QDI Computer QD6580W VLB EIDE/Floppy/IO Card VESA Local Bus \ VOGONS

QDI Computer QD6580W VLB EIDE/Floppy/IO Card VESA Local Bus

Topic actions

Post a reply

First post, by jarcher1701

Posted on 2022-10-29, 14:04

jarcher1701 Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 23
Joined: 2022-08-16, 07:34

Hoping someone can offer some sound advice on the VLC IO card I purchased. I recently built a 486 DX33 system. It initially had a Goldstar ISA IO card which has been working fine. I purchased this VLB card as an upgrade but on boot it just reports FDD and HDD controller failure.

I've tried cleaning the edge connector contacts and reseating the card in the VLB slot. All the caps look good. I do have another VLB card in the system - the video card. Can two VLB cards cause issues?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2y5E7YhHXHGRvQum9

I've provided a photo above, just in case anyone can help with any obvious jumper issues. Alternatively, perhaps it's broken.

Thanks in advance.

Reply 1 of 9, by Horun

Posted on 2022-10-29, 19:20

Horun Offline

Rank l33t++

Rank: l33t++
Posts: 6007
Joined: 2019-09-19, 02:19
Location: USA

What motherboard are you using ?

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 9, by weedeewee

Posted on 2022-10-29, 19:53

weedeewee Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 2955
Joined: 2021-01-31, 16:09
Location: Belgium

If the info is correct, the jumpers on your card are set so the behaviour you observe is to be expected.

IDE(AT) interface disabled
JP3/pins 1 & 2
closed

Floppy drive interface disabled
JP12/pins 1 & 2
closed

ps. https://stason.org/TULARC/pc/hard-disk-floppy … 80W-757-77.html

Right to repair is fundamental. You own it, you're allowed to fix it.
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Do not ask Why !
https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/Serial_port

Reply 3 of 9, by jarcher1701

Posted on 2022-10-30, 20:06

jarcher1701 Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 23
Joined: 2022-08-16, 07:34

Horun wrote on 2022-10-29, 19:20:

What motherboard are you using ?

Whatever this is! 😀

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/unknown-v3486ef

Reply 4 of 9, by jarcher1701

Posted on 2022-10-30, 20:08

jarcher1701 Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 23
Joined: 2022-08-16, 07:34

weedeewee wrote on 2022-10-29, 19:53:
If the info is correct, the jumpers on your card are set so the behaviour you observe is to be expected. […]
Show full quote

If the info is correct, the jumpers on your card are set so the behaviour you observe is to be expected.

IDE(AT) interface disabled
JP3/pins 1 & 2
closed

Floppy drive interface disabled
JP12/pins 1 & 2
closed

ps. https://stason.org/TULARC/pc/hard-disk-floppy … 80W-757-77.html

So it may not be broken then. That's good. Thanks for this.

Any ideas why someone (the previous owner I assume) would want to disable the two most crucial functions?

Reply 5 of 9, by weedeewee

Posted on 2022-10-30, 20:11

weedeewee Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 2955
Joined: 2021-01-31, 16:09
Location: Belgium

ideas why one would disable those functions... using fdd on scsi controller, not using ide due to scsi controller... just a guess.

Change those two jumpers and report back with the results. I hope that will solve your problem.

Right to repair is fundamental. You own it, you're allowed to fix it.
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Do not ask Why !
https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/Serial_port

Reply 6 of 9, by jarcher1701

Posted on 2022-10-30, 20:14

jarcher1701 Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 23
Joined: 2022-08-16, 07:34

weedeewee wrote on 2022-10-30, 20:11:

ideas why one would disable those functions... using fdd on scsi controller, not using ide due to scsi controller... just a guess.

Change those two jumpers and report back with the results. I hope that will solve your problem.

Okay, makes sense. Thank you. Yes, I will report back.

Reply 7 of 9, by CoffeeOne

Posted on 2022-10-30, 20:22

CoffeeOne Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1154
Joined: 2019-12-25, 16:12
Location: Austria

jarcher1701 wrote on 2022-10-30, 20:08:

[...]
Any ideas why someone (the previous owner I assume) would want to disable the two most crucial functions?

Most likely the previous owner used SCSI drives, so did not need IDE. Many SCSI controllers include a floppy interface, so she/he did not need floppy neither, so just serial and parallel.
But yeah it's a bit weird to use a VLB card for only serial and parallel.

Reply 8 of 9, by weedeewee

Posted on 2022-10-30, 20:24

weedeewee Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 2955
Joined: 2021-01-31, 16:09
Location: Belgium

Good luck !

oh yeah, I think the game port is also disabled. though you'll likely use the one on whatever sound card you'll be using
and fyi, disabling fdd&ide also frees up 3 irqs and at least one dma channel.

Right to repair is fundamental. You own it, you're allowed to fix it.
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Do not ask Why !
https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/Serial_port

Reply 9 of 9, by jarcher1701

Posted on 2022-11-03, 19:08

jarcher1701 Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 23
Joined: 2022-08-16, 07:34

weedeewee wrote on 2022-10-30, 20:24:

Good luck !

oh yeah, I think the game port is also disabled. though you'll likely use the one on whatever sound card you'll be using
and fyi, disabling fdd&ide also frees up 3 irqs and at least one dma channel.

Thanks for the info! 😀

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to General Old Hardware

Main menu

Common searches