NOVA and VORTEX ATonce and HD
Guillaume Tello
I have added the HD controler and a Vortex ATonce into my Mega STE.
Since that, I can't get my NOVA graphic card to work!
I have tested the ET4000 board into a PC, it works fine.
Is there something I have "moved", a jumper or else that can influence the
VME?
I have made the tests again without the Vortex, nothing changes, the NOVA
still is down.
Has someone experienced a conflict between those pieces of hardware?
Help!
Guillaume.
--
----------------------------------------
Retrocomputing/Ordinosaures:
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gtello/
PHANTOMM_2
I have a Vortex ATonce in my Mega STE, the 386SX version with the optional
Fast Ram. I'd like to find/get the 80387SX Co-Processor for it. Anyone have
one?
I also have a NOVA Graphics Card (MSTE/TT) version, but have not
installed it into my MegaSTE yet.
Thought that the NOVA was a different board from the ET4000?
I have a ET4000 board. But my NOVA is in a box case and without looking
I think it is a MACH board. Maybe both are one in the same?
Will take a look and let ya know what board is attached to my Nova VME MSTE
adapter.
My MSTE is a factory 4meg, TOS 2.06, with internal hard drive. Also has the
High Density
internal disk drive.
I've had no problems with it and the ATonce 386SX.
I was going to install the NOVA, but want to put a Ethernet VME board in it.
I'll try to order one, unless someone reading this has a working one for
sale/trade.
My MegaST went bad which has put me off from upgrading the MSTE.
Currently, I am going through all my Ataris, and upgrading, modifying and
cleaning
them.
As for your problem, Check all cables from your Graphics board to the VME
for
damage or loose connection.
I don't recall if the Nova has a driver that must be installed without
checking my
manual. If so, I'd re-install it and boot up with only the necessary AUTO
and ACC
programs in case you have a software conflict.
Have you used NVDI in the past with your ET4000?
Also, what version is the ATonce, is it a 286 or 386?
Do you have the manual and software for it, if so what version is
the software you are using?
I'll check my manual and software version and get back to you.
You said, something about installing a HD Controller?
Did your MSTE not have one already, or do you mean something like
a Link 97?
"Guillaume Tello" <houte...@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
news:4824ab25$0$925$ba4a...@news.orange.fr...
Guillaume Tello
"PHANTOMM_2" <phan...@bellsouth.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
jScVj.2109$hv2....@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
> Hi Guillaume,
>
> I have a Vortex ATonce in my Mega STE, the 386SX version with the optional
> Fast Ram. I'd like to find/get the 80387SX Co-Processor for it. Anyone
> have one?
I have it, but on my Vortex...
> Thought that the NOVA was a different board from the ET4000?
It's a ET4000 ISA board.
> As for your problem, Check all cables from your Graphics board to the VME
> for
> damage or loose connection.
I have changes the two ribbons, not that..
I reinstalled the software, not that either..
> Have you used NVDI in the past with your ET4000?
Non, never.
> Also, what version is the ATonce, is it a 286 or 386?
The 386, I have the software, but not the manual.
I you have it, it could help!
> You said, something about installing a HD Controller?
> Did your MSTE not have one already, or do you mean something like
> a Link 97?
There was no internal HD support (a Mega STE Open).
Since yesterday, more problems came: now it can't see any of my ACSI
units! Booh... Is it dying?
Guillaume.
PHANTOMM_2
>
> "PHANTOMM_2" <phan...@bellsouth.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
> jScVj.2109$hv2....@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
>> Hi Guillaume,
>>
>> I have a Vortex ATonce in my Mega STE, the 386SX version with the
>> optional
>> Fast Ram. I'd like to find/get the 80387SX Co-Processor for it. Anyone
>> have one?
>
> I have it, but on my Vortex...
>
>> Thought that the NOVA was a different board from the ET4000?
>
> It's a ET4000 ISA board.
Actually there are different boards, According to my Nova Manual.
Each has different amounts of memory and color/resolution capability.
>
> The 386, I have the software, but not the manual.
> I you have it, it could help!
Yes, I have the manual for the ATonce and the Nova
with the original software disks.
The manual would help with using the ATonce, but from what
you have written, it sounds like there is something else wrong.
When I get the time, I'll look thru my manual and see if I find
anything that can help.
>
>> You said, something about installing a HD Controller?
>> Did your MSTE not have one already, or do you mean something like
>> a Link 97?
>
> There was no internal HD support (a Mega STE Open).
I still do not fully understand what you mean here.
The Mega STE did not have the internal hard drive option and you
added a internal hard drive controller?
