Upgrading FS100 Firestore With New SSD Drives?

[crobs808]

Upgrading FS100 Firestore With New SSD Drives?

Can it be done? I upgraded my FS100 by removing the 100gb harddrive and inserting a 250gb Hitachi Travelstar....so what about these new SSD drives. I think they ar eup to 64GB now right? No moving parts...

Kind of like having a more powerful P2 card, because they will probably get up to 128gb and 250gb soon enough ;)

If you don't know what SSD drives are, they are Solid State Drives (i.e. no moving parts) so they are like a P2 card, or a CF Compact Flash card, just more capacity!

Here are some links to the SSD drives:
http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000612-1201279128
http://www.sandisk.com/OEM/ProductCatalog.aspx?CatID=1274

They are the standard sizes too, as normal laptop harddrives, so should theoretically work the same, maybe with a short adaptor cable, but that's a cheap fix.

Thoughts? Ideas? I think this is interesting, considering one of the biggest complaints about the Firestore is that you drop it once, your Harddrive is dead basically.

Sidenote...how long do you think it will be until we have wireless storage? You know...set your bag in the corner...inside is a harddrive saving the data that i sbieng trasmitted from your computer. there could even be an internal harddrive acting as a buffer, and whenever you stop recording you just leave the camera on to "catch up" saving the data, in a way. Hmm, sounds like an idea to me...ok common copyright laws enacted! It's mine, lol!

::: Connor

[mjjason]

I was not aware that you could upgrade the internal drive of the Firestore? Was it a simple procedure and did it affect the drive in any way? Also, what is the max size you can upgrade to?

[Halo1000]

I was also not aware that it could be done with a bigger drive, I thought the firmware needed to be updated a well to access above the 100gb mark. I was thinking of building an adaptor for an FS100 to allow quick ejection and reinsertion of multiple 100gb hitachi drives. It wouldnt be continuous but it beats the cost of P2 and/or another firestore.

[Kwan]

Can it be done? I upgraded my FS100 by removing the 100gb harddrive and inserting a 250gb Hitachi Travelstar....so what about these new SSD drives. I think they ar eup to 64GB now right? No moving parts...


Try this to modify your FS100 with SSD.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=RXD639-IDE-SATA-ADP&cat=HDD


I was thinking of building an adaptor for an FS100 to allow quick ejection and reinsertion of multiple 100gb hitachi drives.
Halo,
How you plan to building an adapter, Please detail.

This what I was planing last year (under $80, Never test it):
Connect 6" IDE ribbon Cable inside firestore and bringing it out (some how) for external (drive) Plug & Play.

Hitachi's 120GB Hard Drive $69.00
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=0A50681&cat=HDD

6" IDE 2.5" HD ribbon cable $6.99
http://www.cablesonline.com/544pinidelap.html

Stackable Rubber Cover For 2.5" Hard Drive Storage $2.99
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SHP-2&cat=HDD

USB 2.0 to SATA + IDE (2.5/3.5/5.25") Adapter w/OTB $12.99 (for off load footage from HD to MacBook Pro)
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=2020-OTB&cat=HDD

[Halo1000]

Kwan

Looks like you are on the right track. The only difference is I want to take the firestore, split its case and insert a machined anodised aluminium receiver between the two pieces for the drives which will insert in the top end of the original firstore. This keeps the whole thing as one and so I can clip it to my belt. As for the rest , you pretty much have the cabling figured. Just remember to mirror all the drives first before switching them over. Should work a treat. I will know more in a couple of months as I am offshore working right now.

[jhonnywa]

hi, i just break one of my 250gb firestore, i was on a boat 200 miles from coast...

i get no choice to open it and verify if the shoot was here but no one...

now i get no hdd driver detected ... and i lost my footage...

i'm now working on a way to connect an external raid 1 1000GB to the sata internal connector

for easy changing drive when it's full and no transfert time (since mxf plugin can be installed on mac FCP, i dont need to organize p2, no need to transfert shoot in log and transfert and i'm now 100% compatible with FCP and AVID whitout any transfert)

it's really interesting if ssd can be connected in firestore but in my situation
( documentary series 1 week = 1 show= 1000gb to transfert on 2 hard drive)
i still want to connect external seagate 7200.11 rpm 1000GB

can you explain step for upgrading internal hard drive????

Thank,
Jonathan Sea

[David Shawl]

I really like the idea of a solid state FireStore or P2 Store. SSD drives are gettin cheaper too

[junprostar]

How about a CF card ? Look at this, does this work?
http://www.addonics.com/products/flash_memory_reader/cf_digiadapter.asp (http://www.addonics.com/products/flash_memory_reader/cf_digiadapter.asp)

Jun

[obonin]

So I think I've read all the threads on the Firestore here. I think. And I still can't find anyone who would have replaced the 100GB HDD with a 160GB or 250GB one. Mine was manufactured in 2006, before the FS100 existed with 160GB/250GB HDD.

So can this 2006 FS100 take the 250GB? What is the procedure software/firmware wise? Will the firmware accept such a big drive. Are the chips on the Firestore the limitation? Do I need to partition the HDD?

