26 Mar
2023
26 Mar
'23
12:33 p.m.
Is anyone familiar with the 50-pin IDE interface, which I think is called
ATA-3? It is from around 1997-2002. Normally IDE is 40-pin, or in
laptops might be a 44-pin.
But in a COMPAQ Presario 1220, I've come across its hard drive that is
using this 50-pin interface (two rows of 25-pin that are quite
small/tightly spaced - moreso than even PCMCIA).
I believe it is different (electrically) than the 1.8" 50-pin interface. I
ordered a CF-to-50-pin adapter that is intended for those 1.8" drives, and
it won't work on this ATA-2 port (system won't boot with it inserted).
However, all my CF cards are larger than 2GB - so I'm not sure if that was
the issue (don't think so, I think even with 8GB or larger it would still
at least try to boot).
The 2GB drive in this Presario (with the "weird' 50-pin IDE) contains
Windows ME and Office 2000. That's cute, but I'm not so interested in that
- I was hoping to image that drive for archive, then install something else
(OS2). But I can't find any "ATA-3 to normal 40-pin IDE" adapter.
I think the "6 extra pins" on this 50-pin (relative to normal 44-pin laptop
drives of those days) -- 2 of those pins (5-6) aren't used (maybe a kind of
key) and the 4 others (1-4) are vendor specific. So I may just be out of
luck here in upgrading or replacing this drive with a more modern
solution. But wanted to run it by the crew here before giving up.
Thanks,
-Steve / v*
26 Mar
26 Mar
12:52 p.m.
50 pin is usually SCSI.... I've never heard of an Ata standard that did
that... 44 pin laptop was just 40 pin + power (and maybe cable select, I
forget).
There was an 80 pin cable standard, but that used 40 pin headers and
special connectors to do primary/secondary better/faster especially for
dma...
So if it is ATA, I'm very curious to see what I missed back in the 90s...
Warner
On Sun, Mar 26, 2023, 9:33 PM Steve Lewis via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
Is anyone familiar with the 50-pin IDE interface,
which I think is called
ATA-3? It is from around 1997-2002. Normally IDE is 40-pin, or in
laptops might be a 44-pin.
But in a COMPAQ Presario 1220, I've come across its hard drive that is
using this 50-pin interface (two rows of 25-pin that are quite
small/tightly spaced - moreso than even PCMCIA).
I believe it is different (electrically) than the 1.8" 50-pin interface. I
ordered a CF-to-50-pin adapter that is intended for those 1.8" drives, and
it won't work on this ATA-2 port (system won't boot with it inserted).
However, all my CF cards are larger than 2GB - so I'm not sure if that was
the issue (don't think so, I think even with 8GB or larger it would still
at least try to boot).
The 2GB drive in this Presario (with the "weird' 50-pin IDE) contains
Windows ME and Office 2000. That's cute, but I'm not so interested in that
- I was hoping to image that drive for archive, then install something else
(OS2). But I can't find any "ATA-3 to normal 40-pin IDE" adapter.
I think the "6 extra pins" on this 50-pin (relative to normal 44-pin laptop
drives of those days) -- 2 of those pins (5-6) aren't used (maybe a kind of
key) and the 4 others (1-4) are vendor specific. So I may just be out of
luck here in upgrading or replacing this drive with a more modern
solution. But wanted to run it by the crew here before giving up.
Thanks,
-Steve / v*
12:54 p.m.
On Sun, 26 Mar 2023 at 15:33, Steve Lewis via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
Is anyone familiar with the 50-pin IDE interface,
which I think is called
ATA-3? It is from around 1997-2002. Normally IDE is 40-pin, or in
laptops might be a 44-pin.
But in a COMPAQ Presario 1220, I've come across its hard drive that is
using this 50-pin interface (two rows of 25-pin that are quite
small/tightly spaced - moreso than even PCMCIA).
