Emax

Postscript:

Finally managed to create a boot floppy that worked...I think I must 
have been using a dud batch of old disks...and having changed that 
tricky SCSI setting have spent most of the Easter bank holiday 
weekend using EMXP to create bootable Zip disks stuffed with the old 
Emax library disk images. Happy days. :)


>
> Darn, foiled...(thanks for checking that...)
> 
> --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" <esynthesist@> wrote:
> >
> > You're right... booting does not work the same when SCSI ID is 
set 
> to 
> > 0. 
> > When SCSI ID is set to 0, the EMAX-II only wants to boot from 
> floppy 
> > disk and it does not check the SCSI chain.
> > When SCSI ID is set to any other value, the EMAX-II will first 
try 
> > the preferred boot SCSI ID and afterwards also try all other 6 
IDs.
> > In that case, if a bad formatted ZIP disk is present in the ZIP 
> > drive, there's still a bit of activity on the ZIP drive every 
time 
> > EMAX-II checks the ZIP drive.
> > Note also that EMAX-II always shows the SCSI ID it is checking 
on 
> its 
> > display. If your display only shows "Insert Disk", this means 
that 
> > the SCSI ID had been set to 0 and that EMAX-II is not checking 
the 
> > SCSI chain.
> > 
> > Unfortunately I guess this is your problem. That's a pitty. 
> > I have no idea if it is possible to disconnect the flat cable of 
> your 
> > floppy drive and put any other SCSI device on that port 
> (internally, 
> > e.g. an internal ZIP drive with ID set to 0). I guess not...
> > 
> > Anyway, good luck !
> > 
> > ///E-Synthesist
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" <b_j_glover@> wrote:
> > >
> > > ...an additional point of confusion I'm finding with this is 
> that I 
> > > can't see any indication of ZIP drive activity on boot, so I'm 
> not 
> > > sure that the Emax is looking at these disks that I'm 
carefully 
> > > crafting for it. I don't know whether I should be expecting 
some 
> of 
> > > those snapping and shuffling noises I get when using it with a 
> PC. 
> > > When I tried connecting a CD drive and booting the Emax, there 
> was 
> > > no evidence of spin-up on that either.
> > > 
> > > Perhaps you could confirm whether you would expect more signs 
of 
> > > life, even with a non-bootable Zip disk (I don't know how 
quiet 
> the 
> > > process should be, but this is silent), and whether your Emax 
II 
> > > still scans the SCSI chain with the SCSI boot ID set to 0...?
> > > 
> > > Thanks!
> > > 
> > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" <b_j_glover@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Nice work...;) I was fiddling around trying something 
similar 
> > with 
> > > a 
> > > > free demo of MacDrive, but it got my PC into a horrible 
state -
>  I 
> > > > wouldn't recommend letting this software anywhere near your 
> > > > computer. I'll have another crack at it with this approach. 
> > > > 
> > > > ) --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" <esynthesist@> 
> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Just FYI: I managed to format a ZIP disk on a Windows XP 
> > machine 
> > > > in 
> > > > > such way that the disk is readable and bootable by an Emax.
> > > > > 
> > > > > I'll just explain exactly what I did:
> > > > > 
> > > > > 1/ I formatted the disk using a free demo-version of 
MacDisk 
> > > (for 
> > > > > WinXP). I used the HFS (not HFS+) format option.
> > > > > 
> > > > > --> This disk is not usable on an Emax yet, but at least 
the 
> > > > original 
> > > > > MS-DOS format structure is "killed" :-)
> > > > > 
> > > > > 2/ Then I re-formatted the very same disk using the 
> IomegaWare 
> > > > format 
> > > > > function (I have IomegaWare running on my PC, this package 
> adds 
> > > > some 
> > > > > functions to the Windows Explorer menu, of which also 
Iomega 
> > > > Format).
> > > > > I used the short format (30 seconds) procedure.
> > > > > 
> > > > > --> This format resulted in an error... 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 3/ Immediately after this Iomega Format I re-formatted the 
> very 
> > > > same 
> > > > > disk again, this time simply with the standard Format Disk 
> > > > function 
> > > > > in Windows Explorer. I used the "long" format option. The 
> > format 
> > > > > capacity I selected was 96 MB (the only possible one).
> > > > > 
> > > > > Then I copied an EMAX-II HD image to that ZIP disk with 
EMXP.
> > > > > 
> > > > > --> This disk can be read and booted on my EMAX-II !
