Non booting A4000 when PicassoIV installed!!!

[Jose]

Hi. I just tested without the 2 8 pin chips and also with the WarpEngine. The computer does boot with those chips removed. Strange enouph, if I plugged in my 4091 at the same time it wouldn't boot.
As for with the WarpEngine, pretty much same result, except the with the 3640 it seemed to try to boot 2 times, with the WE the screen changes tone of grey in around 2 or 3 seconds interval. I guess the WarpEngine is smarter and tries to boot constantly while the 3640 gives up at 2nd time.

@MastaTabs
Any chance you can check up the card for me ?

[Tahoe]

You DO have a rev 11 buster; don't you?

[alexh]

He has to have a rev11 if he has a 4091

[Tahoe]

Eh, the machine wouldn't boot with the A4091 installed...

EDIT: I might have a PIV flash chip laying around (the autoconfig one), but it might be a real dig to find it. Let me now if you need it. It's the small IC next to the PCI port, above the larger MACH one.

[Mordo]

If you have more than one of the PIV flash chips let me know. I've got a PIV in an A4000T that only works in Z2 mode. I was told that the onboard SCSI is not compatible with the PIV unles the PIV is revision 1.4. Incidently, I believe the 4091 causes issues with running the PIV in Z3 mode. Setting it toe Z2 mode may make this combo work.

[MastaTabs]

You need an update of the PCI bridge if its not already rev. 4.

I can provide it if you like.

Actually the problem with the A4091 is related to a Buster bug. It is highly recommended to use a Buster rev. 11 with such a setup, means with DMA ZorroIII PICs.

regs
MastaTabs

[zipper]

Useful for A4000 owners:


A4000 Hardware Guide

It's on Aminet,too.

[Jose]

Update, this is getting weird...

Just tried a bunch of stuff...
The A4000 boots if I set the PIV to Z2 mode!!

[EDIT] But the card is NOT recognized


BUT:
1- The flicker fixer diplays nothing!!. The PIV boot menu never appears (yes, I have it connected to a VGA multiscan (>30hz) monitor too).
2- After installing Picasso96 software it says it can't create board context and after that it can't open PicassoIV.resource.
3- I tried to run P4info and P4FlashUpdate but both say PicassoIV card couln't be detected!!! :-o  :-o

[Jose]

Hi. I think I prefer tp not try returning the card (probaly very hard), specially considering I got it for a very good price with the Paloma and Concierto modules (I'd probaly get the money back if I sell the modules seperately on eBay).

So does anyone know of a good place that could repair it ?

Should I take Tahoe's offer on the flash chip and ask him to try to find it ? Or given the symptoms it's unlikely that's the problem ?

[Jose]

Not that it makes much difference but I just discovered that the card is actually never recognized. The ZIII device that appears is boards list is actually related to the WarpEngine (maybe the Scsi controler). So the card is never recognized, it hangs in ZIII mode but not in ZII mode.

[X-ray]

@ Jose

A surefire way to test the card is give it to me. I have a PIV with Concierto and Paloma. If you send me your card I can test it in my A4KT if you like. I'll just take mine out and put yours in and see what happens.

[Jose]

@X-ray
When the ports module for my A4000T arrives I'll also be able to test it there 8-) I have a Cybervision64 and A4001 that work well on the A4000D though...