Message
Re: Emax2 Memory Files
2016-02-16 by emuemax92@...
It holds binary data and isn't changed through startup or switching off. There is no backup made to any hard disk or disk drive with information about it's eeprom settings. YES there is data which looks like a check sum made on the eeprom after every update. I think this will be used/checked during boot up through it's BIOS or OS. The E-mu is also a great calculator...But I think it's not capable to prevent it from booting when the check sum isn't valid. If the eeprom has corrupted data because of malfunction than it will be most likely the E-mu will not boot properly. This must also be the case if the connection of the extension memory board isn't correct. The easiest way to bypass the check sum when copying the eeprom will be...copying eeprom data into another: turn unit on and go changing the data on the eeprom: go into the menu and alter it's position of the pitch band and press save. Voila the check sum will be corrected and automatically generated for your swapped eeprom.
Memory size error!
I cannot emphasize enough guys that if there occurs a memory size error DON'T go into the menu and test the memory. Any feature from the menu will store the current status of the memory into the eeprom and you will be definitely stuck with the memory size error. The easiest way to know if the eeprom or RAM memory is indeed corrupted is to switch off immediately the unit and pull out the mains and other connections. Wait for at least 10 seconds (the longer the better) before turning the unit back on with only the main inserted. If the memory size problem is gone try to go into the menu and make a change to something and save the status. This will help to rewrite the good eeprom data back to the eeprom. If it's not: turn of the unit and check the connections of the installed memory board are properly snapped.
When the E-mu Emax II was well designed in the late 80's/early 90's the eeprom had a feature/reservation to store the serial number of the E-mu Emax II on the eeprom. This feature could have been used to find the unit back when it was stolen and someone had bought it elsewhere.
Sure it can be done swapping the data of an eeprom into another as i mentioned earlier. If there is a E-mu protection from copying eeprom data to another eeprom it must have been programmed on one of the PAL's. I don't think that this feature is used by E-mu. For every single unit they sold they must have programmed a special PAL that will only work for that main board. I am not saying that they didn't, I just don't know.
Maybe EPR can somehow be helpful to give an answer if the serial is indeed the protector against copying the eeprom settings from another.
Regards,
Frank