Hi Steve,
I have a vague memory of seeing one of those drives in a contemporary
setting but that was quite some time ago. Unfortunately I'm not familiar
with this specific laptop line though I did find a link to the parts
listing:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/273186/Hp-Compaq-Presario-Presario-1200.h…
. That only lists potential drive spares, though that might be of use when
trying to track down a pinout. Sorry I couldn't have been of more help.
-Henry
1:14 p.m.
Weren't many slimline CD-ROM/DVD drives 50 pin ATA? I've got one such
in an HP ePC (P3) box.
https://www.bixmart.com/Internal-Slim-50-Pin-PATA-DVD-Writer-Drive--8X-Doub…
--Chuck
1:20 p.m.
I have seen lots of laptop drives that would fit a 50 pin connector that
is about 2mm pitch Looking at the back of the drive from the left there
are 44 pins in a group then 2 pins missing and the remaining 4 are for
selecting master and slave.
Paul.
On 2023-03-26 4:33 p.m., Steve Lewis via cctalk wrote:
Is anyone familiar with the 50-pin IDE interface,
which I think is called
ATA-3? It is from around 1997-2002. Normally IDE is 40-pin, or in
laptops might be a 44-pin.
But in a COMPAQ Presario 1220, I've come across its hard drive that is
using this 50-pin interface (two rows of 25-pin that are quite
small/tightly spaced - moreso than even PCMCIA).
I believe it is different (electrically) than the 1.8" 50-pin interface. I
ordered a CF-to-50-pin adapter that is intended for those 1.8" drives, and
it won't work on this ATA-2 port (system won't boot with it inserted).
However, all my CF cards are larger than 2GB - so I'm not sure if that was
the issue (don't think so, I think even with 8GB or larger it would still
at least try to boot).
The 2GB drive in this Presario (with the "weird' 50-pin IDE) contains
Windows ME and Office 2000. That's cute, but I'm not so interested in that
- I was hoping to image that drive for archive, then install something else
(OS2). But I can't find any "ATA-3 to normal 40-pin IDE" adapter.
I think the "6 extra pins" on this 50-pin (relative to normal 44-pin laptop
drives of those days) -- 2 of those pins (5-6) aren't used (maybe a kind of
key) and the 4 others (1-4) are vendor specific. So I may just be out of
luck here in upgrading or replacing this drive with a more modern
solution. But wanted to run it by the crew here before giving up.
Thanks,
-Steve / v*
1:22 p.m.
Can you post a picture somewhere?
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 26, 2023, at 13:20, Paul Berger via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I have seen lots of laptop drives that would fit a 50 pin connector that is about 2mm
pitch Looking at the back of the drive from the left there are 44 pins in a group then 2
pins missing and the remaining 4 are for selecting master and slave.
Paul.
> On 2023-03-26 4:33 p.m., Steve Lewis via cctalk wrote:
> Is anyone familiar with the 50-pin IDE interface, which I think is called
> ATA-3? It is from around 1997-2002. Normally IDE is 40-pin, or in
> laptops might be a 44-pin.
>
> But in a COMPAQ Presario 1220, I've come across its hard drive that is
> using this 50-pin interface (two rows of 25-pin that are quite
> small/tightly spaced - moreso than even PCMCIA).
>
> I believe it is different (electrically) than the 1.8" 50-pin interface. I
> ordered a CF-to-50-pin adapter that is intended for those 1.8" drives, and
> it won't work on this ATA-2 port (system won't boot with it inserted).
> However, all my CF cards are larger than 2GB - so I'm not sure if that was
> the issue (don't think so, I think even with 8GB or larger it would still
> at least try to boot).
>
>
> The 2GB drive in this Presario (with the "weird' 50-pin IDE) contains
> Windows ME and Office 2000. That's cute, but I'm not so interested in that
> - I was hoping to image that drive for archive, then install something else
> (OS2). But I can't find any "ATA-3 to normal 40-pin IDE" adapter.
