want to back up my vision software

[brichter]

The reason you can't use 4GB cards is because the FAT filesystem without support for 64k block size has a limitation of 2GB partition size.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Allocation_Table

[StatFreak]

Has anyone considered (or tried) partitioning a larger card into two drives, with the first being under 2GB so that it could be properly formatted? The second partition most likely wouldn't even have to be formatted at all.

Just a thought.


SF

[brichter]

Has anyone considered (or tried) partitioning a larger card into two drives, with the first being under 2GB so that it could be properly formatted? The second partition most likely wouldn't even have to be formatted at all.

Just a thought.


SF

What's the largest drive supported by the BIOS? 

[StatFreak]

Has anyone considered (or tried) partitioning a larger card into two drives, with the first being under 2GB so that it could be properly formatted? The second partition most likely wouldn't even have to be formatted at all.

Just a thought.


SF

What's the largest drive supported by the BIOS? 

If you partition the card in WinDoze and format the first partition in FAT, the machine should see the card as being the size of the first partition. Make the first partition the size expected by the machine. Of course, I've been wrong before.

[brichter]

Has anyone considered (or tried) partitioning a larger card into two drives, with the first being under 2GB so that it could be properly formatted? The second partition most likely wouldn't even have to be formatted at all.

Just a thought.


SF

What's the largest drive supported by the BIOS? 

If you partition the card in WinDoze and format the first partition in FAT, the machine should see the card as being the size of the first partition. Make the first partition the size expected by the machine. Of course, I've been wrong before.

BIOS is a lower layer than the OS, you have to have the physical addressing before you can have the logical addressing.

Of course, BIOS can be upgraded, if we learn how to access via the console...


Bunker, get to work! 

[stayouttadabunker]

Great suggestion Stat!
I will be fooling around with CF partitioning this evening.
I don't have them here at work.
I'm at a brick wall in finding info on these LCD computers however - big time.
It's a more closely guarded secret than the alien at Area 51! 

IGTman once claimed to have hooked up a keyboard to the
board but I saw only 3 wires connected to it?
I haven't seen any proof that it ever really worked. 
The thread died instantly after that and the subject hasn't been
touched on until I recently picked up a Vision LCD computer.

There are 3 sets of 10-pin headers protruding from the bottom of the board
which relate to the connections of the keyboard & mouse, and
auxiliary, and an optional VGA connection. 

Furthermore, there is a 4-pin power supply header in the middle of the board
very similar to regular PS plugs used in desktop computers.
As far as a communications port/header of any other type - there seems to be a
XX-pin? header that involves the connection for an additional hard drive.
I'm wondering if this is for some type of proprietary HD or if a regular cheap,
old 4 to 8GB HD can be used here?

I'm considering picking up a spare board from johntoomanynumbers
and use that to muck around with... 

[brichter]

Did you jump J1, Bunker? If so, you can experiment with hard drive sizes. You'll only need to boot long enough to see if the hard drive is recognized by the BIOS, you can kill the power after that.

Also, be sure to get the BIOS info (manufacturer and version) then go on the manufacturer's website and see if they have later versions.

Some of the documentation I have seen discusses optical drives (CDs) connected to the LCD computer. If the connector you are referring to is a 40 or 44 pin connector, you could experiment with that as well as it's probably a standard IDE connector.

[stayouttadabunker]

My LCD computer's J1 was already jumped when I first got it in the mail.
If you have a copy of that docs laying around -I'd like to please take a look at it to
see if it will help me in any way figure out this thing... 
You know me...I hoard stuff...

[Ron (r273)]

My LCD computer's J1 was already jumped when I first got it in the mail.
If you have a copy of that docs laying around -I'd like to please take a look at it to
see if it will help me in any way figure out this thing... 
You know me...I hoard stuff...

Yeah but you got to read it too!   

Ron (r273)

[stayouttadabunker]

Yeah but you got to read it too!  

Ron (r273)

I do..I do! If I have it!!       but I didn't get it yet!
I think Brichter actually has a day job....! 

[brichter]

Yeah but you got to read it too!   