Let me know, I'm really curious and would like to try it out. At this point the 250GB IDE 2.5' HDD are only $80. It sounds like a good deal... what's your take?

Thx.

[Green Hornet]

So I think I've read all the threads on the Firestore here. I think. And I still can't find anyone who would have replaced the 100GB HDD with a 160GB or 250GB one. Mine was manufactured in 2006, before the FS100 existed with 160GB/250GB HDD.

So can this 2006 FS100 take the 250GB? What is the procedure software/firmware wise? Will the firmware accept such a big drive. Are the chips on the Firestore the limitation? Do I need to partition the HDD?

Let me know, I'm really curious and would like to try it out. At this point the 250GB IDE 2.5' HDD are only $80. It sounds like a good deal... what's your take?

Thx.

YEs this works.
I put a 250 gig in mine, no software or firmware upgrade (I do have version 4 though). Just pop it in and your done.

[David Saraceno]

Hi today i receive a beta testing item from www.Hdrevolutionstore.com.
the kit is very impressive remove hd and insert sdd drive in the FS100 .No problem , absolutely
consider that with a 320 gb sata drive with theyr own format utilities, they archive 354 min of dvcprohd with PIIEXTREME HD 320gb, only one partition, estract and edit immediatly.
Incredible

Please, no spam

[bkkcom]

In the older FS100, can't find anything larger than a 160G for a ATA 6 connector (no SATA in the older model) Anybody find anything larger?

[Frantic]

There´s a WD Scorpio 250GB with PATA (IDE) Interface. I will buy that model online today and have a try. I will report later.

[monday1313]

what's the minimum write speed required? I know it's a 100MB codec, but if it really used all that it would be 6gigs a minute.

[Frantic]

There´s a WD Scorpio 250GB with PATA (IDE) Interface. I will buy that model online today and have a try. I will report later.
it´s doing fine! with bios 3.xxxx it asked me to partition the blank drive, i pressed "yes" and it made two partitions of ~125GB. but i wanted to have one partition with the whole disk space and flashed the BIOS to 4.0.1.xxxxx.
then i started the program http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html to format one 250GB partition with FAT32. it worked and the firestore shows now over ~278 minutes capacity.

10 minutes work, 64 euros paid for the hdd and more than doubled the capacity of my firestore.

[Frantic]

what's the minimum write speed required? I know it's a 100MB codec, but if it really used all that it would be 6gigs a minute.

no problem with a modern 250 gig drive. they are all 5400 rpm with 8mb cache on the drive. inside the old 100gig fs-100 there is a hitachi travelstar with also 5400 rpm and 8gb cache. this model isn´t fast and is definately not faster than the mentioned 250GB wd drive.

[monday1313]

Thanks Frantic...

when you opened it up, was there anything to watch out for as far as damaging it goes? or any pieces that are easily breakable?

If I do have an IDE interface on mine(haven't checked yet) do you think there is room to squeeze in the IDE to SATA connector cable and fold over the excess cable and close it back up? I'd like to get a larger capacity SSD in there. but there aren't a lot of options with IDE interfaces.

as for the fat32 hack. do you just have to have the firestore plugged into the computer in HD mode?

thanks for the help!

[Frantic]

i have an IDE interface in my fs-100. i bought the WD scorpio 250GB with PATA (aka IDE) interface. probably a converter or cable IDE->SATA will not work! the WD Scorpio with PATA (IDE) is available up to 250GB. so you have 2.5 times more recording time than a 100GB drive.

here you can find my instructions to change the drive and upgrade to 250GB: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?p=1542429#post1542429

[monday1313]

if you are planning on putting a SSD in your firestore...you should read this first...

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=669&type=expert

[crobs808]

FYI - You can upgrade the Firestore FS-100 to 320gb if you like using this drive...

MODEL: WD3200BEVE (Gives You 355 Minutes of Recording Time)
http://www.streetprices.com/Products/Western-Digital-WD3200BEVE-SP33937844.html

The 250GB gives you 278 Minutes of Recording Time. Both drives use the same voltage and temperature ratings. the 250GB is around $90US and the 320GB is around $95. May as well get the 320 :)

I have the 250 WesternDigital in mine right now, and will upgrade to the 320 in a few weeks.

Good Luck,
-crobs808

[randy09660]

Is it sata? I have a 160 gig I want to make SSD

[randy09660]

I'm planning on doing the same thing. I have skipping issues when shooting Rock bands. How hard was it to swap out the drives and how much was it? I'd be happy with even another 160 gig but SSD. I would like more though, maybe later on I could buy a bigger SSD? Or get something lik a 200 gig or 256 gig but they're all kinda expeseive. What kind of shock & vibration ratting do you think I'd need? I see some are way different then others in rating and price! Got any pics or video of the inside? I tried to open mine up but it felt like the ribbin was very stiff and not letting me open it all the way. It looked like it might be a IDE drive in there not sure though. Well thanks in advance, randy

[randy09660]

YEs this works.
I put a 250 gig in mine, no software or firmware upgrade (I do have version 4 though). Just pop it in and your done.
Made any other changes to your FS? I'd like to upgrade my 160 gig model to either a SSD or something bigger in size and with a better shock & vibration rating. Mine skips from vibrations when shooting rock bands! It's hard to find much in IDE anymore after seeing this mod from HDrevulationstore.com I really like it, but would still like to go with some SSD's but I'd like to do it cheaper than what their charging. http://hdrevolutionstore.com/ I'd get a couple of smaller SSD's and swap them if I could. :happy:

[randy09660]

FYI - You can upgrade the Firestore FS-100 to 320gb if you like using this drive...

