Duffman wrote on 2022-12-18, 01:12:

Vridek wrote on 2022-12-17, 19:19:

More precise instructions on what to do in the registries? 😀

Do a search of your registry for a key called IDENoSerialize - if it exists and it's value is 1 set it to 0

I searched for IDENoSerialize yesterday but found nothing.

@Vridek

Alrighty, thanks.

I really hope my WeeCee arrives tomorrow, I've been waiting over a month now.

So my WeeCee arrived today!

My impressions so far~

MircoSD cards are not at all friendly for people with limited hand dexterity like me. It's really frustrating trying to insert the SD card. Full size SD cards, CF cards and 2.5 inch SSDs are alot easier to handle.

@rasteri If you ever do a WeeCee revision i think go with a CF card slot or ejectable 2.5 inch SSD bay (philscomputerlab uses these all the time in his videos). A larger enclosure would be needed but you'd also get faster transfer rates off of these too.

The VGA to HDMI adapter from Aliexpress I got seems to be unfriendly with my 55 inch TV I set it up on.
The BIOS works fine, but trying to get windows 98 going has been a pain in the butt.

I noticed on the POST screen that the BIOS POST screen is misreporting the size of the SD card - this might have something to do with the issue we've been having.

edit:
I'm not getting a display in windows again. Why does it only work in BIOS?

edit2:
I can get it working in safe mode only right now, I think I'm going to need an OSSC at this point, unless someone has an alternative?

edit3:
when it's working it seems the signal is noisy

Duffman wrote on 2022-12-19, 08:04:

So my WeeCee arrived today! […]
Show full quote

So my WeeCee arrived today!

My impressions so far~

MircoSD cards are not at all friendly for people with limited hand dexterity like me. It's really frustrating trying to insert the SD card. Full size SD cards, CF cards and 2.5 inch SSDs are alot easier to handle.

@rasteri If you ever do a WeeCee revision i think go with a CF card slot or ejectable 2.5 inch SSD bay (philscomputerlab uses these all the time in his videos). A larger enclosure would be needed but you'd also get faster transfer rates off of these too.

The VGA to HDMI adapter from Aliexpress I got seems to be unfriendly with my 55 inch TV I set it up on.
The BIOS works fine, but trying to get windows 98 going has been a pain in the butt.

I noticed on the POST screen that the BIOS POST screen is misreporting the size of the SD card - this might have something to do with the issue we've been having.

edit:
I'm not getting a display in windows again. Why does it only work in BIOS?

edit2:
I can get it working in safe mode only right now, I think I'm going to need an OSSC at this point, unless someone has an alternative?

edit3:
when it's working it seems the signal is noisy
20221219_172941_weecee_noise.jpg

Finally! Have been worried sick about it not arriving, but am so glad to see it finally get there.

I think that what you're seeing with the display issues is likely just related to the cheapness of the converter. I see the same things on my end with the cheap one I have, and it too prompted me to go the OSSC route. You can find them for a lot cheaper now on AliExpress, too, and they work for more than just VGA. Likewise, to reduce signal interference, you want to get a heavily shielded VGA cord (the one with two big ferrite rings at both ends), the shorter the better.

As far as CF cards, that's definitely another way to go with it. I am unsure of how much added complexity it would be, but it's definitely a point. I think the microSD cards are just so cheap anymore, it's sad that we have to deal with the IDE controller being the way it is. Maybe one way to fix the IDE controller is to simply have a full IDE to CF circuit on-board?

Alas, the IDE controller is the thing we're excited to be looking at finally. With the more eyes on this issue we can hopefully have more ideas on how to approach it. With the additional folk who purchased one they too will be able to get in there and possibly contribute to the weeCee. Then we really could take it places and look at expanding even more of it.

So I’ve built like 20 of these guys. Here’s the burn-in test for SN20. Everything functioning.

I have one board left to do, but it needs redone by PCBWay. Unfortunately had a bridged fault between JAB1 and JBB1, which run right aside one another. After working with PCBWay to further investigate, they’re making a new board for me and sending it to me. So I have to wait to finish the final board.

Also, I might have to take this last board as my own anyways - I think I may had fried SN1. Oops. Lol, it was my worst board after all.

NachtRave wrote on 2022-12-20, 04:33:

Maybe one way to fix the IDE controller is to simply have a full IDE to CF circuit on-board?

I think Paul_V confirmed that this worked in his earlier post here - Re: Tiny Vortex86-based DOS gaming PC - weeCee

Sure this won't help those of us with the WeeCee we have now, but we at least have a fix for a future WeeCee revision.

I have also been thinking about your issue with the SD card Duffman - I was thinking of maybe designing a quick 3d model of something tailor cut to the weeCee’s size that could help you with orienting the SD card and then having something much larger that you can press against that moves the card into place.

I could build a quick 3d model of something and 3D print it out and test it - how large of an area are you able to reliably move your hand towards? I was thinking if it’s something that is like, say 10cm, I was thinking you could have a tray you put the card into that then lowers it down into place. Maybe with a little side kicker to flip the card if it’s upside down. Then you could probably have a lot easier time with it.

