Generated ghost drives problem

HxC Floppy Emulator on PC88 / PC98 and compatible support
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ovf
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Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:34 pm

Generated ghost drives problem

Post by ovf »

Hi,

I am using HxC SD Emulator rev F with EPSON PC-586RV.
PC-586 is PC-9801 compatible computer, internal FDD is 2 drives (drive 0, 1) and external FDD is 2 drives(drive 2, 3).
PC-586's original internal FDD is EPSON SMD-340 or MITSUMI D353T3.
External FDD is PC-9801 compatible interface, available to PC-9801 general external FDD.

I connected HxC to the drives 0 and 1, and nothing connected drives 2 and 3.(see attached connecting diagram)

The ghost drives 2 and 3 is generated when setup of HxC is ID0A and ID1B(drive 0 = HxC drive A, drive 1 = HxC drive B).
But drive 0 and 1 operation is no problem.
Ghost drive is assigned a drive letter in MS-DOS, but can not be used in practice.
Of course, no problem in the case where original FDD is used to connect to drives 0 and 1.

The ghost drives 2 and 3 not generated when setup of HxC is ID1A and ID0B(drive 0 = HxC drive B, drive 1 = HxC drive A).

Do you know why ghost drives is generated?
I want to erase the ghost drives using settings ID0A and ID1B the HxC.
Attachments
hxcdiagram.png
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Jeff
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Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by Jeff »

Do you have the latest firmware version (1.8.2.40) ?

ovf
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Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:34 pm

Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by ovf »

Jeff wrote:Do you have the latest firmware version (1.8.2.40) ?
Yes, I use 1.8.2.40.

Jeff
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Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by Jeff »

ovf wrote:
Jeff wrote:Do you have the latest firmware version (1.8.2.40) ?
Yes, I use 1.8.2.40.
Do you have any idea how the drive detection works on this machine ?
i think that this is the track 00 checking but can you confirm ?

ovf
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:34 pm

Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by ovf »

Jeff wrote:
ovf wrote:
Jeff wrote:Do you have the latest firmware version (1.8.2.40) ?
Yes, I use 1.8.2.40.
Do you have any idea how the drive detection works on this machine ?
i think that this is the track 00 checking but can you confirm ?
I have a logic analyzer.
I am going to try to capture the signal of /ID0 and /ID1, STEP, TRACK00.(if possible, /ID2 and /ID3)
Is there a signal to be captured in the other?

But I don't know take good data, because I don't know the detect timing of the FDD.
For now, I am going to try trigger the timing of TRACK00 becomes LOW.

ovf
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:34 pm

Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by ovf »

I tried to capture the detect sequence of the FDD.

Detection sequence of this machine seems to be of the following two procedures.
1)move TRACK00
It is output the many STEP pulse to each FDD. Each FDD is moved to TRACK00.
2)Detect drive
It is monitor the status of TRACK00 at the time of the Low level of /ID?.
STEP is not output at this time.
Order to be detected is ID0->/ID1->(probably /ID2->/ID3).

Attach an image captured when I set ID0A-ID1B or ID0B-ID1A to HxC.
I think that there is a problem with the output of TRACK00.

And, DIP-SW to set the ID is poor contact from the beginning of my HxC.
ID0B, ID1B is particularly bad. Is there a way to solve?
Attachments
drive_detect_sequence.png
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Jeff
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Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by Jeff »

Thanks a lot for the sequences.

I had to do a test program to reproduce the issue, but now all seems to be corrected.
I will send you the new firmware once i have done all the tests.

ovf
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:34 pm

Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by ovf »

Jeff wrote:Thanks a lot for the sequences.

I had to do a test program to reproduce the issue, but now all seems to be corrected.
I will send you the new firmware once i have done all the tests.
I received a new firmware, and checked firmware behavior.

As a result of the check, I was confirmed that the issue is resolved.

Thank you for helping us make resolve the problem

ovf
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:34 pm

Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by ovf »

Hi, Jeff

I found the problem in the firmware I got from you.

Reproduce the problem by following these steps:

1st problem
1)Mount the disk on both drives.
2)Unmount the disk in the one of the drives.(push front panel center button)
The other drive disk should remain mounted, but /READY signal becomes H level at all times.
It is same as no disk was mounted on both drives. I think this is problem.
3)If remount the disk that were unmounted, It will be accessible to both drives.

2nd problem
1)Mount the disk on both drives.
2)Switch to other drive.(long push the center button and select drive)
The switching destination drive disk is automatically unmounted. I think this is no problem, but hard to use.
The switching source drive disk should remain mounted, but /READY signal becomes H level. I think this is problem.
3)If mount disk in the switching destination drive, It will be accessible to both drives.

I want to improve the problem because I think two drives is be work independently.
Moreover,I hope that the operation such as the following is realized.
1)The drive is to be switched even if the disk is not mounted. Because may want to mount the disk only drive B.
2)Do not unmount disk when switching the drives

Thanks

Jeff
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Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by Jeff »

2)Unmount the disk in the one of the drives.(push front panel center button)
The other drive disk should remain mounted, but /READY signal becomes H level at all times.
It is same as no disk was mounted on both drives. I think this is problem.
No : all of this is normal : the device cannot emulate any drive while you are browsing the sdcard, that's why both emulate disk are "ejected" at this moment. When you have finished to select your file image, both disks are "reinserted".

If you want a totally independant drive emulation, you should use 2 emulators!
3)If mount disk in the switching destination drive, It will be accessible to both drives.
I don't understand.

ovf
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:34 pm

Re: Generated ghost drives problem

Post by ovf »

Hi, Jeff

I understood.
I was mistaken to be able to operate two drives independently.
3)If mount disk in the switching destination drive, It will be accessible to both drives.
I don't understand.
Mount disk in both drive, and switch drive B to A.
In this state, don't be able to access the both drives.
When reinsert disk in drive A, it be accessible to both drives.
I think it is a normal action in your description.

Thanks

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