Changeset 13 in xtideuniversalbios


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Timestamp:
Jun 23, 2010, 7:46:51 AM (14 years ago)
Author:
aitotat
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aitotat
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  • wiki/Manual.wiki

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    33= Introduction =
    44
    5 XTIDE Universal BIOS is mainly used with XTIDE controller[1] that makes possible to use modern IDE drives on PC/XT systems. XTIDE Universal BIOS does more than that since it support 16- and 32-bit transfers too. 16-bit transfers are meant for 16-bit ISA controllers and 32-bit transfers are meant for VLB and PCI controllers.
     5XTIDE Universal BIOS is mainly used with XTIDE controller that makes possible to use modern IDE drives on PC/XT systems. XTIDE Universal BIOS does more than that since it support 16- and 32-bit transfers too. 16-bit transfers are meant for 16-bit ISA controllers and 32-bit transfers are meant for VLB and PCI controllers.
    66
    77
    … …  
    3232== Hardware supporting XTIDE Universal BIOS ROM ==
    3333
    34 
    35 The most convenient way to use XTIDE Universal BIOS is to use XTIDE card[1]. It can be used on any PC with free 8-bit ISA slot. You might not want to connect any drives to it in 16- or 32-bit systems since 8-bit transfer will be very very slow. Using XTIDE card allows EEPROM flashing so it is really easy to update XTIDE Universal BIOS.
     34The most convenient way to use XTIDE Universal BIOS is to use XTIDE card. It can be used on any PC with free 8-bit ISA slot. You might not want to connect any drives to it in 16- or 32-bit systems since 8-bit transfer will be very very slow. Using XTIDE card allows EEPROM flashing so it is really easy to update XTIDE Universal BIOS.
    3635
    3736Another option is to use any card with free ROM socket for 8 kiB or larger ROMs. Official XTIDE builds are meant for 8 kiB ROMs but you can burn it on larger ROM if you append enough zeroes to the end (only append zeroes so checksum does not change). Many network cards have unused ROM sockets but there are also few multi I/O cards and IDE controllers with ROM sockets.
    … …  
    4847
    4948CTRL can be held down to skip XTIDE Universal BIOS initialization. Only drive detection will be skipped when late initialization is used.
    50 
     49----
    5150
    5251= Using IDECFG.COM (XTIDE Universal BIOS configuration and flashing program) =
    … …  
    122121Select bus type:
    123122  * 8-bit dual port (XTIDE)
    124    8-bit ISA controllers with two data ports. This is what the XTIDE card [1] uses.
     123   8-bit ISA controllers with two data ports. This is what the XTIDE card uses.
    125124  * 8-bit single port
    126125   8-bit ISA controllers with one data port.
    … …  
    356355= IDE controllers on VLB and PCI bus =
    357356
    358 16-bit ISA IDE controllers are very simple ISA<->PATA adapters and they all perform alike. ISA is not fast enough for anything above PIO-0 transfer method (theoretical maximum 3.3 MB/s)[2].
     35716-bit ISA IDE controllers are very simple ISA to PATA adapters and they all perform alike. ISA is not fast enough for anything above PIO-0 transfer method (theoretical maximum 3.3 MB/s).
    359358
    360359VLB and PCI IDE controllers are much more complex since they have an actual controller between bus and IDE drive. This controller can buffer words so CPU can read 32-bits at a time. Later VLB and (all?) PCI controller also offer flow control so they can support PIO modes 3 and 4. Early VLB controller are limited to PIO-2. Later VLB multi I/O cards have two IDE connectors so you should use one of those even if you don't need the other IDE connector.
    … …  
    373372== Problems with Compact Flash cards and microdrives ==
    374373
    375 CF cards and microdrives are IDE devices and should work as any hard disk. Unfortunately there are many CF cards and microdrives with limitations. Some of them only work as a master drive and not as a slave drive. Many of them are not bootable even though they otherwise seem to work fine. Avoid CF cards without speed ratings. They are too slow to be used as a hard disk replacements.
     374CF cards and microdrives are IDE devices and should work as any hard disk. Unfortunately there are many CF cards and microdrives with limitations. Some of them only work as a master drive and not as a slave drive. Some of them requires MBR to be re-created before they can be booted. Avoid CF cards without speed ratings. They are too slow to be used as a hard disk replacements.
     375
     376MBR can be re-created with FDISK /MBR switch. You can also use any low-level data wipe utility to clear non-bootable MBR. MBR will then be created automatically when partitioning the drive.
    376377
    377378=== Known good Compact Flash cards ===
    378 *Apacer Photo Steno Pro II 256 MB, 100x
     379  * Apacer Photo Steno Pro II 256 MB, 100x
    379380
    380381=== Known Compact Flash cards with problems ===
    381 *Apacer Photo Steno 64 MB, no speed rating: not bootable, too slow
    382 *Apacer Photo Steno 256 MB, no speed rating: not bootable, too slow
    383 *Apacer Photo Steno III 512 MB, 88x: does not work as slave drive
     382  * Apacer Photo Steno 64 MB, no speed rating: too slow, MBR must be re-created to be able to boot
     383  * Apacer Photo Steno 256 MB, no speed rating: too slow, MBR must be re-created to be able to boot
     384  * Apacer Photo Steno III 512 MB, 88x: does not work as slave drive
    384385
    385386=== Known good microdrives ===
    … …  
    387388
    388389=== Known microdrives with problems ===
    389 *Seagate ST1.2 4GB (model ST64022CF): does not work as slave drive
    390 *Magicstor 4GB (model GS10040A-11 47): not bootable
     390  * Seagate ST1.2 4GB (model ST64022CF): does not work as slave drive
     391  * Magicstor 4GB (model GS10040A-11 47): MBR must be re-created to be able to boot
    391392
    392393
    … …  
    397398
    398399
    399 Contact information
    400 
    401 XTIDE Universal BIOS thread can be found at Vintage Computer Forums [3]. I recommend to post there but you can also send email to aitotat@gmail.com.
     400= Contact information =
     401
     402[http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?17986-XTIDE-Universal-BIOS XTIDE Universal BIOS thread can be found at Vintage Computer Forums]. I recommend to post there but you can also send email to aitotat@gmail.com.
    402403
    403404When reporting bugs or other problems, please post the following information:
    … …  
    407408Hard disk(s) not handled by XTIDE Universal BIOS (if any)
    408409Reset status that boot menu shows if problem is related to specific drive
    409 ----
    410 
    411 = References =
    412 
    413 [1] http://wiki.vintage-computer.com/index.php/XTIDE_project
    414 [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmed_input/output
    415 [3] http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?17986-XTIDE-Universal-BIOS
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