Or did you add a external hard drive controller, such as a ICD Link,
Link 97, or etc?
Since your problems started when you added the HD Controller and Vortex,
I would think that it has something to do with the HD Controller.
If I knew which one you added, it would help me understand your problem.
The MSTE internal hard drive controller can be alittle unstable if not
connected
firm and with good ribbon cables.
Also, the MSTE does have switches that effect the internal hard drive
controller
board if I remember correctly, there is a DIP that has to be in the right
selection
to tell the Computer that the internal controller is connected.
I don't know if your MSTE came from the factory without the internal hard
drive
connector or not? Some were made without it.
If you's did not come with one, and you added one, then you may need to set
a
selector switch.
I have the info here somewhere, will look it up asap.
But need to know what type of HD controller you connected and are trying to
use?
A internal unit connected to the motherboard?
Or one connected to the Hard Drive Port on the back of the Mega STE?
>
> Since yesterday, more problems came: now it can't see any of my ACSI
> units! Booh... Is it dying?
Not good, I'll look up what info I have and see if I can find something to
help.
.
Guillaume Tello
> The manual would help with using the ATonce, but from what
> you have written, it sounds like there is something else wrong.
> When I get the time, I'll look thru my manual and see if I find
> anything that can help.
Thanks a lot!
> I still do not fully understand what you mean here.
> The Mega STE did not have the internal hard drive option and you
> added a internal hard drive controller?
That's it!
> Since your problems started when you added the HD Controller and Vortex,
> I would think that it has something to do with the HD Controller.
I tried without the HD, without the Vortex, and now it looks like
something is broken... The NOVA don't seem to work.
> Also, the MSTE does have switches that effect the internal hard drive
> controller
> board if I remember correctly, there is a DIP that has to be in the right
> selection
> to tell the Computer that the internal controller is connected.
What is strange is that:
- before any change, the NOVA was Ok, then (with the same disk running
the same programs) it didn't work
- the internal HD used to work, but then no ACSI/SCSI disk were
detected.
It seems to "die" piece by piece.
> If you's did not come with one, and you added one, then you may need to
> set a
> selector switch.
I'd like to know wich one to save something in this machine... I have
searched the internet but can't find the technical documentation for a Mega
STE.
> I have the info here somewhere, will look it up asap.
> But need to know what type of HD controller you connected and are trying
> to use?
> A internal unit connected to the motherboard?
This one yes, internal unit from Atari.
Thanks for your help,
Guillaume.
PHANTOMM_2
"Guillaume Tello" <houte...@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
news:482739e7$0$897$ba4a...@news.orange.fr...
OK, now I understand what you are using, I am checking on a few things,
as this is abit weird for it to all start going bad on you.
I think I may know what it is, but don't want to say until I'm sure.
I'm checking out a few things on my MSTE.
BTW, what type of monitor were you using with the NOVA before
you added the Vortex? If VGA was it a multi-sync?
And did you get the Vortex to run and display on the screen before things
went bad?
Guillaume Tello
> I think I may know what it is, but don't want to say until I'm sure.
> I'm checking out a few things on my MSTE.
> BTW, what type of monitor were you using with the NOVA before
> you added the Vortex? If VGA was it a multi-sync?
A simple SVGA; no multisynchro
> And did you get the Vortex to run and display on the screen before things
> went bad?
Yes but for the Vortex test, I didn't use the NOVA, it was plugged in
the VME port, but I put a standard SM124 monochrom monitor in the video
output.
Guillaume.
>
>
>
Jo Even Skarstein
> I have added the HD controler and a Vortex ATonce into my Mega STE.
> Since that, I can't get my NOVA graphic card to work!
Does the TT/MSTE Nova have a separate 12V lead like the Falcon-version
does? If so, it's possible that you've disturbed the 12V feed to the Nova
when you installed the ATonce.
--
/*
** Jo Even Skarstein http://joska.nvg.org/
*/
phantomm_1
I have found some time to look at the Vortex and Nova.
Here is some info on the Vortex 386SX that may help.
To start the Vortex 386SX with the default values you have to start the
program ATONCE.PRG from GEM. You should see a boot-message,
that gives you some info about the system configuration and you'll be asked
to insert a DOS system Disk.
You will get the usual DOS promp "A>" and you then know that it's working.
The Default settings are as follows...
One 3.5 DOS floppy drive (=internal floppy drive with then name "A".
No Hard disk.
VGA-monochrome-graphics video-emulation.
640KB DOS-Base memory.
Extended memory is 0KB.
Expanded memory is 0KB.
