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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: rangerfreak1 on August 30, 2008, 07:47:03 am

Title: how do i convert my old arcade hard drive to a usb drive
Post by: rangerfreak1 on August 30, 2008, 07:47:03 am

We have all seen those kits on eBay or elsewhere that allow you to
swap out your flimsy delicate hard drive for a flash drive.my question
is how do they do it,do they use norton ghost or some free
program that someone could recommend.my other question is where do you
get the adapter kit that lets the hard flash drive plug into the game ide port and
where does the usb drive get its power from being that i believe that
an ide slot does not provide any power.in so many words i would like
to know how i can do it my self.thank you for your time and have a
nice day

Title: Re: how do i convert my old arcade hard drive to a usb drive
Post by: Malenko on August 30, 2008, 08:34:48 am

its just a breadboard and programmed ROM; it gets power by either the USB or an external power supply. I'll prolly be cheaper for you to buy an external drive and just move the files.

Title: Re: how do i convert my old arcade hard drive to a usb drive
Post by: SirPeale on August 30, 2008, 10:04:49 am

It's not a USB drive. 

It's a CompactFlash to IDE adapter.  It takes a regular 3 1/2" floppy hookup for power.  The original board likely came with a plug with a standard hard drive power cable.  You'll need an adapter (available most everywhere).

Your computer sees it as a regular hard drive, and can read/write to it as such.

There's a writeup in Arcade Misc about this procedure. 

Title: Re: how do i convert my old arcade hard drive to a usb drive
Post by: rangerfreak1 on August 30, 2008, 10:44:52 am

i have power supplies in my games with no floppy power connector .how do i get around this

Title: Re: how do i convert my old arcade hard drive to a usb drive
Post by: Kevin Mullins on August 30, 2008, 10:55:39 am

As mentioned ..... if you don't have the smaller power connector you'll need an adapter.
Any PC supply type place ought to have them.

Title: Re: how do i convert my old arcade hard drive to a usb drive
Post by: Malenko on August 30, 2008, 10:58:48 am

yeah I misread the question, sorry; I thought you meant an external USB HD for some reason

Its a CF to IDE adapter. you can pull the right voltage from the jamma harness just splice in the connector if need be.

Title: Re: how do i convert my old arcade hard drive to a usb drive
Post by: rangerfreak1 on August 30, 2008, 11:10:38 am

(http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd335/rangerfreak/DSC01330.jpg)

what about my rush the rock power supply that looks like this.thank you for your time and have a nice day

Title: Re: how do i convert my old arcade hard drive to a usb drive
Post by: SirPeale on August 30, 2008, 11:26:11 am

Check where your original hard drive plugs in.  You'll need an adapter to get the CF adapter powered up.

http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?ID=42714&C=202&S=-1

This shows the cable.  I looked for just the cable by itself, but didn't come up with it in a two minute search.  I know it's out there, but I didn't search too hard.