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View Full Version : Kurzweil K2x00 internal HD no longer an option?


Andybaby
August 6th 04, 06:46 AM
Hi all,

The internal hard drive in my K2000 (Quantum LPS 240MB) has sadly
died, and I would like to replace it...BUT from what I read,
apparantly this is an impossibility in 2004.

The compatibility list on http://www.swee****er.com/k2000/drives.html
implies that other than the drives listed, other drives will NOT work.

Ebay seems devoid of any drive from this (small) list.

Pyramid sells 'refurbished' drives:
http://66.96.129.224/cgi-local/shop.pl/page=hardware.htm
for US$250 /$A355!! - without postage! They also suggest that an
external box (with it's own power supply) is the way to go.

Here's what they say:
"With the latest version of the operating system, the K2000 can see a
hard drive up to 2Gb. However, the official word from Kurzweil is
that the K2000 power supply is inadequate to run a drive of this size,
so an external SCSI hard drive with its own power supply is the way
to go.

Removable SCSI drives (ZIP, JAZZ, and ORB) have better shock
resistance than hard drives, but seem to have long-term reliability
problems. We are offering external SCSI hard drives as an
alternative. All mechanisms and SCSI enclosures are new. Don't
trust your data to old, used drives."

Are they exagerrating about the Kurz power supply not being able to
cope w a drive 2G or larger?

And what's this about the 'long term reliability probs in using Jaz
and Zip disks'.. is this a valid point, or part of a sales pitch?

To summarise...it looks finding an internal HD for a K2x00 is
impossible.
1. Hope to find old compatible drive on ebay etc (I havent found any)
2. Buy a 'refurbished' one ($$$) from pyramid ...

At this stage it looks like a zip/jaz is the only option, but I'd MUCH
prefer an internal drive. I dont want to carry around a zip/jaz -
they're supposedly REALLY SLOW, take up space, take up a powerpoint,
as now the alleged reliability issues mentioned by the pyramid site;
nor do I want to get an external box to carry around..

Are there any other options?

Andy
ps. here's more of what Pyramid say:
http://www.pyramid-sound.com/hints.htm#K2000_operating_system:
Question: "I was planning to get an internal hard-drive because it
would give me more storage than the external ZIP I'm using by now.
Also, I like the idea of an internal hard drive. I have a K2VP and I
believe it can handle a 2 GB hard drive. What's the difference with an
external hard-drive versus an internal? I realize an internal hard
drive would drain power from the Kurzweil, but why would that be a
problem?"

The K2VP can address a 2 GB hard drive, but it is not a good idea to
be powering it as an internal drive. When a new OS upgrade comes out,
it adapts the Kurzweil to the newer, larger drives. However, there is
no power supply upgrade. The official word from Kurzweil is that the
latest OS upgrade for K2000 lets you use a 2 gig HD, but they
specifically advise against using 2 GB drives as internal units
because the K2000's power supply can't handle it. They have not issued
a similar warning for the K2600, and we have not heard of K2600 power
supplies going out with an 8 gig drive, but it may be too soon to
tell. The Operating System upgrade that made it possible for the K2600
to see an 8 gig drive is fairly recent.

The larger and faster the drive, the more power it draws. Portability
is nice, especially if you're a gig-hopping musician and play live.
It's one useless thing to lug around. However, unless you really need
many samples for the performance, a smallish internal hard drive (less
than 700 MB) would be your best bet. However, please note that many
smaller drives do not meet the power supply specs for K2000, K2VP, and
K2VX.
An external SCSI hard drive is a very different scenario from an
internal because it is a freestanding unit with its own power supply.
In other words, it does not run off the Kurzweil's power supply and
therefore is not an extra load on the Kurzweil. "

Kurt Albershardt
August 6th 04, 06:53 AM
Andybaby wrote:
>
> The internal hard drive in my K2000 (Quantum LPS 240MB) has sadly
> died, and I would like to replace it...BUT from what I read,
> apparantly this is an impossibility in 2004.


I think I have an LPS120 here somewhere. Pay the freight and it's yours.

Andybaby
August 8th 04, 02:07 PM
Kurt Albershardt > wrote in message >...
> Andybaby wrote:
> >
> > The internal hard drive in my K2000 (Quantum LPS 240MB) has sadly
> > died, and I would like to replace it...BUT from what I read,
> > apparantly this is an impossibility in 2004.
>
>
> I think I have an LPS120 here somewhere. Pay the freight and it's yours.

Whoa!! Thanks a lot! Much appreciated.

