HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

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skot9000
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:41 pm

HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by skot9000 »

Hello,

I have a number of Hewlett Packard 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzers with failing disk drives that I would like to replace with the HxC SD Floppy Emulator. I have the Slim version of the SD card emulator. I see in your showcase section there is a confirmed case of the emulator working with the HP4145A version of the test tool, but no specific information.

The disk drive in the unit is a Sony MFD-52W-10 or MP-F52W-30 depending on which sticker you look at.
I believe the Disks are Double-sided, double-density. The drive runs at 600RPM.

Can you advise as to how to set the dip switches and how to configure the disk image with the HxCFloppyEmulator software?

Thanks!
-Skot

skot9000
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:41 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by skot9000 »

I was able to use the "Floppy disk dump" in the HxCFloppyEmulator software to get a dump of the HP4145B system disk using a PC. I can't get the 4145B to boot with that dump on a SD card in my SDHxCFESlim.

I've attached the dump. Any ideas?

From what I read, the 4145B uses a 600RPM drive. Does it matter that I made the dump file using a PC which most likely doesn't have a 600RPM drive?

Looking through the dump using the Track Analyzer in the software, there are lots of strings that show up clearly from the HP4145B OS, so that is promising.

thanks!
-Skot
Attachments
disk dump.zip
(87.9 KiB) Downloaded 1089 times

Jeff
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Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by Jeff »

The attached image is now rotating at 600RPM.

Once working please post some pictures and if possible a video ;)
Attachments
disk dump_600RPM.zip
(77.98 KiB) Downloaded 1111 times

skot9000
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:41 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by skot9000 »

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the quick reply!

Unfortunately the new image isn't working either. The test equipment reports that "The disk is not initialized".

It looks like you changed the bitRate bytes in the HFE file to 500, which makes sense. Maybe there is some other problem here?

The Sony MP-F52W-30 uses a 34 pin combined power and data connector. I wired it up to my SDHxCFESlim as follows;

Code: Select all

--SDHxCFESlim--                         --HP4145B (MP-F52W-30)--
NC                                       Change Reset     (1)
FLOPPY_DSKCHG   (2)                      Disc Change      (2)
NC              (4)                      In Use           (4)
NC              (6)                      Drive Select 3   (6)
FLOPPY_INDEX    (8)                      Index            (8)
DS0             (10)                     Drive Select 0   (10)
DS1             (12)                     Drive Select 1   (12)
DS2             (14)                     Drive Select 2   (14)
MTRON           (16)                     Motor On         (16)
FLOPPY_DIR      (18)                     Direction        (18)
FLOPPY_STEP     (20)                     Step             (20)
FLOPPY_WDATA    (22)                     Write Data       (22)
FLOPPY_WGATE    (24)                     Write Gate       (24)
FLOPPY_TRK00    (26)                     Track 00         (26)
FLOPPY_WPT      (28)                     Write Protect    (28)
FLOPPY_DATA     (30)                     Read Data        (30)
FLOPPY_SIDE     (32)                     Head Select      (32)
FLOPPY_READY    (34)                     Ready            (34)

+5V             (Power connector)        +5V              (3)
GND             (Power connector)        GND              (15)
GND             (1)                      GND              (17)
I will definitely post pics and video when it's working. I promise!
-Skot

skot9000
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:41 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by skot9000 »

Ah ha! I've got it. The key here is the HP4145B boot disks have 83 tracks. I was only scanning for 80 before. After running SAMDisk I found out about the extra tracks. Dumping all of the tracks from a PC and then adjusting the header to indicate 500k bitrate did the trick!

HFE files and picture attached. I'll post up a video soon!

-Skot
4145b-booted2.jpg
4145b-booted2.jpg (111.48 KiB) Viewed 29942 times
Attachments
HP4145B Boot Disk.zip
(211.04 KiB) Downloaded 1401 times

skot9000
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:41 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by skot9000 »

Pics with my HP4145B to HxC Floppy Emulator adapter. The emulator is sealed inside the case since we have no need to swap disks.
Attachments
photo 1.JPG
photo 1.JPG (123.67 KiB) Viewed 29874 times
photo 2.JPG
photo 2.JPG (115.71 KiB) Viewed 29874 times

Betawi
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:11 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by Betawi »

Wow! Exactly what we're trying to do.
You wouldn't happen to have one of that nice daughterboard (to break out the 5V) that's unused, do you?

skot9000
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:41 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by skot9000 »

I don't have any extra PCBs. You can use my Gerber files and get some printed very cheaply from a service like dirtypcbs.com.