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Maybe step 2 can be skipped, I don't know because I don't 
> have 
> > > any 
> > > > > non-EMAX zip disks left so I can't do another test anymore.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Anyway, whatever format tools you try, it is extremely 
> > important 
> > > > that 
> > > > > you are able to format the disk with a 96 MB capacity. So 
> not 
> > > the 
> > > > > 95.7 MB which is the default capacity suggested by Windows 
> > > > Explorer...
> > > > > 
> > > > > So it seems possible to create an EMAX-II ZIP disk from 
> scratch 
> > > > > without any need for a Mac computer or EMAX-II sampler !
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Have fun,
> > > > > 
> > > > > ///E-Synthesist
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" <esynthesist@> 
> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > No, the restore function always works.
> > > > > > Windows formatted ZIP disks are almost the same as 
> Emax/MAC 
> > > > > formatted 
> > > > > > ZIP disks. But Emax/Mac machines format a few more 
sectors 
> on 
> > > > the 
> > > > > > disk, and unfortunately Emax seems to check the 
existence 
> of 
> > > > these 
> > > > > > additional sectors. If it can't find them, it gives an 
> error 
> > > > > > message "Not an EMAX-II disk" or something like that.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I haven't found a way yet to format ZIP disks with those 
> > > > additonal 
> > > > > > sectors under Windows XP. I think it's possible with 
> parallel 
> > > > > > versions and old Iomega drivers, but most of us use USB 
> > drives 
> > > > of 
> > > > > > course.
> > > > > > Anyway, that's the reason why there's no "format ZIP" 
> > function 
> > > > in 
> > > > > > EMXP...
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > So I hope you have access to a Mac computer somewhere ?
> > > > > > (or pre-formatted ZIP-disks for MAC, those exist too !)
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > ///E-Synthesist
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" <b_j_glover@> 
> wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Thanks for the extra info. When I was trying the ZIP 
> > method, 
> > > I 
> > > > > was 
> > > > > > > using a PC formatted (250MB) disk, though you warned 
> this 
> > > > might 
> > > > > not 
> > > > > > > work. However, the "Restore" function in EMXP seemed 
to 
> > > > operate 
> > > > > > > correctly. But is the fact that Restore can be used to 
> put 
> > > an 
> > > > > image 
> > > > > > > on the disk enough to guarantee that the disk is in an 
> > > > acceptable 
> > > > > > > format to the Emax...?
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > That's strange !
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > I have an EMAX-II rack without any internal HD.
> > > > > > > > The only two disk devices connected to this EMAX-II 
> are:
> > > > > > > > - the internal floppy drive
> > > > > > > > - an external 100 MB ZIP drive with ID = 6 and 
> terminator 
> > > = 
> > > > ON.
> > > > > > > > (the Boot SCSI ID in the Master Module is set to 4 
> > however)
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > When I boot the EMAX-II without any floppy disk in 
the 
> > > > drive, 
> > > > > but 
> > > > > > > > with an EMAX-II formatted ZIP disk with OS in the 
ZIP 
> > > drive, 
> > > > it 
> > > > > > > boots 
> > > > > > > > from that ZIP disk !
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > The EMAX-II always scans the complete SCSI chain if 
it 
> > > > doesn't 
> > > > > > find 
> > > > > > > > an OS on the floppy disk or on the "default SCSI 
> device" 
> > > set 
> > > > by 
> > > > > > the 
> > > > > > > > SCSI ID you mentioned in the Master module. 
> > > > > > > > This Master setting does not mean that the OS can 
only 
> be 
> > > > > loaded 
> > > > > > > from 
> > > > > > > > that device. The Master SCSI ID must be set if your 
> EMAX-
> > > II 
> > > > has 
> > > > > > > > multiple HD's (or ZIP disks) each carrying its own 
OS. 
> In 
> > > > that 
> > > > > > > case, 
> > > > > > > > you have to tell the EMAX-II which OS device is the 
> > > > preferred 
> > > > > > > > one/should be used. It indicates the first HD which 
> will 
> > > be 
> > > > > > checked 
> > > > > > > > by the EMAX-II. If no OS resides on that HD, EMAX-II 
> will 
> > > > start 
> > > > > > the 
> > > > > > > > SCSI chain search.
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > So normally you should not have any problem with 
> booting 
> > > > from 
> > > > > an 
> > > > > > > > external ZIP drive. 
> > > > > > > > (on EMAX-I however, the ZIP drive MUST have SCSI ID 
= 
> 0)
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Regards
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > ///E-Synthesist
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" 
> <b_j_glover@> 
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Hi -
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Thanks for the quick reply - that's an excellent 
> > utility.
