Replacement Floppy Drives for the LS Pro & XEN-LS II

See also: Spares Product Update NL0015 and NL0017.
Hardware Bulletin IPB 4133

The LS Pro and XEN-LS II product ranges originally used a floppy drive that was powered via the data cable. To reduce the number of different floppy drive types in use, the drive type has changed to that currently used in the XEN-PC (product code SH) which is powered by a separate DC power cable. Systems with product codes greater than the following will have the new drive (Sony MPF420-1) fitted.

BO76879 LS Pro (Bonsai)

SF77095 XEN-LS II (Samurai)

Earlier systems have motherboards which supply power on the floppy drive data cable via either a ferrite bead (XEN-LS II) or a filter (LS Pro). This component must be removed if a separately powered floppy drive is connected to this type of motherboard, otherwise damage will certainly occur to the motherboard.

Before replacing either the floppy drive or the motherboard in any LS Pro or XEN-LS II system, it is essential to identify the type of floppy drive and the modification state of the motherboard as described below.

If an old (DC power on signal cable) floppy is installed into a system with a new motherboard which has the filter or ferrite bead removed (see below), there will be no power supplied to the drive, and a new separately powered drive must be fitted.

If a new (separately powered) floppy is installed into a system with an old motherboard which has the filter or ferrite bead fitted (see below), damage will occur to the motherboard and the floppy drive.

LS Pro

Old floppy drives PT14528431, PT15063231 & PT15135531 are replaced by PT15176831

To fit these new separately DC powered floppies into the original LS Pro (BN, BO) the motherboard must be modified by removing the filter FL3.

If this filter is not removed, damage will occur to the motherboard and floppy drive.

The new floppy drive is powered by a new hard disk power cable, part number PT15310931.

XEN-LS II

Old floppy drives PT14528431 & PT15063231 are replaced by PT15176831.

To fit these new separately DC powered floppies into the original XEN-LS II (SA, SF) or XEN-PC (SD, SF) the motherboard must be modified by removing the ferrite bead FE48.

If this ferrite is not removed, damage will occur to the motherboard and floppy drive.

The new drive is powered from a spare DC cable on the power supply.

Sony MPF420-1 Floppy Drive Jumper Settings

Both the XEN-LS II and the LS Pro require the floppy drive to be set for Drive Select 0. DS0 is selected by fitting a jumper across pins 5 & 10 of the jumper block as shown below.

DS0 - 5 & 10 jumpered
DS1 - 15 & 10 jumpered
Default setting is DS1

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