Emax

Hello!

I managed to work around the problem!

I was digging through my old pile of computer components and found an old 
floppy drive..
However not fully compatible with the emax, it is compatible *enough* so 
the emax acknowledges it as a fully working floppy, and thus boots from zip 
as it should...

Just thought i'd mention it .. ;)

//Micke - now with 2 identical emaxes, painted and ready to go on tour...

At 11:39 2004-10-30, you wrote:

>You've tried swapping drive cables haven't you?
>
>Bob
>
>
>
>--- Micke Askernäs <micke@...> wrote:
>
> > Hey!
> >
> > The thing is .. if i change the faulty drive to a
> > working drive i have in my
> > OTHER emax, my emax boots just fins from the
> > zipdrive as it should...
> >
> > The disk drive has boot priority, and if there is
> > some way of changing that,
> > I would be home free.
> >
> > Since the faulty drive thinks it has a disk
> > inserted, it complains constantly
> > that there is an unusable disk inserted in the
> > drive, when it is trying to
> > boot from the floppy (as earlier explained due to
> > malfunction) ...
> >
> > If i remove the drive altogether, the machine NEVER
> > boots, since it is stuck
> > in the diagnostics screen.
> >
> > Also note that this is the original emax .. there
> > might be a different issue
> > with the emax II .. i have the plus os installed i
> > think .. i'll double check
> > that... ;)
> >
> > like i said. in worst case, i have found that if i
> > unplug the power cord when
> > the drive is trying to access its nonexistent
> > floppy, the boot procedure
> > continues and the machine boots as it should from
> > zipdrive.
> >
> > I need the floppy in my other emax as I have no zip,
> > no nothing in that
> > one .. (yet) ..
> >
> > Anyone who have a scsi upgrade kit for an emax with
> > version2 of the digital
> > board? .. according to emulatorarchive, my emax can
> > be modified, i just need
> > the circuits ;)
> >
> > //Micke
> >
> > On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 09:52:20 +1000, Damon Crowe
> > wrote
> > > hi!
> > >
> > > I've just this minute seen this thread, but my I
> > think my old emax II r/m
> > > used to boot from hd?....
> > >
> > > I'll get back to you on this....
> > >
> > > duh,
> > >
> > > damon....
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Micke Askernäs" <micke@askernas.com>
> > > To: <emax@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 8:43 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [emax] Emax (first one) without
> > floppy...?
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Well .. i KNOW its toast.. but i dont WANT to
> > get a replacement cause
> > i've
> > > > never used it .. =)
> > > >
> > > > I want the darn emax to stop trying to boot from
> > floppy and boot from my
> > > > built in zipdrive instead... I cant remove the
> > floppy cause the self
> > > > diagnostics never get past the diagnostics
> > screen when booting up .. =)
> > > >
> > > > I dont want to pay what 70$ us, plus shipping to
> > sweden for a component
> > > that
> > > > i never use and do not need .. ;)
> > > >
> > > > If worst comes to worst, I'll just add a switch
> > that will cut power to
> > the
> > > > floppy after self diagnostics screen has passed
> > ... that way it will boot
> > > on
> > > > my zipdrive instead...
> > > >
> > > > my guess is that it is a mechanical fault with
> > the drive that thinks it
> > > has a
> > > > disk in it .. if so, it should be fixable so the
> > floppy at least doesnt
> > > think
> > > > there's a drive in it ... but might not work
> > anyway.. which would be
> > > fine...
> > > > cause the startup wouldnt halt ;)
> > > >
> > > > //Micke
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 01:13:04 -0700 (PDT), Bob
> > Conner wrote
> > > > > Sounds like the drive is toast. I recommend
> > getting a
> > > > > replacement.
> > > > >
> > > > > Bob
> > > > >
> > > > > --- Micke Askernäs <micke@...> wrote:
> >
> > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks for the tip Bob, unfortunately it
> > keeps on
> > > > > > accessing the drive and
> > > > > > returning with the error message that the
> > disk isn't
> > > > > > formatted ... regardles
> > > > > > if there is or isnt a floppy in the drive =/
> >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > So, my options are:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 1. find out what mechanics in the floppy
> > that thinks
> > > > > > there is still a disk in
> > > > > > the drive... it is not always hanging, but
> > sometimes
> > > > > > it actually manages to
> > > > > > pass through this state, and sees that there
> > is no
> > > > > > disk ....
> > > > > >
> > > > > > What is it in a floppy that sends a signal
> > "hey,
> > > > > > i've got a disk here!" ...
> > > > > > could it be dirty disk headers or
> > something..? .. or
> > > > > > is it something
> > > > > > mechanical?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 2. see if there is some way of bypassing the
> > floppy
> > > > > > check during startup, so
> > > > > > it skips checking for diskdrive in
> > diagnostics mode
> > > > > > .... doesnt seem like an
> > > > > > easy option ... (bypass floppy check in some
> > emax
> > > > > > bios?)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 3. faking the emax with a jumper somewhere
> > that
> > > > > > gives the right signal back
> > > > > > to the machine that there is indeed a
> > floppy. sounds
> > > > > > like a real tough one...
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 4. build in an additional switch that cuts
> > the power
> > > > > > to the floppy when it
> > > > > > acts up.. this way i can get it to boot and
> > i save
> > > > > > some power as well, but
> > > > > > i'd rather not drill another hole in the
> > case
> > > > > >
> > > > > > So ... I have options, but I'm working on
> > trying to
> > > > > > get #1 fixed... if i cant
> > > > > > do that, i know that option #4 WILL work
> > (works fine
> > > > > > to just unplug the power
> > > > > > cable to the floppy when it is being a jerk)
> > but it
> > > > > > is a dirty option imho ;)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Any other input and tips on how to get this
> > work?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > thanks,
> > > > > > Micke
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 17:26:41 -0700 (PDT),
> > Bob Conner
> > > > > > wrote
> > > > > > > I believe the "disk in drive" change disk
> > signal
> > > > > > goes
> > > > > > > down one specific wire in the cable but I
> > can't
> > > > > > > remember which.
> > > > > > > I suppose you could install a switch.
> > > > > > >
> >
>=== message truncated ===
>
>
>
>
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