Ok, here we go:
there are two basic priniples on how You can make Your own adapter. The first one is to use the original cable and connecting it to antoher one by drilling together / soldering and the second one consists of using completly new parts (which I recommend).
Basics:
Connection types
On top of this first image there is the soldering / drilling together solution, the lower one is the adapter made of completly new parts. This one does not only look better but is more reliable.
Soldered together
This one shows the "drilled together" solution. Basically You have to cut the board connector (not disk connector) off the original cable and You will have to connect each single cable to a new one. This can be done by soldering or simply drilling together the corresponding thin cables. Remember to isolate each connection thoroughly!
Connecting cables to the socket
This one shows the "easier" way. By getting Yourself completly new parts You avoid to destroy the original one (just in case You should find an original Portable drive in working condition one day.... just joking ;-) ). Within this techinique You * can * avoid any soldering. The trick here is to connect each thin cable to it´s corresponding 50 pin disk connector by simply pressing it between the cutting edge pin connector with a thin screwdriver. The only thing You * might * have to solder is the power supply connector but this is really easy.
Material needed:
Depending on the way You want to go You will need the original cable and additional new stuff or just new stuff. In both cases You will have to get Yourself a 34 pin cable with a 34 pin IDC-Socket connector. Cables with connectors like these can be found in Windows PC systems: it´s the floppy drive cable connection ;-) . Last but not (the) least You will need a standard power supply connector for internal drives. All this together can be bought for 10 Dollars or even less. If You don´t want to solder anything then You will have to get an 50 pin IDC-socket connector for flatband cables.
My way:
I´ve chosen the way with completly new material. So I spreaded every single thin cable at the one end of the 34 pin flatband cable. After this I opened the 50 pin socket connector and pressed every single thin cable into it´s corresponding pin connector on the 50 pin socket. Avoid hard pulling - until the 50 pin socket connector isn´t closed again, these cables easily tend to flip off their connection! Cut off any cable ends. Now connect all the remaining thin cables to the power connector.
Schematics:
I´m providing two schematics here for easier understanding which cable has to go where.
"3D" illustration
This is some sort of "3D" schematics for people who are not very familiar with "2D abstraction" (that´s what I tend to call it). Please note the following (translated from the german titlings in this graphic): "Führungsnut" stands for that little guidance block atop of each socket connector. Take care on how these socket connectors are facing You in order to determine the positioning of Pin 1 up to 34 (or 50)! Also note that only ONE thin cable is marked with red color. This one is marked with red color on most flatband cables, too! Also note the positioning of the power connector!
2D schematics
Now this is a standard 2D graphic. Again "Führungsnut" stands for that little guidance block atop of each socketconnector. "Stromstecker" stands for power connection socket. "Stecker" just stands for socket connector.
Hope this helps a bit.
But another hint: My Portables refused to work with drives larger than 100 MB! This might apply for You, too so think of using smaller drives first.
J
