Zenith Z-100 trying to get a ST-225 to boot.

[framer]

I noticed my Winchester disk Original OEM has zdos or msdos v2 w/command com being the same as a msdos for zenith z-100 v2 but my system disk original oem is v1.10 z-dos. I'm prep w/v2 but load v1. Is v1 Z-DOS suppose to boot from a HD? I just found and image of v2 for the z-100? Working on it.

 

[framer]

I've been able to read and write to and from the HD with both Z-DOS and CPM; however, I've been unable to boot from either partition. I can boot from a floppy A: drive the use the partition on the hard drive. I can create bootable floppy system disks from the HD.

Watch the version number of your Z-DOS. My system disk was less than required. On disk BIOS Release 1.00 version 1.10, Z-DOS release 1.01 version 1.25, Command release 1.00 version 1.20 is considered minimum. CPM needs v2.2.101 or greater to boot. I DL'ed the correct Z-DOS and am showing I have those versions but still not booting.

 

[Agent Orange]

It seems you've done about everything, but maybe time for some abstract troubleshooting. Is there any chance that the Winchester's IRQ is not set to IRQ 5?

 

[framer]

Interesting thought, not in the doc's I've read. I did just get MSDOS 3.1 made for the Z-100 to boot from floppy and get the partition changed so I was able to format e:/s and transfer the system to the active boot partition; however still no boot to HD. I'm going to check all the version of firmware. I'd love to upgrade the Monitor to v2.9 or anything higher than the v2.5 I have.

 

[framer]

I set the control block on the HD to the default. 8-9,7-10,6-11,5-12 all open 4-13,3-14,2-15,1-16 all closed see docs:








The Zenith Data Separator data cable uses a Radial Connection.

 

[framer]

A picture worth 1000 words...


These are the ST-412 configuration used entered in HEX



This shows it completed the PREP program OK


I've removed the FORMAT jumper from the Z-217 card and entered the PART program.




I modified the partitions but left the default boot partition #1 Z-DOS, exit and saved it.



This might be important. Show the versions of the Z-DOS software.


I then entered (no photo)

FORMAT e: /S/V

and got this result:

In the next photo I entered

FORMAT e: /S/V a 2nd time and it formatted and transferred the system as shown below.



Last I selected the E: drive and did a DIR listing showing the Drive/Partition being used.




When RESET

[F3][RETURN]

entered it hangs on boot. I do hear a brief HD access sound.

This has happened exactly with all three drives. All come up with "File allocation table bad, drive e: " on the 1st FORMAT attempt but FORMAT on the 2nd time tried.

What am I missing...

Hope this get comments... It the best I can do to explain what's happening.

Thanks framer

 

[retrogear]

Ok I haven't got my hard drive or cards yet but I'm getting ready for it. I found my image of the Z100 Winchester Utilities disk and used Dave Dunfield's ImageDisk to put it on a 5.25 floppy disk and it boots on my floppy drive.
I think this is a copy of the original disk because of the os boot message at the top of this photo, the dates on the files and the volume name is the Zenith part# 890-393-12. Not sure what disk you are using ? I'll upload the image file. Maybe boot this disk and do the process again ? I'm not sure what actually writes the 1st boot sector on the hard drive ? See if you get the FAT error after this process. Maybe a later version of FORMAT ? Everything on this disk indicates version 2.

 

[framer]

That's the one I'm using. I also have a original OEM from zenith that matches Z100winc.imd, I tried both.

PREP /Q is what LL and formats the disk. Then you can check or change the partitions with PART or slip it and go BOOTING an OS from the floppy and FORMAT /s /v the active partition. If skip PART then it is set up to format the 1st partition named Z-DOS automatically. When done it should boot to that partition.

1st HD is E:

 

[framer]

I currently am trying my ST-225 again but have set the Z-217 to 8bits. Only thing I had not tried. I saw a photo of a Z-217 and DS on a site called Lifeline anyway in the photo it clearly showed it set for 8bit not the 16bit default.

