This Image shows the overall project. the wooden bracket is constructed to fit in the current CD-ROM mounting brackets. The ribbon is lengthened to allow the hard drive to be removed from the CD-ROM drive access door for replacement and upgrading. An extension cable is added to power cable for the same reason.

This close-up shows the groves cut into the wooden bracket to allow the hard drive to mounted inside the CD-ROM bracket.

This photo shows the routing used for the cable. using the cable clamp behind the drive bracket is essential for when the hard drive is installed after the monitor is mounted the excess cable will fold inside the free space behind the hard drive bracket.

This close-up shows the slide brackets that allow the hard drive to be removed out of the access door. The slides used here are primarily used in computer server cases to mount hardware to allow removal from the front of the case. Also clamped under the front of the bracket is just the cut off section of a nylon cable strap give you a handle to grasp and pull the hard drive from it's bracket.

Note: I've been using 1GB Area 51 hard drives left over from Maxforce/Area 51 Dual upgrades.

Here's how to do the conversion on TELCO boards. 

Items you need to convert an XL to Hard Drives ( Doesn't work on Golds): 
1. hard drive of at least 700mb (I've been using the 1GB's left over from Area 51 Dual conversions)
2. PC with a primary hard drive installed. 
3. Windows 98 startup disk. 
4. 3.5" 1.44MB Floppy drive & CD-ROM drive. 

Keep in mind that the hard drive is just a different IDE device as is the CD ROM player. The TELCO motherboard runs IDE devices, whether they be hard drives or CD ROM drives. 

Partitioning is the key to this operation. 

Hook your new hard drive up to your second IDE port on the PC leave you existing boot drive connected and jumpered as master (or if you have only one port, make sure you have a cable that allows you to connect two hard drives.) Make sure the second hard drive is set for SLAVE. 

Insert your windows 98 startup disk into the a:\ drive and boot the computer.

When booting your computer get into the CMOS settings and run the Hard Drive Detection utility so the computer recognizes the drives in your system. 

When you finally boot up (You can choose option #2 not to support CD-ROM's for this part), at the A:\ prompt type "fdisk" to run the FDISK utility. Follow the instructions below:

   1.The first option in this utility you will be asked "Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N) .....[N]
     You would want to type "N" for no the press "Enter". 
   2.FDISK Options: choose option "5" then Press "Enter" to Change current fixed disk drive. 
   3.Change current fixed disk drive: Choose "2" to enter fixed disk drive number (1-2)....[2] 
   4.FDISK Options: choose option "1" to Create DOS partition or logical DOS drive. 
   5.Create DOS partition or logical DOS drive: choose "2" to Create Extended DOS Partition. 
   6.Create Extended DOS Partition: Enter partition size in Mbytes or percentage (%) to Create an
     Extended DOS Partition.......[XXXX] (accept the default here) just press "Enter" here. 
   7.After that is completed press "Esc" to continue. 
   8.You Will now be prompted to Enter Logical drive size in Mbytes or percent (%) ........[5] type "5" the press  "Enter". 
   9.Repeat steps 7 and 8 two more times. 
  10.After that is completed press "Esc" to continue. 
  11.Then press "Enter" to accept the remaining space. 
  12.After seeing the message "All available space in extended DOS partition is assigned to logical drives." Press "Esc" 
  13.FDISK Options: Press "Esc" to exit FDISK, Press "Esc" again then reboot computer while leaving floppy in drive A:\

DO NOT MAKE ANY DRIVE ACTIVE ON YOUR NEW HARD DRIVE. 

When you have rebooted (You can choose "1" to support CD-ROM if you choose to use XCOPY to transfer your CD files to your new hard drive) format what are now drives D: E: F: & G: THIS ASSUMES YOUR FIRST HARD DRIVE HAS ONLY ONE PARTITION. The easy way to find your first non-formatted drive is to type D:^#92; (do not type the quotation marks). If it says Abort Retry Fail you are in good shape. If it doesn't, try E:^#92;. Now format. Do this by typing format d: (or whatever is the first available drive letter) Select "Y" when your choice appears. About 10 seconds later drive "D" is formatted. Enter MERIT for the volume name when prompted. 

Repeat for the next three logical drives. You only need volume names for the first drive letter and the last. Make the last one something like XL6000. 

Your drive is now properly partitioned and ready to accept the Any XL program Except Gold. 

The tedious way is to use the DOS XCOPY command to transfer the CD ROM information to the last logical drive you formatted on your new hard drive. 

The easier way is to boot into WINDOWS (any version), open WINDOWS EXPLORER, click on your CD ROM drive that has the Merit 6000 program in it, select "all" folders and files and then select "COPY" from the toolbar.
 

Highlight the drive letter that now reads XL6000. Select "Paste" from the toolbar. Depending on your computer's speed and CD ROM's speed, the program should copy between 5 and 15 minutes. The DOS XCOPY version takes nearly 30 minutes. 

When finished, shut down the computer, unplug the new hard drive and try it in your soon to be upgraded XL machine. 

When upgrading from a 5000 to a 6000, you need to install the new memory chips, new Dallas key and the new ROM chip. The hard drive used the same power cables and ribbon cable as the CD ROM because they are both IDE devices. 

For a quick test, buy a separate cable from a computer store, disconnect the ribbon cable from the back of the machine, plug your in and hook up a power connector that normally runs to the cabinet fan. You'll hook it all back up after you are done testing. This is just easier than unbolting the monitor, etc. 

Make sure your cables are seated properly. The TELCO boards automatically detect the hard drives. Sit back and watch it run. 

DeAmeritek boards don't work this way. Sorry. To make Deameritek boards to work, you need to partition your drive differently and will need a PS2 keyboard (buy the 6 foot connector cable not the shortie) and will have to set hard drive parameters. 

You'll format partition the disk with a small PRIMARY DOS partition and a second extended DOS partition (using all remaining available space.) The Primary will still be 5mb but will also be selected as active. You will create two 5 mb logical drives in the extended partition and one very large logical drive (all remaining space). Format the same. 

When finished and done copying the program, set the hard drive to be the MASTER. 

Thank You
Paul Nasberg
adi@atw.earthreach.com

You're welcome, Paul and thank YOU - rf