I run the dosnetsynth.com site. The hardware I had running it died. So I was trying to get this box running.

You could always use the onboard IDE controller and if you need a larger HDD than is supported, use a drive overlay to make it work.

...Or XTIDE Universal BIOS on a network card (uses 1K conventional of the 640K, which is even better). What is the FCC ID, and is it the PB450M motherboard? Got one myself and it runs like a dream (decked it out with 36MB RAM (4MB on-board, 32MB SIMM-72), DX4-100 OverDrive 5V, a 32x CD-ROM from a broken PowerMac G3/400, dual Epson SD-800 floppy drive, ESS AudioDrive ES1688F + DB50XG, Music Quest MPU-401 clone card, EtherLink III network card w/ XUB r596 patch for Win95C 32K EEPROM, Tandy 3-Voice compatible sound card, Conner tape drive (disconnected), and 2GB CF Card).

bjwil1991 wrote:

...Or XTIDE Universal BIOS on a network card (uses 1K conventional of the 640K, which is even better)...

😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 how in the world would you do that???

Do you mean you can get any NIC, somehow modify it to run this "XTIDE Uni Bios" thing (what is it? Where can I get it?) and plug it in an ISA slot?
How would I do that? Do you need an utility?

Thanks!

I think it's a 430 or 440 motherboard. The model of the computer is a BL120CD
Not sure where the FCC ID is.

Maybe it has a hardware issue. I am trying multiple CF cards, none of them will boot, off the EIDE controller card or off the onboard controller. CHS settings are detecting properly, same as what comes on the other PC. They will boot in the HP 486 fine.

Have you tried UDMA featured Sandisk CFs up to 2gb? Sandisk Extreme III or IV cards for example. They seem more compatible than others.

aries-mu wrote:

8-o 8-o 8-o 8-o 8-o 8-o 8-o how in the world would you do that??? […]
Show full quote

bjwil1991 wrote:

...Or XTIDE Universal BIOS on a network card (uses 1K conventional of the 640K, which is even better)...

😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 how in the world would you do that???

Do you mean you can get any NIC, somehow modify it to run this "XTIDE Uni Bios" thing (what is it? Where can I get it?) and plug it in an ISA slot?
How would I do that? Do you need an utility?

Basically, you get a 16-bit LAN card with a Boot ROM socket.
You then flash an EEPROM chip with the XT-IDE BIOS, configure it, and it will then "take over" the function of your main BIOS in terms of handling your larger capacity hard drives.
Here's a link to how to get it working: Re: Large IDE drives on 286/AT/ISA class machines

^Jesolo explained it very well.. In addition there are several videos covering this matter on the web.
I've made a few, too: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM_rzw6WcXib … rch?query=xtide

Edit: You can use any media your NIC supports,. not just 27xxx EPROM chips.

So, I got it.
The bios is just trashy.
The floppy controller is outright toast.
Turning off the controllers in bios and using a controller card doesn’t work.

I installed a software bios helper, EzDrive, which takes over 13h functions.
This works. Boots 6.22, Freedos, and 98 now, on a 4gb cf and 512mb.

Can you post pics of the Packard Bell?

Sure, will when I am home.

jesolo wrote:

Basically, you get a 16-bit LAN card with a Boot ROM socket.
You then flash an EEPROM chip with the XT-IDE BIOS, configure it, and it will then "take over" the function of your main BIOS in terms of handling your larger capacity hard drives.
Here's a link to how to get it working: Re: Large IDE drives on 286/AT/ISA class machines

Wow! This uncovers a whole world to me! Thanks!!!

Here's what I'll need to research (just saying, you don't need to answer):
• What's a card "with a boot ROM socket"?
• How do I get an EEPROM chip? • What type?
• How do I "flash" it? • Do I need equipment?
• Where do I get the XT-IDE BIOS? • And how do I configure it in the EEPROM chip in the LAN card? (right?)

Jo22 wrote:

^Jesolo explained it very well.. In addition there are several videos covering this matter on the web.
I've made a few, too: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM_rzw6WcXib … rch?query=xtide
Edit: You can use any media your NIC supports,. not just 27xxx EPROM chips.

Wow, thanks Jo!
The youtube link doesn't work... it seems kind of truncated...
What do you mean "media that my NIC supports"??? Does a NIC "support" any "media" in the first place???

aries-mu wrote:

The youtube link doesn't work... it seems kind of truncated...

Try again.

Stiletto wrote:

aries-mu wrote:

The youtube link doesn't work... it seems kind of truncated...

Try again.

Worked! Thanks!! 😀

Little bit of corrosion where the bios battery was. Wondering if this is why the floppy conttoller is no good?

I can’t disable the floppy controller, it won’t boot off the hd if I do that.

Dosnetsynth is back, and on a 486 again haha. Thanks all.

Glad you got it sorted. Were you still unable to boot from a floppy?

bjwil1991 wrote:

Glad you got it sorted. Were you still unable to boot from a floppy?

Correct. If I try to boot from a floppy it hangs. If I put in a controller card for it and disable the onboard it hangs. If I disable the controller and try to boot from a hd it hangs.

I have to leave the floppy controller enabled even though it is non-functional.

If I boot and go to a: it hangs
If I put no disk in and force it to abort\retry\fail on accessing the a drive the screen flickers off and the power supply starts buzzing.

There is some sort of hardware or severe bios issue, but it runs.

I doubt you'll miss the floppy these days with all the alternatives like CD, Network, even the CF card can easily be put in another machine.
With the roland in the pic looks like you have a nice 486 in the making, look forward to see how it ends up 😀