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TonyDuell · 9th Nov 2018, 5:24 pm

There was a serial/parallel interface unit for the PCW machines which plugged onto the system bus connector. So you might be able to get the data out that way -- if you could find the interface and the software to drive it.

I never had an Amstrad PCW but I seem to remember some oddity with the drives. Something like the original drive (A

was 40 cylinder, the add-on drive was 80 cylinder. The 40 cylinder driver was a 'flippy', you could turn the disk over. I am not sure the add-on drive was, it may well have had 2 heads

FWIW 40 cylinder drives with 2 heads existed and the disks were not data-compatible with the flippy type. One side was effectively recorded in the opposite direction (the motor did not reverse on the 2 head version when you changed sides...)

9th Nov 2018, 5:24 pm	#10
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: Can anyone read the old CF2 discs ? There was a serial/parallel interface unit for the PCW machines which plugged onto the system bus connector. So you might be able to get the data out that way -- if you could find the interface and the software to drive it. I never had an Amstrad PCW but I seem to remember some oddity with the drives. Something like the original drive (A was 40 cylinder, the add-on drive was 80 cylinder. The 40 cylinder driver was a 'flippy', you could turn the disk over. I am not sure the add-on drive was, it may well have had 2 heads FWIW 40 cylinder drives with 2 heads existed and the disks were not data-compatible with the flippy type. One side was effectively recorded in the opposite direction (the motor did not reverse on the 2 head version when you changed sides...)