>
> I think the "6 extra pins" on this 50-pin (relative to normal 44-pin
laptop
> drives of those days) -- 2 of those pins (5-6) aren't used (maybe a kind of
> key) and the 4 others (1-4) are vendor specific. So I may just be out of
> luck here in upgrading or replacing this drive with a more modern
> solution. But wanted to run it by the crew here before giving up.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Steve / v*
1:32 p.m.
Picture is on the VCF discussion here:
50-pin ATA to 44-pin ATA conversion options | Vintage Computer Federation
Forums (vcfed.org)
<https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/50-pin-ata-to-44-pin-ata-conversion-options.1242427/#post-1307018>
https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/50-pin-ata-to-44-pin-ata-conversi…
I could be wrong, maybe it is a SCSI interface.
On Sun, Mar 26, 2023 at 3:22 PM Wayne S via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
Can you post a picture somewhere?
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 26, 2023, at 13:20, Paul Berger via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
I have seen lots of laptop drives that would fit a 50 pin connector
that is about 2mm pitch Looking at the back of the drive from the left
there are 44 pins in a group then 2 pins missing and the remaining 4 are
for selecting master and slave.
Paul.
> On 2023-03-26 4:33 p.m., Steve Lewis via cctalk wrote:
> Is anyone familiar with the 50-pin IDE interface, which I think is
called
> ATA-3? It is from around 1997-2002.
Normally IDE is 40-pin, or in
> laptops might be a 44-pin.
>
> But in a COMPAQ Presario 1220, I've come across its hard drive that is
> using this 50-pin interface (two rows of 25-pin that are quite
> small/tightly spaced - moreso than even PCMCIA).
>
> I believe it is different (electrically) than the 1.8" 50-pin
interface. I
> ordered a CF-to-50-pin adapter that is
intended for those 1.8" drives,
and
> it won't work on this ATA-2 port (system
won't boot with it inserted).
> However, all my CF cards are larger than 2GB - so I'm not sure if that
was
> the issue (don't think so, I think even
with 8GB or larger it would
still
> at least try to boot).
>
>
> The 2GB drive in this Presario (with the "weird' 50-pin IDE) contains
> Windows ME and Office 2000. That's cute, but I'm not so interested in
that
> - I was hoping to image that drive for
archive, then install something
else
> (OS2). But I can't find any "ATA-3
to normal 40-pin IDE" adapter.
>
> I think the "6 extra pins" on this 50-pin (relative to normal 44-pin
laptop
> drives of those days) -- 2 of those pins
(5-6) aren't used (maybe a
kind of
> key) and the 4 others (1-4) are vendor
specific. So I may just be out
of
> luck here in upgrading or replacing this
drive with a more modern
> solution. But wanted to run it by the crew here before giving up.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Steve / v*
29 Mar
29 Mar
10:03 p.m.
How about this?
http://www.cablesonline.com/slnocd50pinj.html
m
On Sun, Mar 26, 2023 at 4:33 PM Steve Lewis via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Picture is on the VCF discussion here:
50-pin ATA to 44-pin ATA conversion options | Vintage Computer Federation
Forums (vcfed.org)
<
https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/50-pin-ata-to-44-pin-ata-conversi…
https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/50-pin-ata-to-44-pin-ata-conversi…
I could be wrong, maybe it is a SCSI interface.
On Sun, Mar 26, 2023 at 3:22 PM Wayne S via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
> Can you post a picture somewhere?
> Sent from my iPhone
> > On Mar 26, 2023, at 13:20, Paul Berger via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
> wrote:
>
> > I have seen lots of laptop drives that would fit a 50 pin connector
> that is about 2mm pitch Looking at the back of the drive from the left
> there are 44 pins in a group then 2 pins missing and the remaining 4 are
> for selecting master and slave.
>
> > Paul.
