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Looking for a recommendation on ISA IDE controller card, or Network Controller Card with XT-IDE burnt on chip for 5170

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First post, by mikedebian

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Hi,

I do not wish to replace the BIOS chips on my 5170.
I have an MFM drive that I wish to take backup of, before I low level format the drive.
For that, I wish to transfer the files on to a CF card.
I know that the 5170 has issues with the XT-IDE 8-bit ISA card, but have also read that as long as I use an IDE controller or Network controller card flashed with XT-IDE, I should be golden.

However, I do not know what success stories people have had, and which cards that they have used.
On ebay right now there's a person selling an ISA network card, which can optionally come with an XT-IDE BIOS burnt on a chip (60 USD total).
However, I am quite uncertain that it would work with my 5170, although the seller states that it works on other models, but have been unable to test on the 5170 due to lack of hardware.

So, should it in theory work? If not, what other cards should I look out for?
I do not have an eeprom programmer unit, and I'm thus dependant on it being already an option on purchase.

Thank you!

Reply 1 of 2, by Jo22

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Hi, I can't make any promises, but I think the AT version of XT-IDE Universal BIOS works fine in any 286 PC (AT platform).

The optimized 386 version is separate and rarely used - typically only if required for running OS/2, Win95 etc. (speaking under correction).

Not 100% sure how well it works with an existing MFM drive in the system.
- I believe it can work somehow, but I've got no 5170 for testing at hand.
So better listen to some feedback by other users. Sorry. 😅

Personally, I'm using XUB in a Schneider Tower AT just fine (has 286 CPU).
That PC has a CD-ROM controller card installed, which I attached a DOM onto.
The "controller" has a very primitive IDE interface that's hardwired as Secondary-Master.

I've also posted some XUB backups that I had used before.
They are pre-configured for auto-detection mode.

See Re: IDE disk-on-module + 386

Again, this is just what I know.
I can't promise anything, because the 5170 is the very original AT.
That's not bad in any way - I simply lack the competence to make a valid statement! 😅

Edit: If you can, maybe ask the seller which version is used.
If he can program an EPROM he's likely educated enough to know the details of XT-IDE Universal BIOS.
Edit: * or she/they.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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Reply 2 of 2, by megatron-uk

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I've used the IDE_ATL.bin in several 286 boards. It's currently sitting in a 3Com 3C509B network card.
I did run the xtide configuration tool to disable secondary controllers and reduce the default device timeout from 30 to 5 seconds before programming it to an EPROM though.

I just programmed it with a cheap, common TL866 programmer from Ebay that I've had for ages. It's really simple.

I previously had it running a 320GB 2.5" laptop drive in my old 286 system (albeit with MS-DOS 5, so something like half a dozen 2GB partitions in useable space). Whereas now its running a Compact Flash bay (16GB card right now) in the front of my newer 286 system. I've got IBM PC-DOS 7.1 installed on it - 256MB FAT16 partition and a 15GB FAT32 partition. PC-DOS 7.1 is happily accessing both of them.

My collection database and technical wiki:
https://www.target-earth.net

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