Emax

Darn, foiled...(thanks for checking that...)

--- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" <esynthesist@...> wrote:
>
> You're right... booting does not work the same when SCSI ID is set 
to 
> 0. 
> When SCSI ID is set to 0, the EMAX-II only wants to boot from 
floppy 
> disk and it does not check the SCSI chain.
> When SCSI ID is set to any other value, the EMAX-II will first try 
> the preferred boot SCSI ID and afterwards also try all other 6 IDs.
> In that case, if a bad formatted ZIP disk is present in the ZIP 
> drive, there's still a bit of activity on the ZIP drive every time 
> EMAX-II checks the ZIP drive.
> Note also that EMAX-II always shows the SCSI ID it is checking on 
its 
> display. If your display only shows "Insert Disk", this means that 
> the SCSI ID had been set to 0 and that EMAX-II is not checking the 
> SCSI chain.
> 
> Unfortunately I guess this is your problem. That's a pitty. 
> I have no idea if it is possible to disconnect the flat cable of 
your 
> floppy drive and put any other SCSI device on that port 
(internally, 
> e.g. an internal ZIP drive with ID set to 0). I guess not...
> 
> Anyway, good luck !
> 
> ///E-Synthesist
> 
> 
> 
> --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" <b_j_glover@> wrote:
> >
> > ...an additional point of confusion I'm finding with this is 
that I 
> > can't see any indication of ZIP drive activity on boot, so I'm 
not 
> > sure that the Emax is looking at these disks that I'm carefully 
> > crafting for it. I don't know whether I should be expecting some 
of 
> > those snapping and shuffling noises I get when using it with a 
PC. 
> > When I tried connecting a CD drive and booting the Emax, there 
was 
> > no evidence of spin-up on that either.
> > 
> > Perhaps you could confirm whether you would expect more signs of 
> > life, even with a non-bootable Zip disk (I don't know how quiet 
the 
> > process should be, but this is silent), and whether your Emax II 
> > still scans the SCSI chain with the SCSI boot ID set to 0...?
> > 
> > Thanks!
> > 
> > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" <b_j_glover@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Nice work...;) I was fiddling around trying something similar 
> with 
> > a 
> > > free demo of MacDrive, but it got my PC into a horrible state -
 I 
> > > wouldn't recommend letting this software anywhere near your 
> > > computer. I'll have another crack at it with this approach. 
> > > 
> > > ) --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" <esynthesist@> 
wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Just FYI: I managed to format a ZIP disk on a Windows XP 
> machine 
> > > in 
> > > > such way that the disk is readable and bootable by an Emax.
> > > > 
> > > > I'll just explain exactly what I did:
> > > > 
> > > > 1/ I formatted the disk using a free demo-version of MacDisk 
> > (for 
> > > > WinXP). I used the HFS (not HFS+) format option.
> > > > 
> > > > --> This disk is not usable on an Emax yet, but at least the 
> > > original 
> > > > MS-DOS format structure is "killed" :-)
> > > > 
> > > > 2/ Then I re-formatted the very same disk using the 
IomegaWare 
> > > format 
> > > > function (I have IomegaWare running on my PC, this package 
adds 
> > > some 
> > > > functions to the Windows Explorer menu, of which also Iomega 
> > > Format).
> > > > I used the short format (30 seconds) procedure.
> > > > 
> > > > --> This format resulted in an error... 
> > > > 
> > > > 3/ Immediately after this Iomega Format I re-formatted the 
very 
> > > same 
> > > > disk again, this time simply with the standard Format Disk 
> > > function 
> > > > in Windows Explorer. I used the "long" format option. The 
> format 
> > > > capacity I selected was 96 MB (the only possible one).
> > > > 
> > > > Then I copied an EMAX-II HD image to that ZIP disk with EMXP.
> > > > 
> > > > --> This disk can be read and booted on my EMAX-II !
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Maybe step 2 can be skipped, I don't know because I don't 
have 
> > any 
> > > > non-EMAX zip disks left so I can't do another test anymore.
> > > > 
> > > > Anyway, whatever format tools you try, it is extremely 
> important 
> > > that 
> > > > you are able to format the disk with a 96 MB capacity. So 
not 
> > the 
> > > > 95.7 MB which is the default capacity suggested by Windows 
> > > Explorer...
