XT-IDE on Artisoft AE3 NIC \ VOGONS

XT-IDE on Artisoft AE3 NIC

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First post, by lizardmonkey

Posted on 2021-11-05, 13:49

lizardmonkey Offline

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Joined: 2021-09-21, 14:39

I am trying to use the boot rom socket on an Artisoft AE3 network card. I have flashed an AM27C128 with the BIOS and placed it into the card. I have selected the correct option rom location with jumpers on the card...... and nothing.
Assuming the 486 machine that I was attempting to use it may have disabled option roms I tried it in my P3 machine (BIOS has ability to enable option rom slots; so I am assuming it would work there); nothing there either.

I pulled out the multimeter; all of the address pins ring out from the ISA edge connector to the correct pins of the ROM. The data lines go to a bus transceiver chip; which I have pulled and checked using my minipro and appears to be OK.

Has anyone on here ever used this card with the boot rom socket? Any other troubleshooting anyone can recommend? Short of spending money on a logic probe I am not sure what my next steps may be.

Reply 1 of 4, by retardware

Posted on 2021-11-05, 14:08

retardware Offline

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The Artisoft data sheet lacks any information how to enable/disable the ROM.
No other network card with better documentation available?

Reply 2 of 4, by aitotat

Posted on 2021-11-05, 16:46

aitotat Offline

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Have you generated checksum byte if you have downloaded XTIDE Universal BIOS from the Pre-Built Binaries Download Centre? Those do not have checksum byte. You are supposed to configure them with xtidecfg.com and flash with it or just save the changes in case you use some other way to make the ROM. Saving the changes will always generate checksum byte and without it, the system BIOS do not initialize the expansion ROM.

Reply 3 of 4, by lizardmonkey

Posted on 2021-11-05, 17:33

lizardmonkey Offline

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Joined: 2021-09-21, 14:39

I did that; I will try it again though. Maybe I messed that step up.

Reply 4 of 4, by lizardmonkey

Posted on 2021-11-10, 17:28

lizardmonkey Offline

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Rank: Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: 2021-09-21, 14:39

Well bought another ISA network card with a boot rom socket...... worked just fine.....

Now do I put the effort into finding out why the artisoft card isnt working..... hmmmm.

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