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Is it possible to use a TexElec's IDE to SD Adapter along side the original Fixed Disk?

T

ThePresi

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Joined
Jun 28, 2023
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25
Hello!

I have an IBM 5160 with TexElec's IDE to SD installed, which I use as fixed drive C.
I would like to use the original ST-412 Hard Drive as a secondary Hard Drive, but the IDE to SD conflicts with the original fixed disk controller.

Is there a way to make them work together?
 
ThePresi said:
I have an IBM 5160 with TexElec's IDE to SD installed, which I use as fixed drive C.
Click to expand...
The 'XT-IDE' card pictured at [here].

ThePresi said:
I would like to use the original ST-412 Hard Drive as a secondary Hard Drive, but the IDE to SD conflicts with the original fixed disk controller.
Click to expand...
Per the diagram at [here], usually there is no conflict at the hardware level. We have at seen at least one software conflict.

I have an IBM 5160 that contains an 'IBM Fixed Disk Adapter' card with ST-412 attached, and I can add an XT-IDE card, and both of the cards work together okay.
I end up with a C: drive and a D: drive:

- The ST-412 is hard drive 0 (BIOS drive 80h).
- The CF attached to my XT-IDE card is hard drive 1 (BIOS drive 81h).
- The 5160 boots from the ST-412 (BIOS drive 80h).
- DOS assigns C: to the DOS partition on the ST-412, and assigns D: to the DOS partition on the CF attached to my XT-IDE card

If I want to swap things about ( CF= C:, ST-412=D: ), I press the D key when I see the XTIDE Universal BIOS (XUB) flash/banner screen appear. (As a result, the XUB swaps the 80h/81h assignment).
Alternatively, I could reconfigure the XUB, specifically, changing the 'Default boot drive' setting from 80 (eighty) to 81.

Is that the information you need ?

If not, tell us why you believe there is a "conflict".
 
This forum is fantastic.

I found the issue, thanks again @modem7: the XT IDE memory switches were set to C800h instead of D000h. (duh!)
The DOS now separate the two drives as C and D, as mentioned above.

Thanks again!
 
ThePresi said:
the XT IDE memory switches were set to C800h instead of D000h.
Click to expand...
I looked at the supplier's web page at [here], and can see from the photo, that C8000 is the default setting.
Someone appears to be assuming that the reason that the card is being purchased is that the target computer lacks an MFM/RLL controller and drive.
I added a C8000 warning to the 'TexElec IDE to SD Adapter' section of my web page at [here], the same warning as for an earlier card.
 
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On my AT clone, only the D segment is available for an EMS page frame (half of the C segment is blocked by the VBIOS, and both E and F segments are blocked by the ROM BIOS), and the only available space for an Option ROM is at C800h. Seems like many other systems behave similarly.

So I assume the C800h default setting is a trade-off to prevent a conflict with EMS cards.
 
I don't think it has anything to do with conflict of EMS cards. Segment C800 was used on the very early HD controller boards (pre EMS) and has pretty much remained the standard ever since on ISA hard disk controllers with their own BIOS extensions.
 
Chuck(G) said:
I don't think it has anything to do with conflict of EMS cards. Segment C800 was used on the very early HD controller boards (pre EMS) and has pretty much remained the standard ever since on ISA hard disk controllers with their own BIOS extensions.
Click to expand...
I see
 
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