[Solved] Rescue operation for a Toshiba satellite pro 430 \ VOGONS

[Solved] Rescue operation for a Toshiba satellite pro 430

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First post, by cgyed.cgyed

Posted on 2024-05-24, 20:35

cgyed.cgyed Offline

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Hello,

I bought a Toshiba satellite 430 2 years ago with a not working FDD. Until the HDD crashed, it was fine...
Now I have a laptop without suitable HDD nor FDD but a probably working CDROM drive (not bootable).

I tried to install dos 6.22 on a CF card with virtual machine but it does not boot on real hardware and I have no mean to make the famous "fdisk /mbr".

So, I "call" for a solution that may solve the problem. I already tried to fix the fdd without success. I also try to use a FD emulator (openflops w1d) without more success.
A way could be to send my CF Card + IDE adaptor to a "very close hardware" owner who may make me the CF bootable with DOS 6.22.

Another posibilty may be to clone a compact flash from a owner of toshiba satellite pro with CF card drive.

Is someone has a possibility to do this, or to propose any other solution...

Thanks !

Last edited by cgyed.cgyed on 2024-05-30, 12:53. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 1 of 8, by wierd_w

Posted on 2024-05-25, 06:24

wierd_w Offline

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Get a copy of either virtualbox or vmware workstation.

manually set up a vmdk descriptor file for a flat, 0-filled image of the exact lba size of your CF card, with the detected chs values the toshiba sees. (Check the bios/cmos pages)

Use this virtual machine and image to set up 'whatever'.

Image the disk image to the CF card.

Pop it into the toshiba, and pray.

Reply 2 of 8, by Joakim

Posted on 2024-05-25, 06:32

Joakim Offline

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Maybe you can figure our the wiring on the floppy drive and replace the drive with a working one.

Reply 3 of 8, by wierd_w

Posted on 2024-05-25, 06:58

wierd_w Offline

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There's a similar unit with external fdd ob craigslist (minneapolis) for 100$.

You might try contacting the seller?

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/sys/d/ … 7748934307.html

Reply 4 of 8, by cgyed.cgyed

Posted on 2024-05-26, 20:41

cgyed.cgyed Offline

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Joined: 2022-06-24, 08:52

Hello,

wierd_w wrote on 2024-05-25, 06:24:
Get a copy of either virtualbox or vmware workstation. […]
Show full quote

Get a copy of either virtualbox or vmware workstation.

manually set up a vmdk descriptor file for a flat, 0-filled image of the exact lba size of your CF card, with the detected chs values the toshiba sees. (Check the bios/cmos pages)

Use this virtual machine and image to set up 'whatever'.

Image the disk image to the CF card.

Pop it into the toshiba, and pray.

Yes, I already tried and no boot.
I will make a new attenmpt with a sd/IDE adapter instead the CFcard. And I will continue to pray 😉

Thanks.

Reply 5 of 8, by cgyed.cgyed

Posted on 2024-05-26, 20:49

cgyed.cgyed Offline

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Joined: 2022-06-24, 08:52

Hello,

Joakim wrote on 2024-05-25, 06:32:

Maybe you can figure our the wiring on the floppy drive and replace the drive with a working one.

The floppy is a Citizen W1D with a flat 26 pins ribbon and quite hard to find with an affordable price (and sometimes not working).
Does anyone knows if the FDD could be replaced with another FDD with the same connexion ?

Thanks.

Reply 6 of 8, by Joakim

Posted on 2024-05-27, 15:45

Joakim Offline

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I don't know but my guess is that it does not matter what kind of drive you get. Should be possible to rewire otherwise. Google and search with the keyword 'pinout'. Oh and consider also the pitch, the distance between the pins.

Reply 7 of 8, by rasva

Posted on 2024-05-27, 17:57

rasva Offline

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Location: Czech republic

cgyed.cgyed wrote on 2024-05-26, 20:49:
Hello, […]
Show full quote

Hello,

Joakim wrote on 2024-05-25, 06:32:

Maybe you can figure our the wiring on the floppy drive and replace the drive with a working one.

The floppy is a Citizen W1D with a flat 26 pins ribbon and quite hard to find with an affordable price (and sometimes not working).
Does anyone knows if the FDD could be replaced with another FDD with the same connexion ?

Thanks.

AFAIK, 26 pin FDD is another "standard" although a bit rare. I replaced several laptop FDD's in past. I also successfully connected a standard 34 pin FDD with an adapter. You can DYI that adapter or purchase it on Aliexpress, Amazon, etc ....

Reply 8 of 8, by cgyed.cgyed

Posted on 2024-05-30, 12:52

cgyed.cgyed Offline

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Rank: Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: 2022-06-24, 08:52

Hello,

wierd_w wrote on 2024-05-25, 06:24:

Image the disk image to the CF card.
Pop it into the toshiba, and pray.

I bougth a SD to IDE adapteur (Kalea) and did it from 86box.
The laptop now works and boot on ms dos 6.22 ! (and no more need for a FDD)

CF are ofter mentionned to replace original HDD but SD adapters seems to be a more reliable option (detection from the bios and boot).

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