MODEL: WD3200BEVE (Gives You 355 Minutes of Recording Time)
http://www.streetprices.com/Products/Western-Digital-WD3200BEVE-SP33937844.html

The 250GB gives you 278 Minutes of Recording Time. Both drives use the same voltage and temperature ratings. the 250GB is around $90US and the 320GB is around $95. May as well get the 320 :)

I have the 250 WesternDigital in mine right now, and will upgrade to the 320 in a few weeks.

Good Luck,
-crobs808
Have you done this yet? How do you know it works?

[randy09660]

FYI - You can upgrade the Firestore FS-100 to 320gb if you like using this drive...

MODEL: WD3200BEVE (Gives You 355 Minutes of Recording Time)
http://www.streetprices.com/Products/Western-Digital-WD3200BEVE-SP33937844.html

The 250GB gives you 278 Minutes of Recording Time. Both drives use the same voltage and temperature ratings. the 250GB is around $90US and the 320GB is around $95. May as well get the 320 :)

I have the 250 WesternDigital in mine right now, and will upgrade to the 320 in a few weeks.

Good Luck,
-crobs808 Have you done it yet? how'd it work?

[machardi]

I just installed a 320 in my drive and it seems to work perfectly, 359 minutes available recording time. I set it to record a couple of hours ago and it's still going... Will let it run the for 6 hours.

[machardi]

My overnight record worked perfectly. I can confirm that the WD Scorpio BEVE 3200 will work as a perfectly function FS100 (FS320).

Phil

[randy09660]

My overnight record worked perfectly. I can confirm that the WD Scorpio BEVE 3200 will work as a perfectly function FS100 (FS320).

Phil

I tried to do the same thing but it wouldn't work with the 320 gig? I did get it to work with a 250 gig though why is that? I'd rather have the 320 since I got it for the same price as the 250 gig. It would just say please wait, it never got past that, even after I formatted it. Any ideas? I do have the latest firmware 4.0.1 Also now that I have seen the inside of it, I'm wondering about how to fix the issue I am having with vibrations from bands I shoot messing up the drive ( although I've not shot any bands since putting in the Western digital drive, it just might be better.) What about putting some kind of foam padding or jell foam padding under the metal plate the drive is screwed to? And maybe some kind of rubber washers or bushings on the screws that go into the drive? Randy

[randy09660]

Please, no spam

I tried to do the same thing with a IDE drive, but it wouldn't work with the 320 gig? I did get it to work with a 250 gig though why is that? I'd rather have the 320 since I got it for the same price as the 250 gig. It would just say please wait, it never got past that, even after I formatted it. Any ideas? I do have the latest firmware 4.0.1 Also now that I have seen the inside of it, I'm wondering about how to fix the issue I am having with vibrations from bands I shoot messing up the drive ( although I've not shot any bands since putting in the Western digital drive it just might be better.) What about putting some kind of foam padding or jell foam padding under the metal plate the drive is screwed to? And maybe some kind of rubber washers or bushing on the screws that go into the drive? And did you mean you used a SSD when you wrote SDD? I'd like to get that kit and be able to use a SSD! Randy

[randy09660]

FYI - You can upgrade the Firestore FS-100 to 320gb if you like using this drive...

MODEL: WD3200BEVE (Gives You 355 Minutes of Recording Time)
http://www.streetprices.com/Products/Western-Digital-WD3200BEVE-SP33937844.html

The 250GB gives you 278 Minutes of Recording Time. Both drives use the same voltage and temperature ratings. the 250GB is around $90US and the 320GB is around $95. May as well get the 320 :)

I have the 250 WesternDigital in mine right now, and will upgrade to the 320 in a few weeks.

Good Luck,
-crobs808
Hey you never got back to me. I tried the 320 WD drive but it wouldn't work? what did i do wrong? it works fine with a 250 gig but i'd like the 320 what could be wrong?

[randy09660]

I just installed a 320 in my drive and it seems to work perfectly, 359 minutes available recording time. I set it to record a couple of hours ago and it's still going... Will let it run the for 6 hours.

Hey I can only get the 250 to work? What am I doing wrong? When i tried the 320 it just said please wait and never went any farther? Had to go with the 250 model. I had a 160 with the latest firmware so whats wrong?

[bkkcom]

I have an older Firestore FS100 out of warranty, that snapped off one of the flimsy battery contacts when removing battery. (The original battery is extremely tight when installed, engineering issue) This drive has already been back to Focus once before and repaired. Does anyone have any ideas how to locate parts, specifically the small circuit board with the three gold contacts?????