Atari-Mouse as Serial-Microsoft-Mouse (together with a Microsoft-
compatible driver, e.g. MOUSE.SYS, version 6.10) on COM 1.
Serial interface on COM 2.
Parallel interface on LPT1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Returning to GEM
Press the key "G" during the boot process to return to GEM Desktop.
If DOS is already loaded you can leave the AT-emulation with GEMDOS.EXE and
return to the GEM DeskTop.
If DOS is already loaded press the "Left Shift","Alternate", and "Undo" keys
together,
and you will return to the GEM Desktop.
-------------------------------------------
Reset the system with the (Control, Alternate, and Delete) keys at the same
time.
Skip the memory test of the 386SX by pressing the ESC key.
-------------------------------------------
The INSTALL.PRG is started from the GEM Desktop. It allows the setting of
all
operating parameters. To use the existing components of the (ATARI) computer
system, it has to be configured, this is done using the (install.prg on the
Vortex
system disk).
The settings are saved and stored in the (ATONCE.CFG)
There are quite a few options to select.
*Setting up the hard drive correctly is one of the most important!
(Too many details to go into here.)
*However you should be able to run the basic system using just a
Floppy Disk.
There are 3 different boot- settings, (Floppy Boot, Floppy/Hard disk
Boot, and Hard disk Boot).
There are several types of Floppy Disks supported...
------------------------------------------------------
1.44MB-2 sides-80-tracks- 3.5-format.
720KB-2 sides-80-tracks- 3.5/5.25 format.
360KB-2 sides-40-tracks- 3.5/5.25 format.
360KB-1 sides-80-tracks- 3.5/5.25 format.
--------------------------------------------------------
With the program (INSTALL.PRG) you can determine the assignment of
the Atari Floppy Drives A and B to the DOS-floppy drives A and B.
According to the manual Windows 3.0 will run in Enhanced Mode.
If you ever try to run Windows, Never Invert the EGA-Screen with the
SHIFT+UNDO as it will cause Data Loss.
* When you are setting the configuration of your ATonce 386SX emulator with
the INSTALL.PRG, you must not install Expanded Memory (set it to 0KB !).
Assign all free memory or your (ATARI) to EXTENDED Memory!
Also the EMM.SYS driver you will find on your ATonce 386SX SystemDisk is
NOT needed! (IT's is there only for compatibility reasons to other vortex
emulator-products).
(I'm not sure which products, but that's what the manual states).
All settings that have been done with the INSTALL.PRG will be stored in the
emulator-
file ATONCE.PRG as well as in the configuration-file ATONCE.CFG.
If Install.prg is used another time and if changes have been made,
Install.prg automatically
generates a new ATONCE.CFG file. The old one will be renamed in ATONCE.OLD.
According to the manual DOS versions larger or equal 3.2 should be used
mainly because
of the support of 80 track floppy disks. If DOS 4.1 is to be used the 80286
varaition is
available.
Also according to the manual MSDOS 5.0 can be used with the Vortex 386SX.
But I am sure one could probably use DOS 6.XX or better.
On my FalconSpeed 286 board, I ran Win 3.1/DOS 6.22 with no problems.
FalconSpeed is alot like the Vortex 386SX, except there seems to be some
difference
in the way Hard disks and partitions are used.
I also have 2 SuperCharges, I haven't used for along time, It ran off a hard
drive and I still
have the system, just not connected up.
I like what you did with your SuperCharger, I found a CO-Processor in an old
286-12mhz NEC that I put in my SuperCharger a few months back.
The 286 is also socketed, and could be used for projects.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The MEGA STE
------------------
I looked for info on the dip settings, I have some info on it here
somewhere.
But for now all I could find is a diagram of the settings which to my
knowledge
is how they are suppose to be set with an internal hard drive.
The Blue 8 selector switch settings located on the right front foward
corner,
All Switches are down toward the front of the Mega STE except for (7)
which is up toward the back.
------------------------------
The NOVA Graphics Card
I don't know if you have the manual or not.
But it stresses the importance of installing the card correctly
or damage to the card and system can occur.
Pretty much the same as with the Vortex 386SX.
Here is the order of the drivers and according to the manual
they must run before anything else.
EMULATOR.PRG
MENU.PRG
STA_VDI.PRG
STA_VDI.BIB and EMULATOR.BIB need no
particular order.
An auto folder organizer such as XBOOT, MouseBoot is very useful.
A two monitor system is very useful since you can observe the process of
booting up and the possible errors.
On a MSTE, you can have your SM124 monitor still plugged into
your monitor port.
When starting the NOVA Graphics Card, Hold down the two Shift
buttons while booting up and you'll get the NOVA MENU.
