"Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

HxC Floppy Emulator on Amiga support
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Firepawa
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"Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Firepawa »

I am converting a second external drive for my Amiga 2000+.
This external floppy enclosure is a PC880 from Power Computing.

I installed a Gotek drive flashed with the latest firmware (V3_1_22_2a).
I configured it in AUTOBOOT mode (I don't have the OLED display yet).
I selected a few files with the Windows version of HXCFEMNG.exe.

In AmigaOS 3.1 the drive is correctly detected as DF2:
Disk change is detected and working.
I can run programs from the drive.
I can do a full disk copy (80 sectors) without any problem.
Everything works fine.

However when I run HXCFEMNG (V1.64a) first DF0: and DF1: blink (checking ?) and then the program gives me "ERROR: HxC Drive not detected !".
I get the same error if I run HXCFEMNG from the HD or from a floppy (tested from DF0: and DF2:).

I can add that I was unable to make this external drive work with the A2088XT board so maybe there is some kind of incompatibility with this device.

I don't know what to try next.
Any suggestions ?
Thanks

Firepawa
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:48 pm

Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Firepawa »

After a few more tests I wanted to add that:
- All 3 drives light up in turn when HXCFEMNG is started (not just DF0 and DF1:).
- I installed the latest firmware (V3_1_22_6a) but no change.
- I will eventually install an OLED display to work around this problem but I wanted to leave as much info in this thread before moving on. If you experience this problem post here and maybe at some point there will be enough info to "debug" this issue.

Jeff
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Jeff »

Firepawa wrote:
Thu May 03, 2018 1:31 pm
After a few more tests I wanted to add that:
- All 3 drives light up in turn when HXCFEMNG is started (not just DF0 and DF1:).
- I installed the latest firmware (V3_1_22_6a) but no change.
- I will eventually install an OLED display to work around this problem but I wanted to leave as much info in this thread before moving on. If you experience this problem post here and maybe at some point there will be enough info to "debug" this issue.
Sound like there is a jumper setting problem.
Anyway try to clear the internal settings (press the right button at power up).

Firepawa
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:48 pm

Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Firepawa »

Thanks for your reply.

I cleared the internal settings with a right button press on startup (it is instantaneous right ?) but it didn't change anything.

Regarding the jumpers and switches:
- On the Gotek board the only jumper is on S0 (If I remember well).
- On the rear of the external drive there is only one switch (according to the manual it is the "isolating switch"). In one position the drive is visible as DF2:, in the other position it is invisible.
Attachments
HXCFEMNG can't find DF2:
HXCFEMNG can't find DF2:
WP_20180504_10_27_32_Pro.jpg (218.88 KiB) Viewed 6541 times
Drive correctly detected as DF2:
Drive correctly detected as DF2:
WP_20180504_10_26_28_Pro.jpg (206.89 KiB) Viewed 6541 times
Last edited by Firepawa on Fri May 04, 2018 1:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Jeff
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Jeff »

Please make a video of the fileselector startup
note : i want to see all drives Leds ! (gotek and normal drive.)

Firepawa
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Firepawa »

That's easy :)
Here you go: https://youtu.be/oL7RkHTTwvg

Also I could find the PC880 external drive manual here:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/10479 ... Pc720.html
Not that it is very useful...

Jeff
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Jeff »

Firepawa wrote:
Fri May 04, 2018 1:45 pm
That's easy :)
Here you go: https://youtu.be/oL7RkHTTwvg

Also I could find the PC880 external drive manual here:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/10479 ... Pc720.html
Not that it is very useful...
Ok. Sound like to be an EMC filter issue...
But : What is supposed to be the gotek drive on the left ? It doesn't seems to react at all !

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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Jeff »


Firepawa
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Firepawa »

Thank you for your reply.

- Same result with this new version (1.66a).
- The other drive is my first Gotek attempt. Works fine in any mode. It is now connected to the PC board (A2088XT) and used as a B: drive.
Same result if I unplug this other drive.

Jeff
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Jeff »

Firepawa wrote:
Sun May 06, 2018 4:34 pm
- The other drive is my first Gotek attempt. Works fine in any mode. It is now connected to the PC board (A2088XT) and used as a B: drive.
i don't understand : you mean that this gotek is working fine as DF2 ?

Firepawa
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Firepawa »

i don't understand : you mean that this gotek is working fine as DF2 ?
Yes if plugged into the Amiga drive port but it isn't anymore.
Now it is plugged into the PC Board and used as a PC drive.

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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Jeff »

Firepawa wrote:
Sun May 06, 2018 7:28 pm
i don't understand : you mean that this gotek is working fine as DF2 ?
Yes if plugged into the Amiga drive port but it isn't anymore.
Now it is plugged into the PC Board and used as a PC drive.
Interesting. So if you take this gotek and use it into this external drive, all is working fine ?
both goteks have the same firmware ?

Firepawa
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Firepawa »

Yes both Goteks have the same firmware but are not in the same brand of enclosure.
I don't know the brand of the fully working one but it seems quite a common one with a thin metal case and vents on top.
The Power computing enclosure is more recognizable with its muscle guy holding a lightning sticker.

The PC Board has a floppy drive port which takes an Amiga drive hardware and uses it as a PC drive.
Check out board info and manual here: http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/a2088xt
The drive connected to the PC side cannot be accessed by the Amiga side (without additional software).

But as I stated before I was never able to make this Power Computing enclosure work as a PC drive (even with the original drive in it).
However it always worked as an Amiga drive when plugged into the Amiga floppy drive port.

So my guess is that this enclosure is not entirely compatible with the Amiga specs... or I messed up somewhere which is always possible :)

I have never tried to install my first Gotek drive into the Power Computing enclosure...

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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Jeff »

Can post pictures of the enclosure pcb boards ?

Firepawa
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Re: "Autoboot" / File selector mode working except for HXCFEMNG

Post by Firepawa »

All right lets document this enclosure:
Attachments
Power Computing enclosure
Power Computing enclosure
WP_20180510_10_53_41_Pro.jpg (148.37 KiB) Viewed 6415 times
Rear
Rear
WP_20180510_10_53_01_Pro.jpg (176.64 KiB) Viewed 6415 times
Serial number
Serial number
WP_20180510_10_52_41_Pro.jpg (186.61 KiB) Viewed 6415 times

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