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 Post subject: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:30 am 

Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:49 am
Posts: 15
Location: Greece
Hi

I am using a SanDisk 256MB CF and I am running into troubles.

*Using the Auto Init I am fdisk-ing the CF but (while on PC) when I try to transfer an .atr image into the CF, myidetool is giving me errors.
The most strange is that every version of myidetool returns a different type of error!

Most common error is
reading sector 0 failedwriting ATARI.ATR to partition 1: ATR file density doesn't match partition density

BTW I have tried both Single and Double Density in the MyIDE fdisk operation.

*I tried to Manual input the Heads/Cylinders/Sectors. myidetool recognises my CF as 31/255/63. But the Flash GUi does not let me input 3-digit Heads number...

*Should I format CF in the PC prior to Fdisk? If yes...Fat16 or Fat32?

*In the last trial and errors I get HDD Error in the MyIDE GUI but no description.


Can you think of any clues that can help me set this wonderful peripheral up?

Thanx in advance!


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:08 pm 
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Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2003 4:37 pm
Posts: 230
Location: Arizona USA
First off---------are you talking about images or partitions and which MyIDE OS are you using.
partition are formatted by Sectors 65535 or your own choice but myidetool needs to know the # of sectors set with MyIDE fdisk.
images are recognized by image slot and can be 720 or 1030.
The PC heads/cylinder/sectors are not read the same as the MyIDE FDISK program. Some CF cards that I have don't work with MyIDE because It is not recognized by fdisk.
PC formated Fat16 or Fat32 doesn't matter, because MyIDE tools totally destroys the PC FAT and replaces with MyIDE information.

I always reply as D for double density to all setting so as not to get mixed up and have errors with myidetool.



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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:08 am 

Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:49 am
Posts: 15
Location: Greece
Thanx roye!

I am talking about partitions.

Another strange thing is that when I complete the Fdisk and create one partition (Init, Automatic,Make,1,65535,D) and I restart my 800XL I get into the MyIde GUI and in the partition table on the right instead of one, I see four partitions with strange letters and numbers.


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 2:00 am 
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Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 8:15 am
Posts: 1549
Location: netherlands
Hi Wally,

The card should not be formatted with the PC.
The fdisk program does this for you.
I see there is a compatibility issue, fdisk should detect CHS-values.
The drive gives (strange or LBA values)
Please get the correct CHS from your manaul.
For 256Mb it schould be something like 1000 cyl, 16 head, 32 sectors.

When you have set the CHS correctly, the problems should be gone.

I assume you are using 3.5F and a 1mb+MyIDE-cartridge.

Later,
Sijmen.


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 6:49 am 

Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:49 am
Posts: 15
Location: Greece
Thanx for your reply!

3.5F and a 1mb+MyIDE-cartridge it is! :)

I tested another card (SanDisk 1GB ULTRA) and I fdisk it - inserted an .atr - set it succesfully in the MyIDE cart and played Galaga!!!

BUT!

When I switched-off / switched-on my 800XL in order to load another game, the OS prompted that the cart was "BUSY OR LOCKED"!
I haven't touched/moved anything in the meantime. I just restarted the computer in order to load another xex.

Since then I haven't succeded in getting the status of the cart as "Ready" again.

Are there any special settings for the CF-to-IDE adapter? (it has 3 dip-switches)

Any other hints I could test?

Thanx in advance!


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:29 am 
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Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 8:15 am
Posts: 1549
Location: netherlands
Hmm, another strange error.....

When powered down and up again, the CF-card is reset en should not be "busy/locked".
That is strange, it's the first time I hear this. Most likely something else is wrong.

3 dipswiches:
The IDE-to-CF adapter should be set to: 5v / master / power on pin20.

If I were you, clean/check the cartridge-slot.
Most problems are caused by bad contact.

Test: ignore the status and go into assembler.
type D D500 (you get the 8 IDE-registers).
Bootup values should be: 00,01,01,01,00,00,A0,50

Later,
Sijmen.


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:59 am 

Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:49 am
Posts: 15
Location: Greece
Hi,

since I do not know much about Atari 8bit micros I could a hand for the Assembler.

I select the Assembler, I type D D500 and I get an error prompt something like "What?"

