How do I make a dos boot disk for pcmcia card slot

[xyz]

Ok heres the thing, I need to have a boot disk, for dos with support for the pcmcia slot, I need to use a pcmcia card in dos..
Any ideas...

I downloaded pctpiwds from ibm, its suppose to have an example config file in there but it hasn;t anyone got any ideas on getting this done,

[poshgeordie]

Can you give a bit more information on what you're trying to do.

If it's of any help, I've just had to make some DOS bootable HDD's and preload Win2k on for some Panasonic Toughbooks, which come with no CD or Floppy drives.

Regarding PCMCIA support this link shows how to modify the config.sys file to include slot support, but I think you still need the slot driver.

To make the DOS bootable HDD I used another PC with a 3.5" to 2.5" adapter and a FDD.
If it's any help I'll post instructions and put up an FTP of the contents of the DOS floppy image with the modified autoexec.bat and config.sys (no PCMCIA) files to make the basic bootable HDD.

<EDITED extensively for content.>

Apologies for this sounding garbled but hope you get what I mean.

[xyz]

Ok i need to make a bootdisk
that will boot me to dos basic environment.

in dos i want to use a sata pcmcia

so as long as i can get the pcmcia slots working in dos all should be well

Will be booting off a usb stick..

or a floppy

Is that clearer ?

[xyz]

If you could post the autoexec and config sys files that would be excellent, I just can't seem to find them, all my legacy stuff has been junked.

[poshgeordie]

Apologies for sounding like I'm being thick but just wanted to make sure I understood what you were after

This threadreally helped me, especially "Demolitions" post.
OK, you'll have to make a lot of changes to suit your situation, but the modified autoexec and config files are shown.
I made a floppy from www.bootdisk.com from this win98

Re Section 3), do you need the win 98 DOS files? I'll put them up for you if needed.

Correct order using your regular PC to format the HDD and make it bootable:

1. Boot up via the floppy. Do a "cd c:" to make sure the HDD is seen.

2. Do

Code: Select all

fdisk

and set up the HDD as active etc.

3. I found that the format command didn't workvia the floppy, so had to reboot into XP (in my case) (make the HDD as slave and floppy ejected) and format the HDD via XP as FAT32.

4. While in XP, use notepad to make the autoexec and config files, saving as autoexec.bat and config.sys in a new folder on the floppy.
Also copy the PCMCIA lines into the config.sys file.

5. Reboot via floppy and copy the system commands to the HDD using

Code: Select all

sys c:

sets up the command.com file on the HDD.

6. Copy the modified autoexec and config files made in 4.

7 Also copy over the files listed in the howto section 3. Note that there are 3 or 4 different xcopy files; copy all of them over.

8. Reboot with the floppy ejected and the main XP HDD removed and check the PC boots into C:\ on the HDD having run smartdrv.
If this works OK, then you're good to go.

[poshgeordie]

The entire floppy and modified autoexec and config files, + the files copied off the win 98 CD can be downloaded from

http://nickpaton.fireflyinternet.co.uk/ ... s/boot.rar

The folder "here" contains the files including the modified autoexec and config files for the HDD after you've run the sys c: command.

[sjthinkpader]

There are two modes for PCMCIA card slots, linear mode and the I/O map mode came in Rel.2.0. Most of today's devices operate in I/O mode.

There were quite a few linear (direct memory map) readers and associated drivers made for DOS in the early '90's. One popular one is M-System's TrueFFS. You should be able to find a copy of it on the web. I am not sure any of the later versions support I/O map or not.

They were bought by Sandisk a few years ago.

[xyz]

I just need to boot to dos off a usb stick and use the pcmcia card in that environment, its a cardbus card.
I assume all i need to do this is have a boot device with the drivers for the pcmcia card on it ?

[poshgeordie]

Don't know if this helps:

http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

[xyz]

Yes, I have seen that, where I was having trouble was sorucing a autoexec file and config sys file, hopefully with the files you posted I shud be able to edit the for pcmcia card drivers and get it going.

[sjthinkpader]

The config.sys file is hidden by Windows. Here is the content:

BUFFERS=20
FILES=30
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH,UMB
SHELL=A:\COMMAND.COM /P /E:512
DEVICE=A:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=A:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS X=D000-D7FF
DEVICEHIGH=A:\PCCARD\IBMDSS14.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=A:\PCCARD\IBMDOSCS.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=A:\PCCARD\DICRMU01.SYS /MA=D000-D7FF /SH=1 /IX=5,10,11,15
LASTDRIVE=P

[zdriver]

Does a dos driver exist for the cardbus card you have? It must be a fairly recent card considering it is a SATA adapter, I would be surprised if they have dos support for it.
If it does, all that is required is the driver path in config.sys and a high enough lastdrive statement to make room for the additional drive letter if other fixed drives are in the system. Autoexec won't matter.

[xyz]

What I am using is dosflash, that has support for the card I have.
I am just thinking the only reason it is not working in dos is because the pcmcia card slot is not picked up..

[zdriver]

Ok, I researched dosflash and I think I know what you are trying to accomplish.
If the SATA card has direct support in your dosflash program, you still need a driver loaded for the pcmcia cardbus controller or any card will not be recognized. The T42 for example has the TI PCI-4520 cardbus controller, this driver would have to be initialized before the inserted card and its driver would be recognized.