I'll email my details to you privately.

regards,

Andy

Andybaby
August 11th 04, 06:01 AM
Kurt Albershardt > wrote in message >...
> Chris Hornbeck wrote:
> > On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 12:19:54 -0700, Kurt Albershardt >
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Oops, forgot it was a SCSI drive. I have another similar-era Quantum that's IDE.
> >
> >
> > What flavor of SCSI does it need? I've got a 2 gig SCSI-2 around here
> > somewhere. 50 pins IIRC.
>
> If I can find it, I actually do have an LPS-120 (SCSI.)

Yea, I'm standing by. (I've emailed you my details btw)

In any case, it seems that in a few years when these drives are dead,
that an internal HD will no longer be an option in a Kurz. :(

I'm thinking of mabye getting a used internal Zip.... no-one has
commented on their alleged 'unreliability' ..

mmm,

Andy

Kurt Albershardt
August 11th 04, 08:55 PM
Andybaby wrote:

> Kurt Albershardt > wrote in message >...
>
>>Chris Hornbeck wrote:
>>
>>>On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 12:19:54 -0700, Kurt Albershardt >
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Oops, forgot it was a SCSI drive. I have another similar-era Quantum that's IDE.
>>>
>>>
>>>What flavor of SCSI does it need? I've got a 2 gig SCSI-2 around here
>>>somewhere. 50 pins IIRC.
>>
>>If I can find it, I actually do have an LPS-120 (SCSI.)
>
>
> Yea, I'm standing by. (I've emailed you my details btw)

I'll try to get out to the garage in the next few days (it's bigger than the house.)





> In any case, it seems that in a few years when these drives are dead,
> that an internal HD will no longer be an option in a Kurz. :(
>
> I'm thinking of mabye getting a used internal Zip.... no-one has
> commented on their alleged 'unreliability' ..

I allege that clients and I both lost a LOT of data on ZIP disks and I don't trust them at all.

Kurt Albershardt
August 11th 04, 09:05 PM
TonyP wrote:

>>> Here's what they say:
>>> "With the latest version of the operating system, the K2000 can see a
>>> hard drive up to 2Gb. However, the official word from Kurzweil is
>>> that the K2000 power supply is inadequate to run a drive of this size,
>
>
> I'd be surprised if a modern 2GB drive used more power than the old 240MB
> one, possibly less. Why not check the power requirements listed on the
> label? Stay clear of 10kRPM drives which probably will need more power, and
> be totally unnecessary for the application.

IIRC, some of the 4G drives had jumpers to make them look like 2G drives.

I have an unused 4G Barracuda (first generation 7200) but those things sounded like a jet engine warming up and used to dim the lights in my office at bootup.

PScooter63
August 18th 04, 12:48 AM
Steve > wrote in message >...
> In article >,
> Kurt Albershardt > wrote:
>
> > Andybaby wrote:
> >
> > > Kurt Albershardt > wrote in message
> > > >...
> > >
> > >> Andybaby wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> The internal hard drive in my K2000 (Quantum LPS 240MB) has sadly
> > >>> died, and I would like to replace it...BUT from what I read,
> > >>> apparantly this is an impossibility in 2004.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> I think I have an LPS120 here somewhere. Pay the freight and it's yours.
> > >
> > >
> > > Whoa!! Thanks a lot! Much appreciated.
> > >
> > > I'll email my details to you privately.
> >
> >
> > sound of rummaging with mild cursing in background...
> >
> >
> > Another thing to consider might be a flash drive.
>
>
> Sure.
>
> Tell us all the places selling SCSI flash drives.
>
> I hope my pen doesn't run out of ink writing them all down.

Actually, SCSI drives for PCMCIA/Smartmedia/CompactFlash can be found
on eBay; you just have to be persistent and patient. Keywords to try
include "Microtech", "PCD-47B", and "SCM", in addition to the obvious
ones.

The PCD-47B works well with my K2600 (OS 4.0). It and similar models
would likely work in a K2K as well, as long as hot-swapping is not
attempted (power down your K before changing/removing cards).

Andybaby
August 22nd 04, 05:30 AM
Hi there,

> Actually, SCSI drives for PCMCIA/Smartmedia/CompactFlash can be found
> on eBay; you just have to be persistent and patient. Keywords to try
> include "Microtech", "PCD-47B", and "SCM", in addition to the obvious
> ones.

I don't know anything about these drives.. these are external boxes
(plugged into your comp via scsi) which let your computer read cards?

I had a read of:
http://www.pc-cardmart.com/PCMCIA_Adapters_PCD_Series.htm

... but i'm still confused.