Note:When I turn on the 800XL I get a continuous clicking noise as some button is pressed. When I get somewhere that I can use keyborad for entry and press a button this clicking noise stops. I get it with and without the cart...

I am also going to clean the slot. It may be responsible for the weird problem of the "Busy or Locked".

BTW congratulations for this very handy accesory and for the lighting-fast post delivery!


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:56 am 
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Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 8:15 am
Posts: 1549
Location: netherlands
Yeah, I forgot, after you have the EDIT prompt, type BUG<enter>
This will get you into the debugger.
Now type D D500<enter>

The clicking-sound could be a key that hangs, yes.
Not a good sign.... XE's and later XL's are famous (after 20 years) in failing keyboard membrames.
Just bootup (no cartridge) holding OPTION, this get's you into the selftest.
Select/start to keyboard test and you see what key is hanging.

Could also be: When it stops before the READY/EDIT prompt, its
the SIO-sound that tries to find a intelligent device like a 1050-diskdrive.
That is normal.

A toothbrush with alcohol (preferred: IPA aka iso-propyl-alcohol aka rubbing-alcohol)
will do the trick in cleaning the slot. The catridge has goldplated contacts, so that
shouldn't be a issue. But a dirty slot can smudge out to any cartridge put into it....

Later,
Sijmen.


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 3:53 pm 

Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:49 am
Posts: 15
Location: Greece
I used a contact-cleaner spray in order to have the slot cleaned. I used no cloth or toothbrush - just sprayed. I will try to rub it later.

I plugged the cart and I got a Busy or Locked error.

I went into the debugger and I typed D D500.

It returns FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:27 am 

Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:49 am
Posts: 15
Location: Greece
I tried cleaning the slot with a toothbrush and contact-cleaner spray over the silly plastic cover. No improvement.

I used a brand new CF-to-IDE adaptor. No improvement.

I used another CF. No improvement.

Still the Busy or Locked message.

When I boot the cart without CF I also get the same message.

Is there a chance that my MyIDE is faulty? How can I check it?


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:11 am 
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Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 8:15 am
Posts: 1549
Location: netherlands
(sorry for the late reply, been to the eurocon 2011 convention)

Okay, hmmm..... 8x FF means there is nothing to read at the IDE-registers.
(FF is read by the OS as busy/locked).

So the interface is not working, or the CF-module gets no power (problem with the CF-to-IDE adapter).

No idea how to check if the CF is getting power.
The thing I notice when I unplug or insert a CF, the green LED is off or on.
When data is send over the bus, the yellow-LED burns.
The RED led is always on, I assume this is the power-present LED.
Does your adapter also has these 3 LED's?

When I unplug the card I get 8x FF.

Can you try to externally power the adapter using the powerplug?

Later,
Sijmen.


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:24 pm 

Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:49 am
Posts: 15
Location: Greece
Hi Sijmen, sorry for the delayed reply but just today I found time to set the 800XL up.

I am attaching some pics

My setup
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/dsc0671t.jpg/

The leds in the CF adapter + the display
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/dsc0672s.jpg/

A closer pic
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/209/dsc0673k.jpg/

Another CF adapter
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/710/dsc0676s.jpg/

Note: I use both CF adapters with my DivIDE interafce for the ZX Spectrum and they operate fine.

I do not know what specs should the power supply be in order to test your senario but frankly it is a bit of an issue to need another adapter just for the MyIDE...

Any clues?


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:17 am 
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Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 8:15 am
Posts: 1549
Location: netherlands
I see nothing wrong at the pictures, POWER-led is on, Media-inserted too.
When the adapters work on a other system, they are fine.

You have a double CF-to-IDE I see, did you put the CF in the master-slot?
I assume you did, in that case, it's best to return it to atarimax for a closer look.

This just doesn't seem right.


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:46 am 

Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:49 am
Posts: 15
Location: Greece
Thanx Sijmen,

Can you PM me the address details in order to send you the Cart and what should I include inside? (CF adapetr, the CF card maybe?)


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 Post subject: Re: 255 heads in Manual Init and other issues
PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 1:17 pm 
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Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 8:15 am
Posts: 1549
Location: netherlands
eh, i'm not atarimax......

I'm the writer of the bios and who did the initial MyIDE development back in 1999.

You have to return the cartrigde to were you bought it.
Atarimax (steve tucker) I assume.


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