Intel EtherExpress 8/16 boot ROM doesn't work in 8-bit slot \ VOGONS

Intel EtherExpress 8/16 boot ROM doesn't work in 8-bit slot

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First post, by copper

Posted on 2023-09-03, 13:46

copper Offline

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I have this card: https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/Intel_8% … 516_LAN_Adapter

I'm trying to use an AT28C64 EEPROM with a boot/option ROM flashed to it in the NIC in my XT.

The ROM works fine in an XTIDE card in the XT
The ROM works fine in the Intel 8/16 in a 16 bit slot in a 386, even with the card set to 8 bit mode in SOFTSET.EXE
The ROM does not work in the Intel 8/16 in the XT, even though the rest of the card works for networking

Nothing appears at the memory region, almost like the chip is not powered. However, when I installed the chip in the wrong location, I got RAM errors on the XT, so the socket is definitely connected in some way.

Has anyone ever gotten this to work in an 8-bit slot? Lots of people say it works but I have only seen pictures of it installed with a boot ROM in a 16-bit slot. Is there some other EEPROM, maybe a 32 pin one, that would work, or something like connecting the +5v on the 16 bit region of the card?

Last edited by copper on 2023-09-03, 16:09. Edited 6 times in total.

Reply 1 of 6, by Horun

Posted on 2023-09-03, 15:46

Horun Offline

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What starting address did you set for the option ROM ? C800 is the first start address space after video space...

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 2 of 6, by copper

Posted on 2023-09-03, 15:48

copper Offline

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Horun wrote on 2023-09-03, 15:46:

What starting address did you set for the option ROM ? C800 is the first start address space after video space...

I tried c800, D200, and several other addresses. The card and chip do work in the 386 at the configured address.

Reply 3 of 6, by Horun

Posted on 2023-09-03, 16:00

Horun Offline

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Ok, the Intel 8/16 defaults to port 300, do you have anything else that could be at that port address ?? Yes others have gotten it to work in an XT...
(see this)

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 4 of 6, by copper

Posted on 2023-09-03, 16:08

copper Offline

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Horun wrote on 2023-09-03, 16:00:

Ok, the Intel 8/16 defaults to port 300, do you have anything else that could be at that port address ?? Yes others have gotten it to work in an XT...
(see this)

The NIC part of the card works fine. It's only the boot ROM that doesn't work. That example doesn't seem to be using a boot ROM.

Reply 5 of 6, by Horun

Posted on 2023-09-03, 16:34

Horun Offline

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Yeah ok. What do you have in the ROM chip ? Maybe the code has an invalid header...

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 6 of 6, by copper

Posted on 2023-09-03, 17:04

copper Offline

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Horun wrote on 2023-09-03, 16:34:

Yeah ok. What do you have in the ROM chip ? Maybe the code has an invalid header...

ROM chip works fine in the NIC in the 386 as well as in the XTIDE card in the XT; I don't think it's invalid.

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