[NTLK] Making .pccard file

[Matthias Melcher]

Since there were multiple attempts in recent weeks to read a PCMCIA card, here are a few additional thought on how I did that back then.


See also: https://github.com/pguyot/Einstein/wiki/MemPCMCIA , https://www.newtontalk.net/archive/newtontalk/2021-February/000130.html



Ok, so I did dive into this a bit more. The bottom PCMCIA port is mapped to 0x9000'00000, the top port is at 0xa000'0000 (I don't know where the EMate Port is. If anyone knows, please mail me). In Hammer, make sure that NewtonOS runs, then insert the card, close the card dialog. Open "Extras" and select "All Icons". 

Once the icons are listed (including the icons on the PCMCIA card), press "Stop" in Hammer. This should keep access to the cards fully operational at 32 bit. NewtonOS is now frozen. That's what we want. If NewtonOS continues to run, it will quickly cut power to teh PCMCIA card, and we will read just random nonsense.

Assuming you have your card in the top port, open a memory window (Apple-M) in Hammer at the address `A0000000` (seven zeros). The window should show the memory locations and their value. The top line should read 

`A0000000 FF03FF01 ****` (I have seen other patterns as well, 03030101 for example, but the rightmost two digits must always be '01'. The '03' at position 3 and 4 is common, but it can be another low number)

This is the start of the CIS, a structure describing you card. With pure ROM cards, the CIS can also be at `A8000000` (A, eight, and six zeros).

In theory, you can decode the CIS manually, see: https://0x04.net/~mwk/doc/pcmcia/volumes/04-me-70.pdf . Usually, the PC does it for you, so you don;t need to go insane.


Kepp the Newton frozen in "Stop" mode. You can probably dump the contents of the card now as described in the mail. 


I am still busy with the Dongle stuff, but I hope I can get to this at some point not to long from now.

 - Matthias