google and read in the installation
instructions: "first make sure you backup your drive" which got me
concerned.
http://www.computerhope.com/help/super.htm#01
They are discussing it as an internal drive, but I thought is better to be
safe than sorry.

Jeff
 
What is that "super disk" - a LS-120 floppy drive?
How it is connected to computer?

--PA
 
Its an optic-magnetic floppy device. Uses 120MB floppies designed for it.
Media is same physical size as a 3.5" floppy.
Is connected to the PC via an ide ribbon cable.
Other trivia. Fast for its day. A 240MB version was made later. Company
holding patent went out of business due lack of demand. Media is still
available at some internet stores. LS-120 very picky about ide devices on
the same ribbon cable. Also usually demands to be master in order to work.
Device is bootable, recognized by old msdos with a driver running using 120
MB media. Will work with 1.44MB floppies natively.
 
Jeff said:
I discovered that I have some ancient files I need that were backed up ages
ago on a "Super Disk". Fortunately, I found in my basement both the super
disks AND the external Super Disk drive I had used.

Question: will XP automatically recognize and install the LS120 Super Disk
drive or do I need to download some special drivers?
Click to expand...

Jeff, the drive should work fine but you need to install a driver in order
to get it to work. The drive will be listed in Device Manager as an unknown
device, I'm sorry but I cannot recall exactly what it says the device is but
it's not something that is readily apparent as being the LS-120 drive. If
you have no other unknown devices, it makes it easy to know which is the
LS-120 drive, of course. Once you install the LS-120 drive, you can install
the drivers when prompted, otherwise you can update the driver of the
unknown device via Device Manager. Then it will be listed as your "B" drive
and it should work fine, I still use my Imation external LS-120 drive. If
you can't locate the driver to download, I'll be happy to get a copy off to
you. Let me know.
 
Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User said:
For XP, no driver required from the chart contained in the website..
Click to expand...

Hmm, that's not been my experience at all. The external Imation LS-120
drive will not work until I install the drivers. It's not a USB drive, it's
the original drive released by Imation that connects to the printer port on
the motherboard.
 
Peter said:
Hmm, that's not been my experience at all. The external Imation
LS-120 drive will not work until I install the drivers. It's not a
USB drive, it's the original drive released by Imation that connects
to the printer port on the motherboard.
Click to expand...

I have the external drive which attaches to the printer port. Where do I
find the driver for XP?

Thanks.

Jeff
 
Peter said:
Jeff, the drive should work fine but you need to install a driver in
order to get it to work. The drive will be listed in Device Manager
as an unknown device, I'm sorry but I cannot recall exactly what it
says the device is but it's not something that is readily apparent as
being the LS-120 drive. If you have no other unknown devices, it
makes it easy to know which is the LS-120 drive, of course. Once you
install the LS-120 drive, you can install the drivers when prompted,
otherwise you can update the driver of the unknown device via Device
Manager. Then it will be listed as your "B" drive and it should work
fine, I still use my Imation external LS-120 drive. If you can't
locate the driver to download, I'll be happy to get a copy off to
you. Let me know.
Click to expand...

Yes please. I need the driver for XP. My email is malkajef at
orthohelp.com

Thank you.

Jeff
 
As an addendum, and pointed out by other replies, there are other
connectivity methods for the LS-120. One other mentioned is a parallel port
version. Recall there is also a scsi version as well.
And the only one that needs a driver in 98 and afterwards windows is the
parallel port version.
http://www.storagedrivers.com/drivers/4/4080.htm
Don't know if above works with XP/2000. Would suspect not.
Windows 95 original needed drivers for both the ide and parallel versions.
ORtechnology was original provider for LS-120s at the outset of introduction
of that product in the U.S. Compaq provided that product in some of its PCs
at the same time.
Winstation.com had provided all the connection formats I noted for the
LS-120 product and support, among others retailers.
 
Jeff said:
Yes please. I need the driver for XP. My email is malkajef at
orthohelp.com

Thank you.

Jeff
Click to expand...

I'll send it off to you when I return home tonight.
 
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