ibm x40 + 3 cf and blinking cursor...

[amiga12]

Hi

I tried install win xp at ibm thinkpad x40 with chinese cf to hdd adapter. i try cf:

1) simpletech 512 Mb -> formated by hpusbfw.exe, x40 boot and only problem is that cf have too small size to install windows

2) sandisk extreme iii 16gb -> i tried format by hpusbfw.exe, rmprepusb -> after booting laptop hangs up and i saw blinking cursor

3) kingston 2gb -> i tried format by hpusbfw.exe, rmprepusb -> after booting laptop hangs up and i saw blinking cursor

all cf are seen by laptop in bios info as hdd

what i can do that 2 and 3 cf works normally... ???

[maanu]

not sure what is your problem , or what you are doing .

BUT , in case you want to make your usb bootable , and have access to windows xp or 2k3 based machine , then try the following automated script from that system ,

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=11463

[jaclaz]

The flashing cursor problem is usually related/connected with unbalanced (or alltogether "wrong") CHS/LBA settings.

The HP USB utility is known to produce this effect.

The RMPREPUSB has more or less a zillion ways you can format something with, and it can also depend on the filesystem you used.

Since the problem is happening when you switch from a 512 Mb to a bigger CF card, being roughly 512 Mb the first CHS limit, it is also well possible that the BIOS doesn't handle properly bigger sizes or LBA.

The usual advice applies:

1. FORGET about the HP utility
   
2. Post EXACT details on how you used RMPREPUSB, including ALL options chosen and filesystem type
   

jaclaz

[amiga12]

i think that you are right, because 2GB CF works at desktop pc with cf-2-ide adapter. it only don't work at ibm thinkpad x40.

i try all combination of following RMPREPUSB options:

< 3 BOOT OPTIONS: >

a) WinPE v2/WinPE v3/VistaWin 7 bootable [bOOTMGR](CC4)

B) MS-DOS bootable [iO.SYS](CC3and CC4DOSUFD)

c) XP/WinPE v1/BartPE bootable [NTDLR]

< 4 FILESYSTEMS and OVERRIDES >

a) FAT16

B) FAT32

c) NTFS

d) BooT ad HDD (C: 2PTFS)

e) Force use of LBA calls

f) use 64hd/32sec if possible

and i saw only blinking cursor ;(

info about CF from rmprepusb

Edited June 12, 2010 by amiga12

[amiga12]

root@rckt:/home/hn# hdparm /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:

IO_support = 0 (default)

readonly = 0 (off)

readahead = 256 (on)

geometry = 245/255/63, sectors = 3940272, start = 0

root@pudlo:/home/shn# hdparm -I /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:

ATA device, with non-removable media

Model Number: CF CARD 2GB

Serial Number: 0

Firmware Revision: Ver2.19K

Standards:

Likely used: 4

Configuration:

Logical max current

cylinders 3909 3909

heads 16 16

sectors/track 63 63

--

bytes/track: 32256 bytes/sector: 512

CHS current addressable sectors: 3940272

LBA user addressable sectors: 3940272

device size with M = 1024*1024: 1923 MBytes

device size with M = 1000*1000: 2017 MBytes (2 GB)

Capabilities:

LBA, IORDY(may be)(cannot be disabled)

Buffer size: 1.0kB bytes avail on r/w long: 4

Standby timer values: spec'd by Vendor

R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 1 Current = 0

DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 *udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5

Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns

PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4

Cycle time: no flow control=120ns IORDY flow control=120ns

root@rckt:/home/hn# hdparm -i /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:

Model=CF CARD 2GB , FwRev=Ver2.19K, SerialNo=0

Config={ HardSect NotMFM Fixed DTR>10Mbs }

RawCHS=3909/16/63, TrkSize=32256, SectSize=512, ECCbytes=4

BuffType=DualPort, BuffSize=1kB, MaxMultSect=1, MultSect=?0?

CurCHS=3909/16/63, CurSects=3940272, LBA=yes, LBAsects=3940272

IORDY=no, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}

PIO modes: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4

DMA modes: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2

UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 *udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5

AdvancedPM=no

* signifies the current active mode

root@rckt:/home/hn# hdparm -v /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:

IO_support = 0 (default)

readonly = 0 (off)

readahead = 256 (on)

geometry = 245/255/63, sectors = 3940272, start = 0

[cdob]

geometry = 245/255/63

That's 255 heads.

Booting fails at a 240 heads BIOS: blinking cursor...

Do not use a third party tool. Zero first sector.

Insert CF card internally.

Boot windows install media, partition and format the CF card.

You may need a fixed disk.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Compact_Flash_boot_drive

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/51

http://communities.sandisk.com/sandisk/board/message?board.id=extreme3&thread.id=796

[amiga12]

Do not use a third party tool. Zero first sector.

How i can do this?

