First post, by Trevize
Hello Everybody,
I need your help with finding the proper storage for my 286 (Suntac ST62M02-B2). I don't have any old HDD's available and I don't trust them so I've decided to use a CF2IDE adapter.
The current BIOS (will add the type and version later) can handle the maximum size of 117 MB HDDs (CHS: 1024,9,26), and there is no custom size setting. The IDE controller an ISA card, it's a Goldstar (at the moment I can't tell it's exact type, I'm not at home). I've got 2 GB CF card (some Kingston), which is used, but in good condition (has no 'bad sectors'). I was able to partition and format the CF card to 117 MB, and I can do place system on it, but the 286 can't access the first few sectors, pretending read error. The best example is that when I try to read the c:\command.com file, DOS gives the good old Abort, Retry, Fail prompt (tried by using copy c:\command.com NUL). One more information about the computer: I've recently installed a 80C287 co-processor which I'd bought from EBAY about two monthsago. Altough it shouldn't cause any problems, I've read interesting behaviour with a 80287 installed.
I've both tried to make the driver bootable with a modified Freedos, and an MSDOS 6.22 boot disc, but neither of them resulted in a bootable system. However, placing the same controller in a 486, and giving the same CHS values in the 486's CMOS Setup, the latter has no problems accessing the card.
Please share with me your ideas and/or experiences. 😀 Thank you in advance!