When at this Menu, its very important to set SubMenu "a" and "b".
I hope this info helps in some way.
I will check on a few other things, asap.
BTW, Mplayer is really helpful.
PHANTOMM_2
"Jo Even Skarstein" <jo...@nvg.ntnu.no> wrote in message
news:g0bsrp$15m$1...@kuling.itea.ntnu.no...
> Guillaume Tello <houte...@wanadoo.fr> wrote:
>
>> I have added the HD controler and a Vortex ATonce into my Mega STE.
>> Since that, I can't get my NOVA graphic card to work!
>
> Does the TT/MSTE Nova have a separate 12V lead like the Falcon-version
> does? If so, it's possible that you've disturbed the 12V feed to the Nova
> when you installed the ATonce.
>
I think I have duplicated your problem on my MSTE, I had a similar problem
the other day when I got my MSTE out of storage.
To make a long story short...
You may have to reconfigure your internal hard drive.
With the Vortex installed, the internal hard drive is seen as Unit 1 not
Unit 0.
I had all kinds of trouble with that for awhile.
Also, be sure that the Vortex is seated in the socket firmly.
I could reformat and partiton my hard drive only as Unit 1. But still the
original system disks would not install the hard drive driver.
I tried a couple versions of HD Driver, and the only one that worked for
me was version 6. It saw the drive and the partitons after running the
driver in the auto folder on the floppy disk. I then went on an configured
the hard drive. Works great now.
Also, you may have to use 4 partitons, not sure on that, but I tried 2
custom ones with the MegaSTE advanced hard drive Utilities disk
with no luck. I had to select a preset partition setup from the menu.
It took me awhile to get it working as the Atari Hard Drive Utilities would
not install the driver due to the drive being Unit 1 instead of Unit 0.
I tried setting jumpers on the drive with no luck.
The drive is the stock 46 meg Seagate.
So, I used the original Atari MSTE Hard Drive Utilitie Disk to
format and partition the drive, and HD Driver 6 to install a working
driver so that the hard drive would boot up upon start up.
I copied over the MSTE System Disk all except the shdriver.sys
and the Newdesk.inf
And it works just fine.
One nice suprise was the system Clock. It had kept the correct
time and date after all these years!
Was a suprise after seeing the trouble with other Atari system clocks.
date was shown correctly as 05/19/08.
Then stuck a VIDI ST 12 cartridge in and had some fun.
Guillaume Tello
"phantomm_1" <phan...@suddenlink.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
4830b2a7$0$4080$bbae...@news.suddenlink.net...
Hi again,
I could run again my Mega STE from the Hard Drive, connectors were not
correctly plugged I think.
With the Vortex:
- I can't run Install.PRG, two bombs! But, the same program from the
same floppy runs well on the TT. But it's useless as I want to set the Hard
drive... And partitions on the TT are not the same as on the Mega STE.
With the NOVA:
- still not working. When I unplug the board from the Atari, I have to
pull using the connectors. I suspect this may have damaged some connectors.
I'll try to re-solder them.
> BTW, Mplayer is really helpful.
Thanks!
What do you use it for? Playing videos or creating ones?
Guillaume.
PHANTOMM_2
>
> "phantomm_1" <phan...@suddenlink.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
> 4830b2a7$0$4080$bbae...@news.suddenlink.net...
>
> Hi again,
>
> I could run again my Mega STE from the Hard Drive, connectors were not
> correctly plugged I think.
>
> With the Vortex:
> - I can't run Install.PRG, two bombs! But, the same program from the
> same floppy runs well on the TT. But it's useless as I want to set the
> Hard drive... And partitions on the TT are not the same as on the Mega
> STE.
2 Bombs means a Bus Error. It could be that you have a hardware problem
that needs fixed on the MSTE.
Or it could be that your internal hard drive is set to unit 0 and the MSTE
is seeing
the Vortex as Unit 0 also. This will cause problems. I had this problem just
a few days ago and had to set my internal HD to Unit 1 and reconfigure it.
How big are your internal hard drive partitions on the MSTE?
I don't know if your Vortex software is the original disk and configuration
or not.
The default configuration is for NO Hard Drive, so that you can boot off a
Floppy
before setting up the hard drive.
If someone saved a non-default configuration to the software disk, then this
could
cause you problems.
You might try making a backup of the Vortex software disk and deleting the
.CFG file
and then run Install.prg.
>
> With the NOVA:
> - still not working. When I unplug the board from the Atari, I have to
> pull using the connectors. I suspect this may have damaged some
> connectors. I'll try to re-solder them.
