I thought I was pretty tech-savvy but I really got lost in the jungle of cables and cartridges! Unfortunately the different sites are obviously made by the different inventors and as such contains a lot of techno-talk and schematics!
I'm finally biting the bullet and asking on the forum...

tl;dr:
All I want to do is put games from my pc on c64 disks to use in my 1541-II.

I'm looking for the easiest most reliable way to do this (preferably cheapest).

XM1541 or XE1541 is the way to go if you want the cheapest possible to solution.

Cheers,
Oge
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Yep, as Oge_user stated, the XM1541 or XE1541 along with OpenCBM and GUI4CBM4Win is the least expensive route.

Good luck!

Heather

or a simple rs232 cable
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@Flarfy

Does you PC have a Parallel port for a printer or does it just have USB?

The cheapest solution is a XM-1541/XE-1541 Cable that you could make. However, I haven't used one since I got my ZoomFloppy (which does about the same thing but is for USB instead of a Parallel port).

There are two ways to hook it up. One is just by the serial port. The problem with this is you won't get the compatibly you are looking for. Then next is hooking it up via Serial and Direct Chip Access. They sell an adapter on e-bay. However, I picked mine up from the guy who runs the site I listed below.


1541 Internal Parallel Cable: http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/~schepers/1541par.html (Buy).

Please note the bottom of the page of the 1541 Internal Parallel Cable.

Quote:

Note: If you are using the socketed cable on a 1541-II or 1541C and don't want to cut traces on the drive logic board, you can cut off pin 2 on the socket and file it short. This prevents chip pin 2 from touching the logic board socket. Just make sure when the cable is installed in the VIA socket that pin 2 on the socketed cable doesn't touch pin 2 on the VIA socket.

ZoomFloppy: ZoomFloppy from RETRO Innovations

P.S.

I have both of these (well a 1571 parallel one anyway). Works Great and not that expensive.
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ZoomFloppy for sure, on a modern machine. No fuss no muss. Just plug it in, install the driver and a GUI (CBMXfer is my favorite) and you're all set.

wow! A lot of fast replies!

My pc does have a printer port. That is where the XM-1541/XE-1541 cables plug in, right?

What are the differences between the two?

OpenCBM and GUI4CBM4Win is the software?

Is ZoomFloppy BETTER in any way, or is it just because of handy usb?
Is it easier or more reliable (fewer errors etc.)?

Zoomfloppy is designed for use on modern PCs and OSes, while it's hard to get a x1541 cable working on a modern computer.

As long as you are transferring .d64 files, the IEC cable is sufficient to use with the zoomfloppy. A parallel interface might be needed for others.

yea back in the day i was using my 386 under dos with star commander and an x-1541 cable

i had to upgrade it to the xe-1541 cable with some diodes i bought and am using it on a old 200 mhz amd k6 computer under win 98 i have to go to dos mode to use the star commander but in order to use my zip drive (what i use to copy onto from my regular computer since the k6 doesnt have usb)

i also use that computer in an arcade cabinet to play some emulated arcades
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I have an XE/XM1541 adapter that I have used quite well with Windows XP. The problem tends to be once an error (any error) has occurred (1541 or PC side) you must reboot the pc, and 1541 obviously, reformat, and start again. The simplest way I have found is with my rs-232 adapter, and network. I have downloaded the zip which contains tcpser, image 1.2a, and Vice 1.19. Run the BBS on my PC with wanted .d64 as disks 10 and/or 11 Use Novaterm on my Commie with BBS Server and download the disk. I have since set up a BBS on one of my 64 and just use CGterm to upload files extracted with c64dir. If you want cheapest xe/m 1541 cable adapter is the way to go, there is quite a bit of working and waiting, and at 2400bd the BBS mode isn't tons faster but it takes less resetting and reformatting. If you want the most convenient and easily applied I would suggest the ZoomFloppy (My next scheduled purchase(as long as the wife approves;D))
It is relatively inexpensive and much easier to use as well as faster.


Lite
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I also have a uIEC the SD is AWESOME and as stated Mr. Brain supports greatly! You can use your PC to load the SD with all your .d64 files, then attached to your Commie enter the .d64 (as if it is a directory) then copy from drive 10 (or whatever you change the device # of the uIEC to be) to drive 8 (Your actual 1541 II) viola a "hard copy" disk.

Note: Once you have navigated into the .d64 your system more or less "sees" the uIEC as a 1541 with said disk inserted. I recommend JiffyDos (Also available from Mr. Brain) as it saves A LOT of typing. You can also use many of the manager/browser programs to copy files.


Lite
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Can anyone point me in the right direction about the casings? Which and where?

I have tried many ways, cables, 1541U etc, but ZoomFloppy was and is the simplest, cheapest and easiest way.

If you JUST want to get games onto disks, zoomfloppy is your best bet.

But the uIEC device has merits as well.

any .d64 or single fiel game can be transferred to a real disk by daisy chaining the 1571 and the uIEC and doing it c64 side.

HOwever, if you have a fast load cart or jiffydos, you will be able to load a LOT faster with uIEC.

BUT... if you want to get a .G64 image back to a real disk... best go with zoomfloppy.

Right now I'm leaning mostly towards ZoomFloppy.

I'm still very interested in info about putting the print plate in a case. I haven't really been able to find anything.

I second the ZoomFloppy. I use it on my Mac (in OS X, not emulated Windows) all the time with no problems. I can go from MAC <-> 1541 II all day long.

Highly recommend it.

For copy protected games either pick up a 1571 cheap or build a
parallel cable for your 1541-II. 99% of the games can be written this way.
(Nibtools rock!).


Later,
dabone