Hi!

I'm the lucky owner of a CF IDE adapter, and it works great.
I have a Memorex (sux) 64 MB CF card and it works fine. I have created two partitions of 32 MB using FAT12.
The problem appears when I try to write files using a PC. The PC detects both partitions and works perfectly, but after that, when I try to read it again from my MSX, the files are in the CF but I cannot neither read nor execute them. Would it be fixed if I use FAT16?
Would it happen the same if I use a 8/16/32 MB CF?

It's strange enough. Any help?

My PC is a laptop running Win98 and I use a PCMCIA CF adapter.
I have tested the CF IDE adapter in my Turbo-R GT and my NMS-8245, always in a primary slot.

Kind regards,

Ed Robsy
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Hi!

I'm the lucky owner of a CF IDE adapter, and it works great.

[/B]Hey... you are not the only one - I have one too

I have a Memorex (sux) 64 MB CF card and it works fine. I have created two partitions of 32 MB using FAT12.

I have a small 4Mb one that is my boot CF it loads the FAT16 driver so I can use fat16 CF cards with my MSX in the second CF slot

The problem appears when I try to write files using a PC. The PC detects both partitions and works perfectly, but after that, when I try to read it again from my MSX, the files are in the CF but I cannot neither read nor execute them. Would it be fixed if I use FAT16?

Yes it would - when i tried a 64Mb CF formatted with two FAT12 partitions it only seemed to recongnise the first partition, and I had some IO problems similar to yours.

Would it happen the same if I use a 8/16/32 MB CF?

A 32Mb or below CF card would be FAT12 format - so there would be no problems and no FAT16 driver to load

It's strange enough. Any help?

Hope this is helpful!

My PC is a laptop running Win98 and I use a PCMCIA CF adapter.
I have tested the CF IDE adapter in my Turbo-R GT and my NMS-8245, always in a primary slot.

Slot does not make any difference - primary or expanded. I am using windows 2000, Windows 98 first edition is not very good - hope that you are using second edition [B]

Kind regards,

Ed Robsy

{David}

As far as I know PCs handle CF cards with multiple partitions (either FAT12 or FAT16) incorrect or different than MSX. As long as there is only one partition on your CF you should not have any compatibility problems while exchangint the card between MSX and PC.

I think it's the right thread to ask about CF.

I think about buying a CF cartridge, and I just want to be sure I won't run into problems without floppy drive, which I don't have.

Is it possible to format a CF card on PC instead of MSX (I know, to format a CF on MSX I need a floppy to run the pratitioning software) ? I mean, can I just take the image of the MSX-formatted CF and write it onto CF on PC (just like Norton Ghost does with harddrives) ?

And is it possible to exchange files between PC and MSX afterwards by simply reading/writing files into these partition(s) by inserting CF card into PC card reader and into MSX CF adaptor ?

Which card size and brand is optimal for doing the above ?

10x in advance.

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I think it's the right thread to ask about CF.

Yeah, although you could also have started a new one.

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I think about buying a CF cartridge, and I just want to be sure I won't run into problems without floppy drive, which I don't have.

Aside from software transfer this should be no problem. The cartridge won't work on MSX1, though!

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Is it possible to format a CF card on PC instead of MSX (I know, to format a CF on MSX I need a floppy to run the pratitioning software) ? I mean, can I just take the image of the MSX-formatted CF and write it onto CF on PC (just like Norton Ghost does with harddrives) ?

Uh... If you have 2 similar CF cards at your disposal of which one is MSX-formatted, then yes you could image the one over the other. You'd need the proper PC software for that though... But if you've got an MSX formatted CF at your disposal, isn't it easier to boot from that one (I suppose it has the proper files on it already...), and format the other one with it? Anyways, formatting it on PC is not an option by the way because it needs an MSX bootsector.

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And is it possible to exchange files between PC and MSX afterwards by simply reading/writing files into these partition(s) by inserting CF card into PC card reader and into MSX CF adaptor ?

Yes that is possible, but it will only see the first partition. If that partition is FAT16 (you need a different boot device, then), you can create a single partition of a size bigger than 32MB. If you have more than one partition it *should* only access the first one, but act with caution! I believe in another thread in this forum people reported problems with accessing CF cards multiple partitions from a PC.

I personally have 2 cards: one Sandisk 128MB one, it has fully replaced my old harddisk, and one Sandisk 16MB one, which works just fine aswell, and I intend to use that one for MSX <> PC transfers (although my PC doesn't have a CF reader yet).

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Which card size and brand is optimal for doing the above ?

SanDisk is supposedly the best, but other not-too-obscure brands should suffice just fine aswell. More or less all cards with sizes >16MB don't give any trouble.

~Grauw

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I think about buying a CF cartridge, and I just want to be sure I won't run into problems without floppy drive, which I don't have.

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For using without a floppydrive we have a solution in mind.
Because people without a floppydrive need direct a CF-card with installed software than.
This is valid for one with a MSX-1 or MSX-2 no difference in that !
The solution is for meant for updating.
The difference for people with a MSX-1 is that they need an adapted biosabove MSX-2
As stated earlier , we see more and more MSX-1 people that return and realizing that is for them a must to a way to store legally bought stuff but uncapable to use it.

