PCMCIA Memory Issues

23 January 2012, 22:10

Hi,

I was wondering if someone could help me....

I've got an A600 with an additional 1MB Chip and a 2MB PCMCIA memory card. The card was working fine... until a few weeks ago when it started to give me problems.

Basically, it seems to be OK when starting up (WB recognises the additional memory and actually uses some of it). However, when the Amiga tries to access anything over 1MB on the PCMCIA memory (e.g. loading any large program, WHDLoad games etc) the Amiga locks up, resets and then gives a Software Error warning.

Any ideas what the problem can be? Is it a duff PCMCIA memory card or is there something else? I've also tried with a new WB install and I get the same results. Is there a way to fix this?

Thanks in advance

Moora

fitzsteve · 23 January 2012, 22:12

Do you have any bent pins on PCMCIA connector?

prowler · 23 January 2012, 22:18

There is a tool for use with PCMCIA SRAM cards called CardPrep (IIRC).

It's used for formatting the card as a RAMDisk. I'm not sure if it's possible, so I'm only guessing, but maybe your card has been half-formatted as a RAMDisk?

23 January 2012, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

There is a tool for use with PCMCIA SRAM cards called CardPrep (IIRC).

It's used for formatting the card as a RAMDisk. I'm not sure if it's possible, so I'm only guessing, but maybe your card has been half-formatted as a RAMDisk?

Thanks- I tried that but it came back and said "card is already in use as system RAM", which I take it means that it thinks that the memory is OK...

prowler · 23 January 2012, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by moora

Thanks- I tried that but it came back and said "card is already in use as system RAM", which I take it means that it thinks that the memory is OK...

Hmm... I presume that the card is supplied configured for use as system RAM by default. I wonder, then, how CardPrep is ever used to prepare it for use as a RAMDisk.. ?

Edit:

Quote:

You can use PrepCard to prepare cards that are new (unformatted) or that have been previously prepared as disk or RAM.

Select the appropriate gadget, either Prepare as DISK or Prepare as System RAM. A warning requester appears, reminding you that any information currently on the card will be erased if you continue.
Select Continue to prepare the card or Cancel to return to the PrepCard window. Preparation takes only a few seconds.
Select Quit to exit when you are finished with PrepCard. An icon for a card you have prepared as a disk immediately appears, labeled Empty.

Try running PrepCard and choose Prepare as Disk. What size disk does it create? Is it the full 2MB, or only 1MB? If it's 2MB, what happens when you run PrepCard again and select Prepare as System RAM? Do you get the full 2MB now?

25 January 2012, 00:06

Thanks for all the help- I've used PrepCard to change the card (through advanced settings) as 2 x 512K banks, meaning it's now saying it's 1MB in size. I'm not having any problems with it when it's set to 1MB (although it did work as 2MB). I'm tempted to try to change it to a storage device then turn it back to memory... but if I'm honest, I'm a bit worried that it won't work. And 1MB is better than 0MB... do you think it would be OK to change it to a storage device and then back again?

prowler · 25 January 2012, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by moora

I'm tempted to try to change it to a storage device then turn it back to memory... but if I'm honest, I'm a bit worried that it won't work. And 1MB is better than 0MB... do you think it would be OK to change it to a storage device and then back again?

That's effectively what I suggested above. I don't see what harm it can do. The change is supported in both directions: RAM to DISK and DISK to RAM. So let's see what happens...

mikele · 25 January 2012, 09:30

hey Moora, what's the brand and model of this card?

25 January 2012, 18:59

thanks for all the help - I prep'd the card as a disk (it said it had 2MB available), rebooted and it recognised it. I didn't format it, as I was a bit concerned there may be issues...

Anyway, I then ram prep'd it back to auto settings and it recognised that it had 2MB of memory available. However, running any programs over 1MB caused it to crash as before. Finally, I set it back to 2x 512KB memory banks and it works fine- I did try 3x512KB and it has the exact same problem as when it's set to 2MB.... very strange.

The make and model? I'm not sure as the label is missing- I think it was an ALLESUS card, although I may be wrong. The seller on ebay said it was...

23 January 2012, 22:10	#1
moora Posts: n/a	PCMCIA Memory Issues Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me.... I've got an A600 with an additional 1MB Chip and a 2MB PCMCIA memory card. The card was working fine... until a few weeks ago when it started to give me problems. Basically, it seems to be OK when starting up (WB recognises the additional memory and actually uses some of it). However, when the Amiga tries to access anything over 1MB on the PCMCIA memory (e.g. loading any large program, WHDLoad games etc) the Amiga locks up, resets and then gives a Software Error warning. Any ideas what the problem can be? Is it a duff PCMCIA memory card or is there something else? I've also tried with a new WB install and I get the same results. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks in advance Moora

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23 January 2012, 22:12	#2
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,685	Do you have any bent pins on PCMCIA connector?

23 January 2012, 22:18	#3
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	There is a tool for use with PCMCIA SRAM cards called CardPrep (IIRC). It's used for formatting the card as a RAMDisk. I'm not sure if it's possible, so I'm only guessing, but maybe your card has been half-formatted as a RAMDisk?

25 January 2012, 00:06	#6
moora Posts: n/a	Thanks for all the help- I've used PrepCard to change the card (through advanced settings) as 2 x 512K banks, meaning it's now saying it's 1MB in size. I'm not having any problems with it when it's set to 1MB (although it did work as 2MB). I'm tempted to try to change it to a storage device then turn it back to memory... but if I'm honest, I'm a bit worried that it won't work. And 1MB is better than 0MB... do you think it would be OK to change it to a storage device and then back again?

25 January 2012, 09:30	#8
mikele Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: poland Posts: 307	hey Moora, what's the brand and model of this card?

25 January 2012, 18:59	#9
moora Posts: n/a	thanks for all the help - I prep'd the card as a disk (it said it had 2MB available), rebooted and it recognised it. I didn't format it, as I was a bit concerned there may be issues... Anyway, I then ram prep'd it back to auto settings and it recognised that it had 2MB of memory available. However, running any programs over 1MB caused it to crash as before. Finally, I set it back to 2x 512KB memory banks and it works fine- I did try 3x512KB and it has the exact same problem as when it's set to 2MB.... very strange. The make and model? I'm not sure as the label is missing- I think it was an ALLESUS card, although I may be wrong. The seller on ebay said it was...

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