 

[framer]

Read this https://z100lifeline.swvagts.com/index.php/repair-and-modification/12-repair/22-mfm-hard-drives

 

[framer]

I have BOOT using 8bit on Z217 z-dos v2.13

 

[retrogear]

Interesting, so you changed two jumpers, J30 and J31 to 8bit so now it boots ? The manual shows normal setting is both 16bit. It says it changes
the size of the port address. I wonder if it has to do with larger hard drives and maybe a later bios version ? Checked my mail for today and no joy,
just a mortgage bill ...

 

[framer]

Post Office S@!K$ I heard Priority Mail was 1-3 days is now 2-5days.

 

[retrogear]

Thanks for all your info. This will really help when my stuff arrives. Be careful, that Commodore monitor might go up in smoke sitting on that Zenith ...

 

[framer]

1. It works great.
2. Composite and RGB inputs
3. It came with the Zenith 9 years ago.
4. I paid $100 for the whole package plus shipping.
5 - 10 It still works great.

 

[framer]

Here the reader digest version:

What I learned that may help the next person that has the Z-217 and Data separator.

What worked for me might not work for you, do to firmware differences.

Setup:

Z-217:
Switch block AP* L to R on off off off
VI* top row is a parking row for the format jumper, no jumper normally used.
Set the EXTENDED PORT ADDRESS jumpers to 8bit, I tried the default 16bit and it worked but would not boot from the HD.
J11 set to the bottom two pins 1K
Put jumper on FORMAT ENABLE to use the PREP program to LL format the Winchester HD, Remove before doing anything else and put back on the holding area top row VI*.

Data Separator:
JP4 OFF
JP3 normal
jp1 normal

Motherboard:
Right side in front of the s-100 box is a switch S101 0-7 #4 set to on will stop autoboot, then use [CTRL]+[RESET],,[F1] to boot from floppy [CTRL]+[RESET],,[F3] to boot the HD.
When you get the HD booting then turn S101 L to R ON OFF ON OFF and your system should autoboot.


HD setting/control block set to default and use RADIAL, you can jump DS1 if you want the HD LED to be used. My ST-225 has used with just one jumper for RADIAL configuration. Your 34pin cable to the HD has NO twist. RESISTER PACK need to be installed all drives.

My 20 pin from the HD to the Data Separator was connected to J2

Straight 34 pin cable from the Z-217 to Data Separator.

Software/firmware:

Monitor version 2.5 minimum
Z-DOS BIOS 1.10 dos 1.25 and command v1.20

Format e:/s/v

If using v2.13 or greater

ASSIGN 0:Z-DOS E:
FORMAT E:/S/V

v3.10

ASGNPART 0:Z-DOS E:
FORMAT E:/S/V

Hope that help the next person that wants to get theirs going.

 

[retrogear]

So with the readers digest summary in the previous post I was able to get a 10MB Miniscribe to prep, partition, format and boot as 2 volumes E: and F:
Thanks again.

Larry (Allen) G

 

[framer]

I need to get this in the record. I contacted Steven Vagts , Editor, Z-100 LifeLine, I wish I had earlier, he sent me some docs that show the normal operation of the Z-217 is 8bit. Other docs online are in error showing the default as 16bit.







How much time was wasted but having the wrong info. I would like to publicly thank Steven Vagts, Editor, Z-100 LifeLine, for taking the time to research and send me the correct data on the Z-217.

His current website for the Zenith is https://z100lifeline.swvagts.com/index.php/about-Z-100-computer

 

[retrogear]

After dropping the damn format jumper on the Z-217 card into the motherboard and fishing it out with some choice words, I created a removeable shorting plug solution for the future

 

[framer]

Nice idea. Wait you got cool RED PS plug, mine's only standard white. Maybe it was used by CONTROL, AKA Get Smart:bomb:.