A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
I recently acquired an Archimedes A440, which was the computer I had growing up. It still has a working HDD but I have no way of getting files to and from a modern PC and I'm not sure how long it will hold out so I'm looking for an alternative. I read somewhere that IDE based Compact Flash interfaces wont work with RISC OS 2, is there any sensible alternative since I'd rather not have to solder anything which I gather is necessary to upgrade the OS.
Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
Is that true? I would imagine that a 40-pin CF->IDE adapter with a small CF card (say 1GB) should be indistinguishable from IDE HDD.
They are very cheap, under £10 so why not have a go?
Which IDE controller do you have?
They are very cheap, under £10 so why not have a go?
Which IDE controller do you have?
Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
Remember that the on-board controller interface on the A440 is ST-506, not IDE. I recall that one of the IDE podules *may* have an option to be re-flashed back to RISC OS 2 compatible firmware.
And that RISC OS systems do seem quite picky about which CF cards do work.
Miserable old curmudgeon who still likes a bit of an ARM wrestle now and then. Pi 4, 3, ARMX6, SA Risc PC, A540, A440
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Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
That is true if you have the IDE interface form Ian Stocks one can flash it back to a version which works with RO2. Or alternatively choose to upgrade to RO3 for the A440 one needs a board to do that.
Another option is SCSI and than a SCSI2SD solution. I have bad experience with CF card solutions.
Another option is SCSI and than a SCSI2SD solution. I have bad experience with CF card solutions.
Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
I didn't know that
Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
ZIDEFS podules don't work on RISC OS 2 - viewtopic.php?p=233356#p233356 other IDE podules might.
But as the ZIDEFS podules are based on an original ICS design, ther is a ROM available that will work with RISC OS 2 - viewtopic.php?p=206429#p206429. There is no partition support in the ICS sw.
Rom carrier boards only require 3 wires soldering, where are you based, you may find someone local who could do it for you.
RISC OS 3 is a useful upgrade, not very much still runs on RISC OS 2.
But as the ZIDEFS podules are based on an original ICS design, ther is a ROM available that will work with RISC OS 2 - viewtopic.php?p=206429#p206429. There is no partition support in the ICS sw.
Rom carrier boards only require 3 wires soldering, where are you based, you may find someone local who could do it for you.
RISC OS 3 is a useful upgrade, not very much still runs on RISC OS 2.
Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
I have an ICS mini podule that doesn't do things the RO3 way (free and verify pop up a command windows, for example, rather than nice GUIs) but it does support partitions. I think it was designed for A3000s with RO2 which would explain why my parents picked it up cheap for our A3010. I might have the partitioning software for it somewhere, and I can dump the eprom if it's any use to someone.
Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
It would be interesting to see pictures, software and rom dumps, but my ZIDEFS 8-bit hardware design is not based on any existing desgn (afaik), so any existing software is unliekly to work on it.baz4096 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 7:45 am I have an ICS mini podule that doesn't do things the RO3 way (free and verify pop up a command windows, for example, rather than nice GUIs) but it does support partitions. I think it was designed for A3000s with RO2 which would explain why my parents picked it up cheap for our A3010. I might have the partitioning software for it somewhere, and I can dump the eprom if it's any use to someone.
The hardware the 16-bit ZIDEFS podule is based on is one of the first (if not the first) IDE podule I haven't seen rom sw that supports partitions, but it may still be out there to be found.
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Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
Hi,
I had a similar problem with my A310. It also came with RO2 and without a hd.
As mentioned here, I upgraded to RO3 and use a ZIDEFS podule as HD, which works great.
viewtopic.php?p=424595#p424595
I can also use it to interchange software between my RiscPCs and the A310, since I can easily put it into the RiscPCs.
Also a SCSI podule + BlueSCSI would be a good way to go. But even that works after I upgraded to RO3.
I had a similar problem with my A310. It also came with RO2 and without a hd.
As mentioned here, I upgraded to RO3 and use a ZIDEFS podule as HD, which works great.
viewtopic.php?p=424595#p424595
I can also use it to interchange software between my RiscPCs and the A310, since I can easily put it into the RiscPCs.
Also a SCSI podule + BlueSCSI would be a good way to go. But even that works after I upgraded to RO3.
Re: A440 flash based disk options with RISC OS 2
The ICS ideA Podules, both 8bit and 16bit look to have supported partitions. My Baildon Electronics A30x0 one definitely did, and according to this manual, their 16bit A3xx/4xx/5xx ones did too:IanS wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 5:35 pm It would be interesting to see pictures, software and rom dumps, but my ZIDEFS 8-bit hardware design is not based on any existing desgn (afaik), so any existing software is unliekly to work on it.
The hardware the 16-bit ZIDEFS podule is based on is one of the first (if not the first) IDE podule I haven't seen rom sw that supports partitions, but it may still be out there to be found.
Page 20 and 21: https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.or ... deAEd2.pdfIf you have version 3.00 or later of IDEFS you can split each hard disc into several
logical partitions. On the desktop icon bar there will be one icon for each partition you
create, up to a maximum of four. This is useful because the protection system applies
independently to each partition.
I've not had time to do an eprom dump, but will do after the Econet LAN Party. I don't think my IDEFS version is anything unusual, V3B rings a bell.