> > > > 
> > > > So it seems possible to create an EMAX-II ZIP disk from 
scratch 
> > > > without any need for a Mac computer or EMAX-II sampler !
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Have fun,
> > > > 
> > > > ///E-Synthesist
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" <esynthesist@> 
wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > No, the restore function always works.
> > > > > Windows formatted ZIP disks are almost the same as 
Emax/MAC 
> > > > formatted 
> > > > > ZIP disks. But Emax/Mac machines format a few more sectors 
on 
> > > the 
> > > > > disk, and unfortunately Emax seems to check the existence 
of 
> > > these 
> > > > > additional sectors. If it can't find them, it gives an 
error 
> > > > > message "Not an EMAX-II disk" or something like that.
> > > > > 
> > > > > I haven't found a way yet to format ZIP disks with those 
> > > additonal 
> > > > > sectors under Windows XP. I think it's possible with 
parallel 
> > > > > versions and old Iomega drivers, but most of us use USB 
> drives 
> > > of 
> > > > > course.
> > > > > Anyway, that's the reason why there's no "format ZIP" 
> function 
> > > in 
> > > > > EMXP...
> > > > > 
> > > > > So I hope you have access to a Mac computer somewhere ?
> > > > > (or pre-formatted ZIP-disks for MAC, those exist too !)
> > > > > 
> > > > > ///E-Synthesist
> > > > > 
> > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" <b_j_glover@> 
wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks for the extra info. When I was trying the ZIP 
> method, 
> > I 
> > > > was 
> > > > > > using a PC formatted (250MB) disk, though you warned 
this 
> > > might 
> > > > not 
> > > > > > work. However, the "Restore" function in EMXP seemed to 
> > > operate 
> > > > > > correctly. But is the fact that Restore can be used to 
put 
> > an 
> > > > image 
> > > > > > on the disk enough to guarantee that the disk is in an 
> > > acceptable 
> > > > > > format to the Emax...?
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > > That's strange !
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > I have an EMAX-II rack without any internal HD.
> > > > > > > The only two disk devices connected to this EMAX-II 
are:
> > > > > > > - the internal floppy drive
> > > > > > > - an external 100 MB ZIP drive with ID = 6 and 
terminator 
> > = 
> > > ON.
> > > > > > > (the Boot SCSI ID in the Master Module is set to 4 
> however)
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > When I boot the EMAX-II without any floppy disk in the 
> > > drive, 
> > > > but 
> > > > > > > with an EMAX-II formatted ZIP disk with OS in the ZIP 
> > drive, 
> > > it 
> > > > > > boots 
> > > > > > > from that ZIP disk !
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > The EMAX-II always scans the complete SCSI chain if it 
> > > doesn't 
> > > > > find 
> > > > > > > an OS on the floppy disk or on the "default SCSI 
device" 
> > set 
> > > by 
> > > > > the 
> > > > > > > SCSI ID you mentioned in the Master module. 
> > > > > > > This Master setting does not mean that the OS can only 
be 
> > > > loaded 
> > > > > > from 
> > > > > > > that device. The Master SCSI ID must be set if your 
EMAX-
> > II 
> > > has 
> > > > > > > multiple HD's (or ZIP disks) each carrying its own OS. 
In 
> > > that 
> > > > > > case, 
> > > > > > > you have to tell the EMAX-II which OS device is the 
> > > preferred 
> > > > > > > one/should be used. It indicates the first HD which 
will 
> > be 
> > > > > checked 
> > > > > > > by the EMAX-II. If no OS resides on that HD, EMAX-II 
will 
> > > start 
> > > > > the 
> > > > > > > SCSI chain search.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > So normally you should not have any problem with 
booting 
> > > from 
> > > > an 
> > > > > > > external ZIP drive. 
> > > > > > > (on EMAX-I however, the ZIP drive MUST have SCSI ID = 
0)
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Regards
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > ///E-Synthesist
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" 
<b_j_glover@> 
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Hi -
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Thanks for the quick reply - that's an excellent 
> utility.