Besides we have to think of the future also because Bill Gates is forcing already to get rid of the floppydrive. No support under Xp E.G. for formatting 360/720KB and ls-120 etc

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For using without a floppydrive we have a solution in mind. The solution is for meant for updating.

I'm very glad to hear you are already on the way to significantly increase the number of you customers !

I hope implementing the solution will not take too long.
The day it will be ready I will order the CF cartridge.

10x in advance, Sunrise !

HI

Does the CF cards operating voltage make a differance? 5v or 3.3v?

JP

Rob,

I've send an e-mail earlier this month with questions about the CF thingy.. when the hell are thinking about replying eh?

I've also got FDD problems and read about this CF card/adapter/cartridge/whatever.
and think this might be the solution I was looking for.
So indeed a pre formatted card with the proper files installed is a good option for us non-FDD folks

Quess I got my answers here...

still waitin' for ya mail Robby hieperdepiep

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So indeed a pre formatted card with the proper files installed is a good option for us non-FDD folks

It is. However, it's still illegal to put the DOS2 system files on it and then sell it, even though the buyer already has the files. The best thing is to have something to access floppies with to prepare the card yourself. I'm sure not everyone is satisfied with the partition sizes in bigger cards when they're sold that way.

I do think it's a good idea though to use CF as a medium for software that doesn't fit on a few disks anymore. These aren't that big most of the time and are formatted as a single disk without partitions.

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>> I'm sure not everyone is satisfied with the partition sizes in bigger cards when they're sold that way.

What do you mean by that BIFI exactly. By bigger cards use fat16. I do that for my iBM 340 type CFII or is that not what you mean

It is true that use /copy dos2 system files will be illegal.
It is however Bill Gates that makes it for msx-users without a diskdrive impossible to use their msx properly. Later on he makes use of floppies for pc-users impossible as well .
Cause versions as xp donnot support 720, ls120.
So, for Europe , bRAZIL and the rest of the world there must be found a solution for the dos-2 support. I bought my so called legal bios for 249 guilders from a company called sparrow soft that claimed to be a dealer of HSH. And after a while you could upgrade it by paying to MC(C)M 100 guilders again to make it legal on behalf of hsh? .
So a price between 80 euro and 125 euro would be a nice price.
But it most be made negotiable first !

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Rob, I've send an e-mail earlier this month with questions about the CF thingy.. when the hell are thinking about replying eh? I've also got FDD problems and read about this CF card/adapter/cartridge/whatever. and think this might be the solution I was looking for. So indeed a pre formatted card with the proper files installed is a good option for us non-FDD folks Quess I got my answers here... still waitin' for ya mail Robby hieperdepiep

I wonder where you sent that mail to ?
And well, spelling is also not your best part because that is not how you spell me name.
If there is something to celebrate , your the first.

I have only seen orderforms from Japan. Emails about moonlight saga .
But questions abouit CF? But as Bifi point out there must be found a legal way to help the people without a diskdrive

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What do you mean by that BIFI exactly. By bigger cards use fat16. I do that for my iBM 340 type CFII or is that not what you mean

I'm not fond of using fat16 when it requires extra things and can't be used with all programs yet and I hope you realize you kinda sound like Bill Gates yourself here 'when something gets too big, use that', in this case fat16 in stead of the usual fat12.

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It is true that use /copy dos2 system files will be illegal. It is however Bill Gates that makes it for msx-users without a diskdrive impossible to use their msx properly. Later on he makes use of floppies for pc-users impossible as well . Cause versions as xp donnot support 720, ls120.

The MSX standard doesn't say anything about disk drives. It's an addition to the standard, not part of it. It's great to see diskdrives were added to the configuration by default from MSX2. I for one was very happy using disks and not the slow tapes. (kinda repeating myself) I agree CF is a good replacement for disks.(/kinda repeating myself) One of the reasons I don't use 2000 or XP yet is the fact DD disks aren't as supported as they used to be (and I'm too lazy to upgrade). I never said you should upgrade to newer versions and when you actually do upgrade, you're just 'being played' by Bill Gates himself.

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I bought my so called legal bios for 249 guilders from a company called sparrow soft that claimed to be a dealer of HSH. And after a while you could upgrade it by paying to MC(C)M 100 guilders again to make it legal on behalf of hsh? .

The ONLY legal DOS2 is the one not cracked to use 6000h as switch address and with added RAM in the cartridge. But since that one was never released outside of Japan (though I could be mistaken) nobody outside Japan without (for example) MSX turbo R actually HAS a legal DOS2.

.. besides it wasn't (just) Bill Gates who removed the floppy-disk from the PC2000 specifications.

The MSX standard doesn't say anything about disk drives. It's an addition to the standard, not part of it. It's great to see diskdrives were added to the configuration by default from MSX2. I for one was very happy using disks and not the slow tapes. (kinda repeating myself) I agree CF is a good replacement for disks.(/kinda repeating myself) One of the reasons I don't use 2000 or XP yet is the fact DD disks aren't as supported as they used to be (and I'm too lazy to upgrade). I never said you should upgrade to newer versions and when you actually do upgrade, you're just 'being played' by Bill Gates himself.


In answer to this I can say that I was unfortunate to be forced to buy a new system and forced to use xp because the dealers of new pc only supplied xp.
Only my good old laptop functions with win98 , so that gives still the benefit , but once one need another system and you have the problem
And perhaps most important is that one day the diskdrive will be disappeared as piece of hardware.