>
> >> On 2023-03-26 4:33 p.m., Steve Lewis via cctalk wrote:
> >> Is anyone familiar with the 50-pin IDE interface, which I think is
> called
> >> ATA-3? It is from around 1997-2002. Normally IDE is 40-pin, or in
> >> laptops might be a 44-pin.
> >>
> >> But in a COMPAQ Presario 1220, I've come across its hard drive that
is
> >> using this 50-pin interface (two rows of 25-pin that are quite
> >> small/tightly spaced - moreso than even PCMCIA).
> >>
> >> I believe it is different (electrically) than the 1.8" 50-pin
> interface. I
> >> ordered a CF-to-50-pin adapter that is intended for those 1.8"
drives,
> and
> >> it won't work on this ATA-2 port (system won't boot with it
inserted).
> >> However, all my CF cards are larger than 2GB - so I'm not sure if
that
> was
> >> the issue (don't think so, I think even with 8GB or larger it would
> still
> >> at least try to boot).
> >>
> >>
> >> The 2GB drive in this Presario (with the "weird' 50-pin IDE)
contains
> >> Windows ME and Office 2000. That's cute, but I'm not so interested
in
> that
> >> - I was hoping to image that drive for archive, then install something
> else
> >> (OS2). But I can't find any "ATA-3 to normal 40-pin IDE"
adapter.
> >>
> >> I think the "6 extra pins" on this 50-pin (relative to normal
44-pin
> laptop
> >> drives of those days) -- 2 of those pins (5-6) aren't used (maybe a
> kind of
> >> key) and the 4 others (1-4) are vendor specific. So I may just be out
> of
> >> luck here in upgrading or replacing this drive with a more modern
> >> solution. But wanted to run it by the crew here before giving up.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >>
> >> -Steve / v*
26 Mar
26 Mar
2:26 p.m.
On Sun, Mar 26, 2023 at 10:20 PM Paul Berger via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I have seen lots of laptop drives that would fit a 50
pin connector that
is about 2mm pitch Looking at the back of the drive from the left there
are 44 pins in a group then 2 pins missing and the remaining 4 are for
selecting master and slave.
https://www.unitechelectronics.com/ide44pinout.gif which shows 44 pins +
the '6' extra slots
for cable select and keying. These are often called the '44 pin'
interface...
Warner
Paul.
On 2023-03-26 4:33 p.m., Steve Lewis via cctalk wrote:
Is anyone familiar with the 50-pin IDE interface,
which I think is called
ATA-3? It is from around 1997-2002. Normally IDE is 40-pin, or in
laptops might be a 44-pin.
But in a COMPAQ Presario 1220, I've come across its hard drive that is
using this 50-pin interface (two rows of 25-pin that are quite
small/tightly spaced - moreso than even PCMCIA).
I believe it is different (electrically) than the 1.8" 50-pin
interface. I
ordered a CF-to-50-pin adapter that is intended
for those 1.8" drives,
and
it won't work on this ATA-2 port (system
won't boot with it inserted).
However, all my CF cards are larger than 2GB - so I'm not sure if that
was
the issue (don't think so, I think even with
8GB or larger it would still
at least try to boot).
The 2GB drive in this Presario (with the "weird' 50-pin IDE) contains
Windows ME and Office 2000. That's cute, but I'm not so interested in
that
- I was hoping to image that drive for archive,
then install something
else
(OS2). But I can't find any "ATA-3 to
normal 40-pin IDE" adapter.
I think the "6 extra pins" on this 50-pin (relative to normal 44-pin
laptop
drives of those days) -- 2 of those pins (5-6)
aren't used (maybe a kind
of
key) and the 4 others (1-4) are vendor specific.
So I may just be out of
luck here in upgrading or replacing this drive with a more modern
solution. But wanted to run it by the crew here before giving up.
Thanks,
-Steve / v*
403
days inactive
407
days old
8 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
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Chuck Guzis -
Henry Bent -
Mike Stein -
Paul Berger -
Steve Lewis -
Warner Losh -
Wayne S