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Unfortunately the Emax II seems to want to read its 
OS 
> > > from 
> > > > the 
> > > > > > > > floppy unless you change the SCSI Boot ID to 
something 
> > > else. 
> > > > > The 
> > > > > > > > manual says:
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > "This function allows you to select which SCSI drive 
> > > > (0=floppy, 
> > > > > 1-
> > > > > > > > 7=HD) Emax II will scan on initial power up for its 
> > > operating 
> > > > > > > > software. Note: Emax II will always boot from floppy 
if 
> > a 
> > > > > > formatted 
> > > > > > > > floppy disk resides in the drive on power up"
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > My external ZIP drive only allows the 5/6 ID 
setting. I 
> > > also 
> > > > > > tried 
> > > > > > > > booting up from a prepared internal SCSI drive set 
to 
> ID 
> > > 0, 
> > > > and 
> > > > > > > using 
> > > > > > > > the trick of putting a jumper on pins 25/26 of the 
> > floppy 
> > > > > > connector 
> > > > > > > > to avert the system check, but it hangs on "Pease 
> Insert 
> > > > Disk". 
> > > > > I 
> > > > > > > > don't know whether that's because the drive doesn't 
> spin 
> > > up 
> > > > in 
> > > > > > > time, 
> > > > > > > > or whether the thing is canny enough to know it's 
been 
> > > > > hoodwinked.
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Bleugh - after pulling apart my PC, my Emax and my 
> > > Kurzweil 
> > > > to 
> > > > > > get 
> > > > > > > > this far, I think I'm going to have to surrender to 
> > Route 
> > > > > 66...;) 
> > > > > > > But 
> > > > > > > > once I get it working, I'll definitely be making 
more 
> > use 
> > > of 
> > > > > the 
> > > > > > > > wondrous EMXP...
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > specify otherwise --- In 
> > > emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" 
> > > > > > > > <esynthesist@> wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Yes there is.
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > You can create an EMAX-II ZIP disk image with EMXP 
> > v2.02.
> > > > > > > > > (using the "manage Emax HD/CD images"->"create new 
> > > image" 
> > > > > > menu). 
> > > > > > > > After 
> > > > > > > > > the 96 MB image-file has been created by EMXP, you 
> can 
> > > add 
> > > > an 
> > > > > > > Emax-
> > > > > > > > II 
> > > > > > > > > OS to it (again with EMXP v2.02). OS files can be 
> > > > downloaded 
> > > > > in 
> > > > > > > > this 
> > > > > > > > > group or from the emulatorarchive website.
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Then you have to copy the image to a ZIP disk 
> > (connected 
> > > to 
> > > > > > your 
> > > > > > > > PC).
> > > > > > > > > Again use EMXP for this :-) (via "restore" 
function)
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > One important note though !
> > > > > > > > > The ZIP disk must have been formatted first in 
> > an "emax-
> > > > > > > compatible" 
> > > > > > > > way.
> > > > > > > > > You don't need an EMAX to do that, but 
unfortunately 
> > my 
> > > > > > > experience 
> > > > > > > > > shows that simply formatting a ZIP disk on a 
Windows 
> > > > machine 
> > > > > > does 
> > > > > > > > not 
> > > > > > > > > guarantee an EMAX-compatible ZIP disk.
> > > > > > > > > I always format them first on an old Mac Classic. 
> This 
> > > > format 
> > > > > > > > procedure 
> > > > > > > > > seems to be compatible with Emax...
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > ///E-Synthesist
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "b_j_glover" 
> > <b_j_glover@> 
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Hi -
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > I've got an Emax II (2212) which I haven't been 
> able 
> > > to 
> > > > > boot 
> > > > > > > up - 
> > > > > > > > > I've 
> > > > > > > > > > tried creating boot floppies, but they've never 
> > > worked, 
> > > > and 
> > > > > I 
> > > > > > > > think 
> > > > > > > > > the 
> > > > > > > > > > drive might need replacing. But I've got a 100MB 
> > SCSI 
> > > Zip 
> > > > > > > drive, 
> > > > > > > > and 
> > > > > > > > > I 
> > > > > > > > > > was wondering if there might be any way to 
create a 
> > > > > bootable 
> > > > > > > > image on 
> > > > > > > > > > that via a PC...?
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>