Ron (r273)

I do..I do! If I have it!!       but I didn't get it yet!
I think Brichter actually has a day job....! 

Yes, it's actually a day job that takes up some of the night, as well.

I hate it, until I see my bank account... 

[KirkLasVegas]

I have used CF card and a PCMCIA adaptor with great success. The top machine doesnt care what size the card is (I used 64Meg CF's)
Just put the old card in a reader or a PCMCIA slot on a laptop and drag/drop it to the CF card.
Just remember to NEVER-EVER unplug a CF or PCMCIA in the topbox when hot....you will be very sorry.


Kirk

[stayouttadabunker]

Oh...you mean my bubbling fingertips? lol

64Meg card I understand Kirk, but we're trying to stick in hard drives, keyboards, and 4GB cards here...

[brichter]

My LCD computer's J1 was already jumped when I first got it in the mail.
If you have a copy of that docs laying around -I'd like to please take a look at it to
see if it will help me in any way figure out this thing... 
You know me...I hoard stuff...

Check your email...

[stayouttadabunker]

   Thanks Brichter! I got it.
I forgot about that one and it does help a little bit!
I will look into it today.

[Tilt]

Ok, so I managed to get a keyboard hooked up and working on my Vision computer, but now what?  My BIOS is password protected and I don't know what it is.  Three wrong attempts and it locks you out. You have to power cycle it to try again.   The volume label on my C: is RFA10027, so guess that's the RFA for my machine (MsLGM 5 reel)?  I don't have a RFA card for it, so I don't want to mess around with the filesystem too much or I might screw it up and not be able to restore it.  If anyone has suggestions on the BIOS password, post or PM me. 

[Tilt]

CMOS password screen.

[a69mopar]

Phoenix BIOS backdoor passwords include BIOS, CMOS, phoenix, and PHOENIX

W

[Tilt]

Thanks Wayne.  None of those worked though.  This is the screen you get after three invalid attempts:

[a69mopar]

does it say the version when it boots?

W

[Tilt]

PhoenixPICO Bios V4.05 and some Radisys info too.  See attached photo.

[stayouttadabunker]

lol...Hi Tilt!
I noticed you typed my name at the cursor. 

I have no idea...but I just checked my boot up screens against yours and
everything is the same except yours is corrupted.
Look at the way "Device" is spelled...yours is split up with some sort of an "up arrow"?
I'm not sure what's going on there.
I'm more of a technical guy...we need a computer whiz to jump in.

Can you give me the pin outs of you keyboard set up?
 I see part of your voltage notes under the LCD computer...lol
I'll make up a key cable right now and try and see if I can get pass the password?
What 3 passwords have you tried - so I'll try 3 other ones?

[Tilt]

It's not corrupt, that was me hitting the CTRL + C keys on the keyboard to break out of the autoexec.bat file in order to get to the DOS prompt.     Here's my scribbled notes on the pinouts.  I used a standard PS2 keyboard from one of my old systems I had stuffed in the closet, and got the female PS2 cable from my old parts box.  Since the first photos I remade the LCD end of the cable so it's keyed properly, it came from a 10 pin ribbon cable.  I taped over the other connectors because I think I plugged the keyboard into the VGA connector the first time after changing it.  The keyboard lock lights blinked a few times, and the display was blank...whoops!  I powered it down and fixed it, luckily nothing was harmed.  I've added a pic of the improved cable too. 

As far as passwords, I tried everything Wayne suggested, some others I found on the net, but nothing has worked yet.  I could yank the CMOS battery and that will probably clear it, but I don't know the current setup to put it back if I do.

[stayouttadabunker]

Tilt,
  I sent you some of my stuff just in case you lose the OS.
I don't know about the BIOs though...
I wouldn't pull that CMOS battery if you don't have to just yet!

[Tilt]

Tilt,
  I sent you some of my stuff just in case you lose the OS.
I don't know about the BIOs though...
I wouldn't pull that CMOS battery if you don't have to just yet!

Thanks.  I figured out my CMOS password with the help of a little utility on the net.  It is SEVENS1  I tired to disable it, but it won't allow me to.  I tried changing it, and that didn't work either.  SEVENS1 it is for now.