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Unfortunately the Emax II seems to want to read 
its 
> OS 
> > > > from 
> > > > > the 
> > > > > > > > > floppy unless you change the SCSI Boot ID to 
> something 
> > > > else. 
> > > > > > The 
> > > > > > > > > manual says:
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > "This function allows you to select which SCSI 
drive 
> > > > > (0=floppy, 
> > > > > > 1-
> > > > > > > > > 7=HD) Emax II will scan on initial power up for 
its 
> > > > operating 
> > > > > > > > > software. Note: Emax II will always boot from 
floppy 
> if 
> > > a 
> > > > > > > formatted 
> > > > > > > > > floppy disk resides in the drive on power up"
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > My external ZIP drive only allows the 5/6 ID 
> setting. I 
> > > > also 
> > > > > > > tried 
> > > > > > > > > booting up from a prepared internal SCSI drive set 
> to 
> > ID 
> > > > 0, 
> > > > > and 
> > > > > > > > using 
> > > > > > > > > the trick of putting a jumper on pins 25/26 of the 
> > > floppy 
> > > > > > > connector 
> > > > > > > > > to avert the system check, but it hangs on "Pease 
> > Insert 
> > > > > Disk". 
> > > > > > I 
> > > > > > > > > don't know whether that's because the drive 
doesn't 
> > spin 
> > > > up 
> > > > > in 
> > > > > > > > time, 
> > > > > > > > > or whether the thing is canny enough to know it's 
> been 
> > > > > > hoodwinked.
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Bleugh - after pulling apart my PC, my Emax and my 
> > > > Kurzweil 
> > > > > to 
> > > > > > > get 
> > > > > > > > > this far, I think I'm going to have to surrender 
to 
> > > Route 
> > > > > > 66...;) 
> > > > > > > > But 
> > > > > > > > > once I get it working, I'll definitely be making 
> more 
> > > use 
> > > > of 
> > > > > > the 
> > > > > > > > > wondrous EMXP...
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > specify otherwise --- In 
> > > > emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" 
> > > > > > > > > <esynthesist@> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Yes there is.
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > You can create an EMAX-II ZIP disk image with 
EMXP 
> > > v2.02.
> > > > > > > > > > (using the "manage Emax HD/CD images"->"create 
new 
> > > > image" 
> > > > > > > menu). 
> > > > > > > > > After 
> > > > > > > > > > the 96 MB image-file has been created by EMXP, 
you 
> > can 
> > > > add 
> > > > > an 
> > > > > > > > Emax-
> > > > > > > > > II 
> > > > > > > > > > OS to it (again with EMXP v2.02). OS files can 
be 
> > > > > downloaded 
> > > > > > in 
> > > > > > > > > this 
> > > > > > > > > > group or from the emulatorarchive website.
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > Then you have to copy the image to a ZIP disk 
> > > (connected 
> > > > to 
> > > > > > > your 
> > > > > > > > > PC).
> > > > > > > > > > Again use EMXP for this :-) (via "restore" 
> function)
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > One important note though !
> > > > > > > > > > The ZIP disk must have been formatted first in 
> > > an "emax-
> > > > > > > > compatible" 
> > > > > > > > > way.
> > > > > > > > > > You don't need an EMAX to do that, but 
> unfortunately 
> > > my 
> > > > > > > > experience 
> > > > > > > > > > shows that simply formatting a ZIP disk on a 
> Windows 
> > > > > machine 
> > > > > > > does 
> > > > > > > > > not 
> > > > > > > > > > guarantee an EMAX-compatible ZIP disk.
> > > > > > > > > > I always format them first on an old Mac 
Classic. 
> > This 
> > > > > format 
> > > > > > > > > procedure 
> > > > > > > > > > seems to be compatible with Emax...
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > ///E-Synthesist
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" 
> > > <b_j_glover@> 
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Hi -
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > I've got an Emax II (2212) which I haven't 
been 
> > able 
> > > > to 
> > > > > > boot 
> > > > > > > > up - 
> > > > > > > > > > I've 
> > > > > > > > > > > tried creating boot floppies, but they've 
never 
> > > > worked, 
> > > > > and 
> > > > > > I 
> > > > > > > > > think 
> > > > > > > > > > the 
> > > > > > > > > > > drive might need replacing. But I've got a 
100MB 
> > > SCSI 
> > > > Zip 
> > > > > > > > drive, 
> > > > > > > > > and 
> > > > > > > > > > I 
> > > > > > > > > > > was wondering if there might be any way to 
> create a 
> > > > > > bootable 
> > > > > > > > > image on 
> > > > > > > > > > > that via a PC...?
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>