Do I plug the K2000 (via scsi cable) to my computer which contains
this card reader, which reads a card (of some type) which has all my
krz files?

>
> The PCD-47B works well with my K2600 (OS 4.0). It and similar models
> would likely work in a K2K as well, as long as hot-swapping is not
> attempted (power down your K before changing/removing cards).

So this scsi card reader plugs straight into the kurz? I also read:

"Accepts ATA Flash, Compact Flash, Smart Media (SSFDC), ATA Hard Disk
and SRAM cards. (PCD-25/25B require adapters for Compact Flash and
SmartMedia (SSFDC) cards."

So it can take a hard drive ("ATA Hard Disk")? Or is the point to use
cards? How much data do these store? Do they store like 100s of mbs?

Another solution I thought of as a temporary measure is to get any
(smallish)scsi drive, and put it into my computer and that way the
computer gives it its power (though Ive read conflicting posts about
whether the K2000 can handle larger drives or not). Will the K2000
detect and read this? Also about the 2G limitation - does the Kurz
ignore the rest of the drive, or will it not read it in the 1st place
if it is over 2g?



Andy
ps Note: I've got really bad cold/headache and am a little delirious
(in case my post is a little incoherant)

Andybaby
August 25th 04, 03:35 AM
Man, this "getting an internal drive for my K2000" has become a damn
saga! i cant find anyone selling /giving away a drive on the K2000
compatibility list, and there are NO new SCSI drives small enough to
use with the K2000!

I'm told Zip/Jazz drives are unreliable, and 'refurbished' drives cost
like $US250!. The drive I'm using now cost me $50 in 1998!

Ive been looking into these SCSI flash drives with much confusion and
ok, I sort of get it now..

(after much reading and borrowing a friends dig camera to fiddle with)

These are EXTERNAL devices that read different types of portable "RAM
disks" (which store data). Some of these boxes connect via scsi and as
far as the other device is concerned this is a 'removable hard drive'.

The PCD-47B sounds great but its $US299!!! (without postage). And
thats NOT including the actual memory card.

I dont understand why everyone isnt talking about this issue of "the
disappearing compatible drives for samplers", I thought having a
sampler with an internal drive was a basic requirement.. Don't people
use samplers live anymore?


Im gonna have to chance it with an internal zip, and HOPE that people
have been exagerrating about their unreliablity, or that I'll score a
reliable one.



Andy
ps, pps, or I may have to (unbelievably) just accept my fate, and get
an external powered box with a new (multi GB) SCSI hard drive in it.
Are there "compatibility issues" here as well, or will this work with
any SCSI drive? eg:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11160&item=5117350989&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

I know I could format it into multiple 2GB partitions... but I only
need 200mbs dammit!



(Andybaby) wrote in message >...
> Hi there,
>
> > Actually, SCSI drives for PCMCIA/Smartmedia/CompactFlash can be found
> > on eBay; you just have to be persistent and patient. Keywords to try
> > include "Microtech", "PCD-47B", and "SCM", in addition to the obvious
> > ones.
>
> I don't know anything about these drives.. these are external boxes
> (plugged into your comp via scsi) which let your computer read cards?
>
> I had a read of:
> http://www.pc-cardmart.com/PCMCIA_Adapters_PCD_Series.htm
>
> .. but i'm still confused.
>
> Do I plug the K2000 (via scsi cable) to my computer which contains
> this card reader, which reads a card (of some type) which has all my
> krz files?
>
> >
> > The PCD-47B works well with my K2600 (OS 4.0). It and similar models
> > would likely work in a K2K as well, as long as hot-swapping is not
> > attempted (power down your K before changing/removing cards).
>
> So this scsi card reader plugs straight into the kurz? I also read:
>
> "Accepts ATA Flash, Compact Flash, Smart Media (SSFDC), ATA Hard Disk
> and SRAM cards. (PCD-25/25B require adapters for Compact Flash and
> SmartMedia (SSFDC) cards."
>
> So it can take a hard drive ("ATA Hard Disk")? Or is the point to use
> cards? How much data do these store? Do they store like 100s of mbs?
>
> Another solution I thought of as a temporary measure is to get any
> (smallish)scsi drive, and put it into my computer and that way the
> computer gives it its power (though Ive read conflicting posts about
> whether the K2000 can handle larger drives or not). Will the K2000
> detect and read this? Also about the 2G limitation - does the Kurz
> ignore the rest of the drive, or will it not read it in the 1st place
> if it is over 2g?
>
>
>
> Andy
> ps Note: I've got really bad cold/headache and am a little delirious
> (in case my post is a little incoherant)