Solder bios to future domain tmc-850

[genocho]

HI,

I´m an owner of a future domain tmc-850 scsi isa 8 bit controller card without bios.

That means I don´t boot from an hd device or other scsi media (zip, seaquest, etc).

Looking the pcb of the future domain can see the pad of the bios and here is my question, can solder a socket and then with a proper bios flashed eprom convert the future domain in a boot version?

Perhaps the pcb is the same in both models (bios / no bios) and with this "trick" can make it bootable.

Any have information about this or try it???

Finally, if this "mod" was not possible wich are the other choices to boot from this card without bios??? Only from a floppy???


Any information are welcome,

Best Regards,

Genocho.

 

[Sharkonwheels]

You might need to make sure no other ancillary electronic components are need in addition, ie, resistors, capacitors, diodes, etc...

If all you see is the empty holes for a socket, by all means try it, if you can solder. you would have to find the proper ROM image and EPROM/PROM/Flash chip to try, though.


T

 

[genocho]

Well,

Looking in internet, and comparing tmc 850 with bios and without bios, the only diference is the eprom socket and one Octal 3-State Noninverting Buffer/Line,

http://www.labx.com/v2/spiderdealer2/vistaSearchDetails.cfm?LVid=4779578

http://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/pdf/46211/SLS/LS244.html

I think if solder both things any tmc 850 without bios can converted in a bootable unit.

I need the 8.2 bios of a tmc 850 for larger hd´s, anyone have it ?

Wich type of bios eprom I need ???

Thanks in advance,

Genocho.

 

[hargle]

I did a similar thing to my 850MER:

http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?t=9546

Mine already had the socket, so it was just a matter of burning a PROM and plugging it in. The link has some information and sources for the ROM (me) and a person to help you get it burned.