>
>> BTW, Mplayer is really helpful.
>
> Thanks!
> What do you use it for? Playing videos or creating ones?
Both actually. I have alot of video hardware and software for the Ataris.
I'm really suprised at how good VIDI ST 12 is on the MSTE.
Full Screen Video is possible, and the Still Grabs are really nice.
No Audio digitising like on the VideoMaster though 8-(
Part of the Vidi ST 12 software works in GEM which is a suprise.
I wonder how the Nova would work with it, something to look into.
Also want to try the Toki Line software. It was suppose to be
Professional Software, went Freeware years ago.
>
> Guillaume.
>
>
Guillaume Tello
"PHANTOMM_2" <phan...@bellsouth.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
IxqZj.9744$Kk3....@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
> Or it could be that your internal hard drive is set to unit 0 and the MSTE
> is seeing
> the Vortex as Unit 0 also. This will cause problems. I had this problem
> just
> a few days ago and had to set my internal HD to Unit 1 and reconfigure it.
Ok that can be the problem. Shall I set the unit ID on both the HD
controler and the HD itself?
> You might try making a backup of the Vortex software disk and deleting the
> .CFG file
> and then run Install.prg.
Yes, this is another idea.
I'll try it.
> Both actually. I have alot of video hardware and software for the Ataris.
Okay, that's great.
Few people reports using M_Player as a video builder.
Have you seen that I added the CRAM (8 bits and 15 bits) compression?
If you want to know more, have a look at:
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gtello/mplayere.htm to download the last version
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gtello/makvide.htm to see my own installation
and an example of video I made with my Ataris.
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gtello/tt_e.htm to see the program I made to use
the Vidi ST12 on the TT + NOVA.
Guillaume.
Jo Even Skarstein
> Ok that can be the problem. Shall I set the unit ID on both the HD
> controler and the HD itself?
The HD must always be set to SCSI ID 0 in order to work with the Mega STE
SCSI adapter.
phantomm_1
>
> "PHANTOMM_2" <phan...@bellsouth.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
> IxqZj.9744$Kk3....@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
>
>> Or it could be that your internal hard drive is set to unit 0 and the
>> MSTE is seeing
>> the Vortex as Unit 0 also. This will cause problems. I had this problem
>> just
>> a few days ago and had to set my internal HD to Unit 1 and reconfigure
>> it.
>
> Ok that can be the problem. Shall I set the unit ID on both the HD
> controler and the HD itself?
My hard drive was a Seagate 46/47 meg SCSI, it had no visable jumpers on
it.
The MSTE Hard Drive utilities Software, saw it as Unit 1 with the Vortex
board
installed. Now I could format and partition the drive with the system
software,
however it would not install a working driver. It would not see the drive to
install
the driver even though it would format and partition the drive.
I used HD Driver version 6.00 which saw the partitions created with the MSTE
Hard drive utilitie software, and installed a bootable driver.
This is the only way I could get it working with this drive.
I didn't try setting the ID on the controler. But did try setting the drive
to Unit 0
with jumpers. When I had it as Unit 0, I could not do anything with the
drive at all.
When selecting it to repartition, I would get a message that the drive
doesn't exist or
nothing to partition. (something like that). So I removed all the jumpers on
the drive
which sets it to Unit 1. At least with my MSTE setup. It was the only way I
could
do anything with the drive.
I started to remove the Vortex and see what Unit the drive would be without
it.
But got it working right before it came to that.
What had happen was, I had somehow messed up the boot sector on the hard
drive
with the Vortex installed.
Normally the internal hard drive would be setup working, before the Vortex
is installed.
Looking in the MSTE manual, the internal hard drive is Unit 0, so it's abit
backward.
Unless I run into problems, I'll leave it like that.
>
>> You might try making a backup of the Vortex software disk and deleting
>> the .CFG file
>> and then run Install.prg.
>
> Yes, this is another idea.
> I'll try it.
>
>> Both actually. I have alot of video hardware and software for the Ataris.
>
> Okay, that's great.
> Few people reports using M_Player as a video builder.
> Have you seen that I added the CRAM (8 bits and 15 bits) compression?
>
> If you want to know more, have a look at:
>
> http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gtello/mplayere.htm to download the last
> version
>
> http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gtello/makvide.htm to see my own installation
> and an example of video I made with my Ataris.
>
> http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gtello/tt_e.htm to see the program I made to
> use the Vidi ST12 on the TT + NOVA.
I'll have to check these out, been abit busy latey.
Let me know how you get along with the Vortex, it's a nice
board.
>
> Guillaume.
>
>