Either that or just use some male-to-female 0.1" jumpers.

HP4145B to SD Floppy Emulator SLIM adapter BOM

HEADER_2X17
Shrouded 2x17 (34 pin) header
Digikey: 609-1778-ND
Part No: 75869-106LF

HEADER_2x17_UNSHROUDED
Unshrouded 2x17 (34 pin) female socket
Digikey: 929975E-01-17-ND
Manufacturer Part No: 929975-01-17-RK
Right angle alternative: S7085-ND (PPTC172LFBN-RC)

HEADER_1x4_UNSHROUDED
Unshrouded 1x4 (4 pin) female socket
Digikey: 929974E-01-04-ND
Manufacturer Part No: 929974-01-04-RK
Attachments
HP4145B_Adapter.zip
(43.55 KiB) Downloaded 1286 times

Betawi
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:11 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by Betawi »

Thank you!
K.

Betawi
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:11 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by Betawi »

Our proof of concept hack.
IMG_20140514_141243.jpg
IMG_20140514_141243.jpg (109.3 KiB) Viewed 29266 times
IMG_20140514_141052.jpg
IMG_20140514_141052.jpg (52.56 KiB) Viewed 29266 times
Now just to dress it up.

EduardoLM
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2014 11:55 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by EduardoLM »

Please, any of you could tell me how to write the HFE image back to a real floppy disk? Or could any of you dump the HP4145B floppy image to a format which can be written back to a physical floppy?

I need the real floppy, because I still don't have HxC on my HP4145B.

Thanks in advance!

Eduardo

Jeff
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Location: Paris
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Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by Jeff »

EduardoLM wrote:Please, any of you could tell me how to write the HFE image back to a real floppy disk? Or could any of you dump the HP4145B floppy image to a format which can be written back to a physical floppy?

I need the real floppy, because I still don't have HxC on my HP4145B.

Thanks in advance!

Eduardo
Try to convert the HFE file to the IMD format with the HxC software and use ImageDisk (http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/img/index.htm) to write back the image.

EduardoLM
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2014 11:55 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by EduardoLM »

Thanks for the prompt reply, Jeff!

I followed your suggestion, and it really looks promising, but I think I'm still missing something here.

I converted the HFE image to IMD, and ran ImageDisk on a pure DOS machine. When trying to write the IMD image to a real floppy, I chose cylinders = 83, sides = two and double step = off, leaving the other options at default. When trying to write to a DD media, I get lots of errors, as seen in picture 1.
Picture 1 - Error when trying a DD disk
Picture 1 - Error when trying a DD disk
DD.jpg (152.92 KiB) Viewed 29096 times
I also tried a HD disk, and this time most of the writing process goes ok, but some N characters appear at the last tracks, as seen in picture 2.
Picture 2 - Error when trying a HD disk (NNN at the last tracks)
Picture 2 - Error when trying a HD disk (NNN at the last tracks)
HD.jpg (129.41 KiB) Viewed 29096 times
Please, do you have any idea on what can be wrong here? I read in ImageDisk docs that a 3.5" 500kbps file is HD, but the HP disk is DD! I can't understand this. Additionally, I noticed the IMD file is *very* small, 65KB only! Is not it too small, compared to a the HFE file, which is 2MB??

Well, any additional help will be greatly appreciated, thanks a lot!

Eduardo

Jeff
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Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by Jeff »

Retry with the attached imd file on DD a disk.
Attachments
STARTUPA_HFE.zip
(37.11 KiB) Downloaded 1114 times

EduardoLM
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2014 11:55 pm

Re: HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer

Post by EduardoLM »

Thanks a lot, Jeff! The writing worked, but only tomorrow I will have access to the HP4145B again, so I still don't know if it will boot correctly.

The only detail are the N characters at the last tracks, it happened again. Do you think it's a problem?

Thanks again,

Eduardo

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