PCMCIA reader/card plus memory expansion

[Jimbo]

Hey guys

Having a little issue with my new PCMCIA reader/card. Its a 30meg Sandisk card. I have all the files copied over to the right places. But no show on my workbench screen. Card works on pc and has a fat16 filesystem. I have an GVP A1208 with 8Mb and FPU running at 33 mhz is it the 8meg that is causing the hassle? I saw somewhere that certain boards do this to the PCMCIA slot. Want to see if its the memory board before trying other stuff.

Thanks for reading.

[fitzsteve]

Hi,

8mb Ram expansions usually stop the operation of the PCMCIA port or it will partially work and you'll get Guru's.

If the board has a 4mb Jumper setting or if you have a 4mb Simm, give that a try

Lastly, is device CF0 in Storage/Dos Drivers or Devs/Dos Drivers?

It should be in the latter if you want it to 'auto mount'

Steve.

[Jimbo]

Hey Steve

Thanks for that info, yes I stuck it in Devs/Dos drivers, double clicking on it also says already mounted. I will have a look to see if I have a jumper, trouble is I dont really want to lose 4mb just to transfer a few files. Think I will stick to taking the HD out of the amiga, or try to get a longer cable so the drive sits outside the Amiga.

Thanks for your help

[Jimbo]

jumper settings
J1 - PCMCIA: OFF - compatible
J2 - SIMM size: ON - 1 MB SIMMs, OFF - 4 MB SIMMs
CN2 - FPU clock: 1-2 - from crystal, 2-3 - 14.3 MHz

Not quite sure I understand this, J1 turns PCMCIA off? Maybe its off? If I take J2 off it will only use 4mb? am I right or wrong.

http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/gvp1208

[fitzsteve]

I'm not an expert, but to me it looks like that card does not have a jumper setting to disable one of the memory banks, so you'd have to actually remove one of the Simm's which I agree is a bit of a pain.

That's the only down side to these 8mb Upgrades, the only other thing to do is look out for an accelerator that puts the memory in the 32bit space and then you can use PCMCIA with as much Ram as your card can take.

Other options:

Some people have used a long IDE cable and mounted the CF-IDE adapter where the spare SCSI bay is on the rear of the A1200 for easy access.

Another option is to make the PCMCIA slot on the case bigger with a file and lots of paitence, then you can mount the CF-IDE above the PCMCIA with the card having access out the side of the case, this can look very profesional if you spend lots of time on the job.

All the best.

Steve.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by fitzsteve

I'm not an expert, but to me it looks like that card does not have a jumper setting to disable one of the memory banks, so you'd have to actually remove one of the Simm's which I agree is a bit of a pain.

That's the only down side to these 8mb Upgrades, the only other thing to do is look out for an accelerator that puts the memory in the 32bit space and then you can use PCMCIA with as much Ram as your card can take.

Other options:

Some people have used a long IDE cable and mounted the CF-IDE adapter where the spare SCSI bay is on the rear of the A1200 for easy access.

Another option is to make the PCMCIA slot on the case bigger with a file and lots of paitence, then you can mount the CF-IDE above the PCMCIA with the card having access out the side of the case, this can look very profesional if you spend lots of time on the job.

All the best.

Steve.

Wow thanks Steve I like the idea about the CF-IDE setup. I may give that a try over the weekend. There was a jumper to turn of a memory bank it was J1

J1 - PCMCIA: OFF - compatible

This stuck me down to 4meg with the CF card now reading. But I think I am going to go for the longer cable where the SCSI bay is. I do have an IDEfix interface inside which also runs an internal CDROM. I am sure it has a spare connector, I guess I could just plug the CF-IDE cable to this? So I could have CDROM/HD plus CF-IDE?

Thanks again for your time in helping me

[fitzsteve]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Wow thanks Steve I like the idea about the CF-IDE setup. I may give that a try over the weekend. There was a jumper to turn of a memory bank it was J1

J1 - PCMCIA: OFF - compatible

Thanks again for your time in helping me

No problem, glad that worked for you

I guess I could just plug the CF-IDE cable to this? So I could have CDROM/HD plus CF-IDE?

This setup worked on my FastATA-MKIII in my Tower but I don't know if it will work with the IDEFix, worth a try you might need to set a script to mount it (I think I asked this question when I started Towering and vaugely remember an asnwer along these lines)

Just remember you can't swap a CF card from the IDE whilst the Amiga is switched on, it must be turned off

Steve.

[Jimbo]

Hey

Thanks again Steve, I think I will have a play and see if it will work. Also I will sort that other thing we talked about out over the weekend. Been a bit busy messing with the Amiga past few days.

