• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

Acculogic RAMPAT ISA memory card drivers

Acculogic "RAMpAT!" Setup

Acculogic "RAMpAT!" Setup

I have a legacy NEC 286 "Lunchbox" that has a RAMpAT! card using 4ea 1x9 1Mb [equals 4Mb RAM] 30-pin SIMMs that I want to "max" out to 16Mb. Simply swapping SIMMs does not work.

It appears that I need a copy of the Setup utiity disk that came originally with the card...and a copy of the Installation instructions that outline how to set and use the 3-position slide switch at the top of the card.

JORG's posting leads to inactive info nearly 3 years old. GOOGLE has been unable to identify any source. Any help on where to get the info/utiity is MOST appreciated....TIA.
 
Re: Acculogic "RAMpAT!" Setup

Re: Acculogic "RAMpAT!" Setup

jedwg said:
It appears that I need a copy of the Setup utiity disk that came originally with the card...and a copy of the Installation instructions that outline how to set and use the 3-position slide switch at the top of the card.
Click to expand...

I have one (maybe two) of those boards. They came with a 5¼" 360KB disk and a 3½" 720KB disk. They are bootable disks and prolly can't be emailed. You use the disk that fits in your A: drive.

When you boot from the floppy it configures the card to dovetail with your existing RAM so it makes sense that just changing the SIMMs isn't enough.

The switch is RESET-NORMAL-LOCK. Normal is where it should be unless you have problems. RESET clears the configuration in case of problems. Lock is only used if you have multiple RAMpAT boards installed.
 
Acculogic RAMpAT! Card Setup

Acculogic RAMpAT! Card Setup

The RAMpAT! card uses a Dallas DS1292 CMOS chip to maintain setup information about the RAM memory installed on the card. The Dallas chip is a small electronics module that is about the size of a double-high IC and contains an embedded battery to power the CMOS chip when the card is not used, or when installed, the computer power is Off. Dallas says the battery is good for 10 years....and most RAMpAT! cards are now at least 10 years old...meaning the batteries are now nearly dead. Sooo, if your RAMpAT! card starts acting up, it may be time for a new Dallas chip; and I don't know where they can be purchased...or if there is an alternate. I was advised by someone that the module can be carefully opened and a new external AA battery holder carefully soldered in place. Has anyone any other course of action, or heard of this?
 
Re: Acculogic RAMpAT! Card Setup

Re: Acculogic RAMpAT! Card Setup

jedwg said:
I was advised by someone that the module can be carefully opened and a new external AA battery holder carefully soldered in place. Has anyone any other course of action, or heard of this?
Click to expand...

Wow, it might be possible but...

And, if the battery is only used to retain configuration couldn't we just run the config disk each time we use the computer?
 
Acculogic RAMpAT! Dallas DS1292 Chip

Acculogic RAMpAT! Dallas DS1292 Chip

I have just tried to "open" another Dallas Chip...the DS1287 RTC BIOS chip which also has a battery embedded within. This is not an easy chore as the entire interior is "potted" with a plastic that looks to be injection molded. To "find" the battery by carving away the potting appears to be too difficult a task with the liklihood of damaging the circuit inside I judge as high. If this DS1287 chip is representative of the DS1292 chip construction, the suggested opening to replace the internal battery seems unlikely.

With regards to simply reinstalling the settings at power up...I am uncertain, based upon my current experience where the card does not seem to either sense a RAM change, or respond to the Setup utility. One would suspect that the card should respond...perhaps my card is defective. I expect to receive another RAMpAT! card shortly and test that one to see if it too responds the same. More later after my tests.
 
Acculogic RAMpAT! Card Setup Disk

Acculogic RAMpAT! Card Setup Disk

I have now managed to reproduce the setup/install disks for the RAMpAT! card in 5-1/4 inch 360Kb and 3.5 inch 720Kb format. These are DOS bootable disks.

When used as a bootable disk, the RAMpAT! card installed memory is sensed and the card's Dallas DS1292 CMOS is set accordingly.

The setup disk also has an INSTALL utility that copies several DOS files to the hard drive, and then modifies the CONFIG.SYS file.

The RAMpAT! card contains a 3-position slide switch. The RESET position is used to reset the Dallas DS1292 CMOS setting. The LOCK position is used to secure the card's CMOS setting when additional RAMpAT! cards are being setup/installed. The NORMAL position is the default card operating position during setup, installation and thereafter.
 
Re: Acculogic RAMpAT! Card Setup Disk

Re: Acculogic RAMpAT! Card Setup Disk

jedwg said:
The setup disk also has an INSTALL utility that copies several DOS files to the hard drive, and then modifies the CONFIG.SYS file.
Click to expand...

What are the changes? I replaced the hard drive in my system without installing any such files.

Also, is this the card with a dead battery in the Dallas chip?
 
Acculogic RAMpAT! documentation

Acculogic RAMpAT! documentation

I have also been looking for the installation files for the RAMpAT! card. But in the process of looking, I did manage to locate a copy of the six page manual in pdf format from a computer museum in Australia. I would be happy to send out upon request...it looks like attachments are not allowed on this board. Also, I'd appreciate the software if someone has it handy.
 
Found one

Found one

I came across one of these on the shelf in my parts storage.
Still in the box, 16mb, with 3.5" floppy but no manual.
Free for the taking to anyone that wants it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top