Controller SUNRISE IDE with Compact Flash 2 GB .... Please Help

Master (248)

03-09-2015, 15:36

Dear All...

Just now I received this item that I purchased from eBay Controller SUNRISE IDE with Compact Flash 2 GB that I purchased from eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Controller-SUNRISE-IDE-for-MSX2-Comp...

Frankly speaking ... I don't know how to use this item properly and I am afraid to make some mistakes like when I delete some files in similar hardware in the past.

Please help me by giving me some points ... for example (1) Insert the IDE (2) Press Enter ... and so on.

Also, is this hardware is something like MEGA FLASH ROM ?

And how can I use all SUNRISE IDE features ?

In fact.... my cousin was searching in eBay for some items and I searched for MSX and I found this item ... I copy-paste the name in google and I found so many MSX users very happy with the item and I purchased it.

I purchased this item because I love MSX .... and I am waiting for your help .... ;(

Regards,

Sniper

By djh1697

Paragon (1702)

03-09-2015, 17:33

Just plug and play!

Raymond has some instructions on his website
http://www.raymondmsx.nl/info_compactflash_eng.html

To be honest i suspect you can just plug it in and go, I think a menu will pop up with the games stored on the drive, why not email the seller?

Email the seller and ask them if you want to know how to access the games?
If you get another CF card you will need to copy msxdos2.sys and command2.com into the root directory.
Avoid putting the CF card into your PC

By sniper22477

Master (248)

04-09-2015, 01:53

Thanks a lot ....

By meits

Scribe (6544)

04-09-2015, 07:17

There's just one CF slot on this board? That's a pity.
I have a 32MB CF card for some file swapping with the pc. Since 32MB is well accepted as FAT12, Windows doesn't get the crazy idea to fn00k things up on insertion. This CF card serves well as slave in the interface so my partitionized cards never have to meet with Windows.

One trial and error tip I want to give you:
On a partitionized CF card be VERY careful with your AUTOEXEC.BAT!
If you make an error in it which causes a loop or whatever error which you can't recover from, you will have NO way to fix that on your MSX.
I suffered that a few times in the time I only had one CF card. Had to call in the help of a friend who lent me a CF card so I could reach it and fix it. You have just one CF slot so that 'trick' is not possible for you. So be extra careful. Otherwise you have to a) put the card in your pc to fix it (which will destroy your partition table in most cases), or b) have to repartitionize your card with fdisk on your MSX (which will wipe your CF card as well).

In this case it wouldn't hurt to have only FAT12 cards with just one partition of 32MB so you can always use your pc without having to worry you destroy anything.

By gdx

Enlighted (6215)

04-09-2015, 08:38

sniper22477 wrote:

Just now I received this item that I purchased from eBay Controller SUNRISE IDE with Compact Flash 2 GB that I purchased from eBay.

I think this inerface Maxiol isn't a good deal because:

- The cartridge contacts are tinned. This damages faster the contacts cartridge ports.
- No usable standard case.
- A EEPROM a used to contain the Bios. (Difficult to update. Some MSX need the bios v2.50a.)
- The optional CF card is expensive. (We find industrial grade cards for an less price.)
- The IDE connector is misplaced (except for a port on the back placed). Any way I prefer 2 CF slots.

sniper22477 wrote:

Also, is this hardware is something like MEGA FLASH ROM ?

No. This interface uses a EEPROM instead of a FlashROM.

By sniper22477

Master (248)

04-09-2015, 10:10

I don't know what to do

By gdx

Enlighted (6215)

04-09-2015, 11:27

Setup on a MSX with 64KB minimum:

- Insert the interface in a slot.
- Insert the CF.
- Insert a floppy disk formated under MSX-DOS 2 and with COMMAND2.COM, MSXDOS2.SYS and FDISK310.COM installed into root folders.
- Turn ON the MSX.
- Execute FDISK310.COM to partition and to format the CF. (See Sunrise IDE/CF manuel for it.)
- Extract the floppy disk and reset the MSX.
- Insert a floppy and copy COMMAND2.COM and MSXDOS2.SYS to disk "A:" of the CF.
- Extract the floppy disk and reset the MSX.

By gdx

Enlighted (6215)

04-09-2015, 16:25

Rectification: Setup on a MSX with ~~64KB~~ a Memory Mapper of 128KB minimum.

By sniper22477

Master (248)

04-09-2015, 18:32

Thanks .... I will try now and let you know

By meits

Scribe (6544)

04-09-2015, 18:45

If you have 128kB, you won't be able to run software which requires 128kB as MSX-DOS2 takes a chunk of it. I'd recommend 256kB as a minimum.