[NTLK] PCMCIA for the brave...

[Pawel Piotrowski]

Hi Matthias,

Finally, you did it! xD I will try to dump my ROM cards this week.


Cheers,
Pawel

> On 8 Feb 2021, at 18:30, Ionos: robowerk.de <m.melcher at robowerk.de> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi fellow fans,
> 
> The MessagePad 2x00 has two PCMCIA ports that can hold all kinds of extensions. Most of us probably used a modem card, or an ethernet or wifi card, and many of us used Flash memory and even a few ROM cards.
> 
> Well, I am on the brink of porting your Flash and ROM memory cards to Einstein. The tests have been working for a while, and now I am looking into creating a nice user interface, so you guys can just add your PCMCIA image files easily.
> 
> But before I make it easy, I still need a few test images to make sure that this is working. I will also have to implement a way to download a PCMCIA image from an existing card through a physical MP2x000.
> 
> So, for those of you who have the time and curiosity, if you could download an image from an existing card for my, and send it to me, that would be helpful.
> 
> Here is what you need:
> 
> A Mac with Classic MacOS running, or BasiliskII, set up to connect to your MP via a serial cable.
> 
> You also need to download "Hammer" and its companion package "Debug Connection". And you will need the matching ROM image for your Newton OS, usually "Senior CirrusNoDebug image" and "Senior CirrusNoDebug high".
> 
> All this is available on Unna. The Basilisk image already has Hammer, but you still need to get the ROM images.
> 
> Ok, so first, we install the "Debug Connection" on the MP. It's just a normal package, so it should not be a problem. Also, you can test-launch Hammer on your Mac. Make it connect to the Modem Port, and tell it where to find the ROM image (you can also later simply double-click the ROM image to launch Hammer).
> 
> Make sure that you PCMCIA card is inserted!
> 
> Next, launch "Debug Connection" and click "Connect". You MP and your Mac should now be connected through Hammer (the Hammer status line changes from "Connect" to "Stop".
> 
> OK, no let's see if we find the PCMCIA card description. Press Apple-M (or use the menu [Memory > Memory Apple-M]. In the following dialog box, in "Display Memory From:", enter <90000000> (nine and seven zeros, don't enter the angle brackets).
> 
> Another window should pop up that shows a table of numbers. The first line should be "90000000 03030101 ...." or similar. If it is "90000000 ....", then put your PCMCIA card into the other slot and try again (the status bar may show "Run" and your MP will freeze. Just click "Run", and the MP will wake up again).
> 
> If we are this far, you have already earned the bronze medal of Newton Engineering. Let's go for silver.
> 
> Go to the menu [File > Save Memory...]. In the dialog enter:
>  Write Memory:  <CIS> (and find a good location for that file)
>  Start Address: <90000000>
>  Limit:         <90001000>
> 
> After a few seconds, a file named "CIS" should pop up in your Finder. This is the "card information structure" that tells NewtonOS everything it needs to know about the card.
> 
> Now let's go for gold! Download the content of the card itself!
> 
> Go to the menu [File > Save Memory...]. In the dialog enter:
>  Write Memory:  <Data>
>  Start Address: <98000000>
>  Limit:         <98200000> for a 2MB card,
>                 <98400000> for a 4MB card,
>                 <98800000> for an 8MB card, and
>                 <99000000> for a 16MB card
> 
> Copying the data from the MP to your Mac will take quite a while, and there is nothing that indicates your progress. Sorry.
> 
> If you manage to download both files, and then send them to me, I will make sure that I can make them run with Einstein. This system should work with any Flash Memory or ROM card, including diagnostic cards, but not with interface cards (Modem, Wifi, etc.).
> 
> I wonder if it makes sense to make this work with Paul's SD Card driver as well. However, dumping SD Cards is probably very simple, because they can be read in any modern PC.
> 
> Anyway, got to go. Have fun.
> 
> - Matthias
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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