Might be something super simple to 3D print, too. Then could just release it for free so others could use it, too.

@Nachtrave

I find getting a good grip onto microSD cards difficult, and it's quit difficult to get the spring load mechanism to trigger on the WeeCee.
I hope I haven't gotten the microSD card stuck in there, I can't seem to reliably trigger the spring load mechanism.

full size SD card adapters are a bit easier.
CF cards are no trouble at all.

Now I'm quite curious to see what this idea is you have in mind.

Duffman wrote on 2022-12-19, 08:04:

MircoSD cards are not at all friendly for people with limited hand dexterity like me. It's really frustrating trying to insert the SD card. Full size SD cards, CF cards and 2.5 inch SSDs are alot easier to handle.

Get an SD card extender (pic attached). It extends the micro SD card slot to a full size one that can be placed anywhere

rasteri wrote on 2022-12-20, 20:46:

Duffman wrote on 2022-12-19, 08:04:

MircoSD cards are not at all friendly for people with limited hand dexterity like me. It's really frustrating trying to insert the SD card. Full size SD cards, CF cards and 2.5 inch SSDs are alot easier to handle.

Get an SD card extender (pic attached). It extends the micro SD card slot to a full size one that can be placed anywhere

Oh hey there ya go! You might actually be using the SD card converter thingie the SD card came with. Never thought anyone would use it but throw it in there so I don't have to store a whole heap of them. Would an SD card sized card be any better?

A CF card like adapter here might be super fun to experiment with.

@rasteri

Oh, thanks for that! that'll help me alot!

@Nachtrave

I think using CF should resolve the IDE issue too.

I've purchased a StarTech.com VGA2HDPRO2 VGA scaler. Hopefully it arrives quickly and works for the WeeCee.

Duffman wrote on 2022-12-21, 01:30:

I've purchased a StarTech.com VGA2HDPRO2 VGA scaler. Hopefully it arrives quickly and works for the WeeCee.

This one didn't work for me with the WeeCee
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07CTHPVB5/r … 0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one did
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08KG117QM/r … 0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Either is unavailable atm, gets re-released ofc. It's a zoo out there and DOS isn't particularly on the customers' minds.

Another route is to actually get a small monitor with a VGA input and I can absolutely vouch for this one, which I've used since last year
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001557321 … .52a91802Zd5tKg
and gets regularly used in my office, both with my WeeCee connected with VGA and even for giggles, my modern work computer.
The only annoyance is that you need to occasionally autoset the image size and phase by a few clicks of a few buttons.

@Muon

This is the VGA to HDMI adapter I used - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/295245308020

It works in the BIOS, but after the BIOS is done I lose signal.

Some good news!

I found a Simplecom CM201 VGA to HDMI converter I had in storage and this one works!
No scaling though, so not perfect, but certainly better than nothing at all.

I have to say, even though the IDE controller is stuck in 16-bit mode it hasn't been feeling all that sluggish really.
where do you normally notice the slowdowns?

maybe it's my BIOS settings? you guys try these settings out and see if you notice a difference?

Duffman wrote on 2022-12-21, 06:38:

I have to say, even though the IDE controller is stuck in 16-bit mode it hasn't been feeling all that sluggish really. where do […]
Show full quote

I have to say, even though the IDE controller is stuck in 16-bit mode it hasn't been feeling all that sluggish really.
where do you normally notice the slowdowns?

maybe it's my BIOS settings? you guys try these settings out and see if you notice a difference?

20221221_142836_weecee_ide.jpg

Always when copying files or unzipping them from 7z or zip format.

Duffman wrote on 2022-12-21, 06:38:

I have to say, even though the IDE controller is stuck in 16-bit mode it hasn't been feeling all that sluggish really. where do […]
Show full quote

I have to say, even though the IDE controller is stuck in 16-bit mode it hasn't been feeling all that sluggish really.
where do you normally notice the slowdowns?

maybe it's my BIOS settings? you guys try these settings out and see if you notice a difference?

20221221_142836_weecee_ide.jpg

I will tell you this tho - if you don't keep Primary IDE pin select in SD Card mode it will hang at boot. I also remember there being some issues turning it to Native mode. I put those as notes at the bottom of the readme, actually.

I noticed with Parallel IDE selected it stayed at the Windows 98 logo but never seemed to move on from there - the alternating colour gradient at the bottom kept alternating though but I still think it was stuck anyway.

Native mode seems to work fine for me, what issues should I be encountering?

uummm.... Direct3D on the WeeCee... maybe?

FPS is a little low - not sure if this is fully working or not.

driver: https://ufile.io/57fx8bp2

Duffman wrote on 2022-12-21, 06:38:

where do you normally notice the slowdowns?

20221221_142836_weecee_ide.jpg

No slowdowns at all under DOS, even when I transfer a mass amount of files through mtcp's ftpsrv.

However, under win98se and transfering large files like CD ISOs or higher is when I notice the alternance between copying slowly for a few seconds, followed by a total pause of 15ish seconds, then another sluggish copy interval of a few seconds, and on and on.
Transfering small files doesn't seem to have that effect or it's not noticeable. It's so terrible for large files that I just do the copying under modern hardware.