Cheers

[Allen1]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Wow thanks Steve I like the idea about the CF-IDE setup. I may give that a try over the weekend. There was a jumper to turn of a memory bank it was J1

J1 - PCMCIA: OFF - compatible

This stuck me down to 4meg with the CF card now reading. But I think I am going to go for the longer cable where the SCSI bay is. I do have an IDEfix interface inside which also runs an internal CDROM. I am sure it has a spare connector, I guess I could just plug the CF-IDE cable to this? So I could have CDROM/HD plus CF-IDE?

Thanks again for your time in helping me

Hi there Jimbo,

wouldn't it be easier to get a cable from an old PC ie the type that connects to the reset on/off HDD led or Power led on a motherboard and use it on the J1 header on your memory card, then connect the 2 wires from the connector to an off on switch and fit it where it can be accessed when needed. That way you control whether you have 4 or 8mb and control over the PCMCIA usability. Someone else on the forum did this if I remember correctly.

The idea of connecting the drive up with the CDROM might not work if the CD itself is not on the 2 1/2 " connector ie the one you boot from, I don't have an IDEfix interface but I think you need to load in a driver or something to use the 3 1/2" connectors.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Allen1

Hi there Jimbo,

wouldn't it be easier to get a cable from an old PC ie the type that connects to the reset on/off HDD led or Power led on a motherboard and use it on the J1 header on your memory card, then connect the 2 wires from the connector to an off on switch and fit it where it can be accessed when needed. That way you control whether you have 4 or 8mb and control over the PCMCIA usability. Someone else on the forum did this if I remember correctly.

The idea of connecting the drive up with the CDROM might not work if the CD itself is not on the 2 1/2 " connector ie the one you boot from, I don't have an IDEfix interface but I think you need to load in a driver or something to use the 3 1/2" connectors.

You sir deserve a medal, that is a wicked idea. I am going to work on that right now. Cheers

[fitzsteve]

@Allen1

[Jimbo]

I was never very good at cutting stuff, this isnt great but it does the job Thanks again guys.

[fitzsteve]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I was never very good at cutting stuff, this isnt great but it does the job Thanks again guys.

Thats awesome mate, perfect for the job

ps. I'm not sure what would happen if you pressed that whilst it was switched on but I'd try to avoid that ever happening

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the advice Steve. I don't think I will be pressing that button until the power is actually off. Don't want to find out what might happen hehe

[fitzsteve]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Thanks for the advice Steve. I don't think I will be pressing that button until the power is actually off. Don't want to find out what might happen hehe

??

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Hey

Thanks again Steve, I think I will have a play and see if it will work. Also I will sort that other thing we talked about out over the weekend. Been a bit busy messing with the Amiga past few days.

Cheers

No rush mate

I've been flat out myself...

Cheers.

[Allen1]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

You sir deserve a medal, that is a wicked idea. I am going to work on that right now. Cheers

Blimey, I just got back and see you have been very busy

I wish I could take credit for the switch idea but someone else posted that a few months back along with another switch for a kickstart swapper if I remember correctly. Your choice of switch is much neater than a toggle switch and much less likely to be switched by accident too. As you mention, I wouldn't attempt to use it while the Amiga was on either just in case its better to be safe than sorry.

The type of switch I would prefer is the slide switch type where you hold it in place with 2 screws and have a cut out for the switch to slide (like an AM/FM switch on a radio etc), they are stiff and not easily operated by accident but I always end up making the cut out too big for some reason and spoil the finish.

All that's left to say is, that its a very neat job and it really looks like that switch belongs there, Spot on M8


@fitzsteve,

Hi there Steve, that was a great idea wasn't it I wish that I could remember who posted it (fairly recent I think). The switch used by Jimbo is much better and safer than the original toggle type though, things just keep on improving from member to member as ideas get passed around

[Jimbo]

Hey

Thanks, yeah the slide switch sounds a neat idea. I struggled to find a switch, I ended up taking my daughters lamp apart

Need to buy a new lamp as I destroyed it getting switch out

Cheers

[Allen1]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Hey

Thanks, yeah the slide switch sounds a neat idea. I struggled to find a switch, I ended up taking my daughters lamp apart

Need to buy a new lamp as I destroyed it getting switch out

Cheers

But the end result on the Amiga has more than made up for the damage to the lamp that switch just looks like it was meant to be used on the 1200, now we know where to find one, No ones lamp is ever going to be safe if it has the white version of the switch fitted

[Allen1]

Aha,

I just found the link where the switch idea came from :- http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=51897

Great work TreacleWench (I am pleased I found the link )