Boot windows install media, partition and format the CF card.

at thinkpad x40 it is impossible it doesent have cdrom. i try install from usb to cf but still i saw only blinking cursor. i want put install image of nlited winxp at 2gb cf and start from it and install windows but i saw only blinking cursor after reboot...

Insert CF card internally.

i use cf2ata 1.8" adapter

You may need a fixed disk.

I think that is fixed disk.

root@rckt:/home/hn# hdparm -i /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:

Model=CF CARD 2GB , FwRev=Ver2.19K, SerialNo=0

Config={ HardSect NotMFM Fixed DTR>10Mbs }

i think correct?

[amiga12]

I attached Boot Sector:

Mayby this help...

I try do things like in thread: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=23408&st=20

I change geometry from 255 to 240, like must be in thinkpads, now offset 0x1A is F0, was FF

But byte at offset 0x1BE isnt 80 or 00. Why?

BootSector-CF-formated-PC.zip

BootSector-CF-formated-PC-changed-volume-geometry-to-240-from-255.zip

Edited June 13, 2010 by amiga12

[jaclaz]

Before anything else, try changing the partition type from 06 (CHS)to 0E (LBA).

If you are lucky it will work:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=21049

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=21049&st=18

I have no way right now to check the files you posted.

jaclaz

[cdob]

it doesent have cdrom.

Can you use a USB floppy drive?. There is PLop boot mangager to continue USB flash.

i try install from usb to cf but still i saw only blinking cursor

PeToUSB did enable USB flash boot (2GB) at a T40. http://www.gocoding.com/page.php?al=petousb

I think that is fixed disk.

I've no idea.

A work arround: grub4dos or syslinux at MBR / partition boot code

[amiga12]

Before anything else, try changing the partition type from 06 (CHS)to 0E (LBA).

0E (LBA)

[amiga12]

Can you use a USB floppy drive?. There is PLop boot mangager to continue USB flash.

A work arround: grub4dos or syslinux at MBR / partition boot code

I havent usb floppy any usb cd rom ;(

A work arround: grub4dos or syslinux at MBR / partition boot code

i tried and the same... works at pc, doesnt work at tp x40

[cdob]

i tried and the same... works at pc, doesnt work at tp x40

Just to clarify:

you used the syslinux MBR boot code from mbr.bin and intalled syslinux to the partition?

Which bootable device do you have at all?

Do you have the old 1.8" disk still? Which OS, size and partitions goes to old 1.8" disk?

Can you dd first part of 1.8" disk to CF card?

[amiga12]

Just to clarify:

you used the syslinux MBR boot code from mbr.bin and intalled syslinux to the partition?

i try slax. create partition by cfdisk, format to ext3. change geometry to 240 heads by sfdisk, copy data from slack tar archive, execute liloinst.sh from slax.

work at pc, doesent work at x40.

sfdisk -f -H240 /dev/sdc

fdisk -l /dev/sdc

Disk /dev/sdc: 2017 MB, 2017419264 bytes
240 heads, 63 sectors/track, 260 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 15120 * 512 = 7741440 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00062277

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1               1         245     1852199+  83  Linux

Which bootable device do you have at all?

I have only pendrive: 2GB, 8GB and CF: 512, 2GB, 16GB, adapter cf2ata. I

Do you have the old 1.8" disk still? Which OS, size and partitions goes to old 1.8" disk?

Can you dd first part of 1.8" disk to CF card?

No i didnt have hdd to x40. I bought it at auction for 100 euro.I dont know info about

size and partitions, but laptop had at bottom windows xp professional sticker.

At other auction i bought x4 doct with bay for slim cd/dvd, i think that it will be at my home for 1-2 week.

I try use lenowo/ibm disk to repair mbr/partition, i wrote at bootable pendrive but when i connect CF by adapter cf2ata and connect pendrive,

power on x40 and i choose pendrive to boot and i saw blinking cursor again...

[jaclaz]

We are not one single inch nearer to have that stoopid CF card booting.

BTW BOTH the bootsectors you posted are DOS bootsectors (invoking IO.SYS).

WHAT OS are you trying to boot?

However I am now back home, so:

Please do the following (and EXACTLY the following):

1) Use RMPREPUSB (and NOTHING else), choose the right target

2) Leave #1 and #2 to MAX and RMPARTUSB

3) in 3 BOOT OPTIONS choose the OS you wish to boot

4) in 4 choose to partition FAT 16 AND "Boot as HD (C: 2 PTNs)

5) DO NOT tick

6) Prepare Drive

7) Install grub4dos

Try booting from the thingie.

If you have still a flashing cursor use HDhacker:

http://dimio.altervista.org/eng/

to get a copy of BOTH the MBR and bootsector of first partition (respectively first sector of \\.\PhysicalDrive and first sector of \\.\LogicalDrive) zip them together and post them, I'll try and see if I can understand what the problem is.

jaclaz

Edited June 16, 2010 by jaclaz