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eMachine MSN Companion
eMachine MSN Companion

New MessageeMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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Before I decided to post this message I read all the messages I could find pertaining to this particular device in this forum, so if am covering an old topic please don't hate, educate.

I would like to revive interest in this device, hear from those who have SUCCESSFULLY hacked the device, those who have one, or people who like a challenge.

I took my unit apart, and photographed all the main chips, components, etc... I just have to label them and dump them.

-jsmmd

10-01-2002 13:30:14

New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) hwhack
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Why?

The unit has virtually no expandability, less the USB port. It's on-board SANDISK is 16MB, it comes with 32MB soldered down RAM, it runs at 200 MHz (I think), it requires an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

It's main virtue should be price. I suspect/expect you should be able to get these for $20 or so. But without much expandability/upgradability I believe it's not all that useful.

Do you have an application for these guys? Doorstops is already taken ...

10-01-2002 15:22:17

New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) RatBastard
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I just bought one on ebay ($15) to use as a passive "listener" for my jukebox-type music networks. I use the ia1 as a controller, and now I can have a second "listener" station, hidden behind a stereo somewhere.

Or at least, that's what I intend to do after I scare up a USB zip drive.

I second the poster's request for information.

10-01-2002 23:54:59

New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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hwhack,

Uses: something audio, video, network, burner

  • mp3 player? - Form factor should be good for a in car unit.. mp3 storage would be on a usb device, USB portable storage (pen drive, etc...)

  • video base station - capture via usb quickcam, dump to server via usb nic.

  • little firewall / proxy - 2 usb nics

  • burner - usb burner, usb nic, usb drive (would need a usb hub for all that usb action)

    that's all i got now. it might not be alot, but you are correct. the price was right, and since I'm a "hacking" newbie, this little pucker would be a fun challenge. (did the iopener, a few years ago?? sh*t, time flies!)

    other suggestions ppl?

    • 10-02-2002 07:50:06

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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    RatBastard,

    I have a newer iomega USB zip drive(pic), based on the older postings, the square, translucent blue zip drive(pic) seems to be the only zip drive to work. Don't waste your time and get the model I have.

    I've also been looking into a UBS "pen" drive (32megs @ $18.77). 32 or 64 megs units are around the same price as a usb drive off eBay. Has anyone had any luck with this option?

    If all else fails, I'm just going to go to the store and buy a USB cdrom drive. that would solve all my problems, but at a much greater cost then I would like.

    10-02-2002 08:00:11

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) RatBastard
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    Are USB CD drives known to categorically work?
    10-02-2002 10:35:33

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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    Are USB CD drives known to categorically work?

    RatBastard,

    "The USB ZipCD CDburner also boots as well", quoted by FIRESTORM_v1 on 08-12-2002 10:04:30

    10-02-2002 16:49:51

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    I can report getting a usb cdrom to work. I could boot dos, but not freebsd, from a cdrom. I am using mine as a dns proxy (pdnsd running on a stripped-down version of FreeBS) with no external drive, but with a usb ethernet adapter. Getting FreeBSD on this thing was a challenge, and required creating a ZIP disk with a small dos partition, the FreeBSD kernel, and a dos kernel loader. The other partition contained the FreeBSD install, which I transferred from a working install on another computer using tar.
    10-02-2002 17:32:56

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) radarman
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    Out of curiosity, how did you do the FreeBSD install with so little space? Did you use a USB hard disk or some other storage system? I know PicoBSD will fit in a (relatively) small form factor, but the smallest I've been able to squeeze FreeBSD is about 200Mb. (and that was a tight fit)
    10-02-2002 20:05:22

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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    jpe_dty,

    That great. thanks for the indfo. would you be willing to outline your process in more detail?

    contact me via email if that is something you'd be willing to do. (my email address is in my signature)

    -jsmmd

    jsmmd / MethodicJon
    10-02-2002 20:21:40

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) RatBastard
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    Thanks!

    Maybe I can use a debian install CD to get linux running on it; probably an LRP variant or something.

    I'll report back with my success (or failure).

    10-03-2002 06:55:47

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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    ppl,

    i'm a tool. In reading an older thread: "MSN Companion HACKED" (I found that on the ride into work, so I'll have to try it when I get home tonight.)

    twood2k wrote on 02-13-2001 07:56:45:

    On the bottem of the unit is a small square access to a jumper on the motherboard. You need to jumper the two pins somehow while the system is reset. this will allow the unit to boot from a device other than the sandisk. BTW you will need to prepare the zip drive, or whatever to boot.

    I'm not sure what jumper needs to be shorted, or where it is. Anyone know?

    Also, follow-ups to the above message.

    Curious wrote on 03-25-2001 16:23:56:

    I was able to boot on my Zip, but only if I changed the "C" drive as "None", otherwise it would boot into MSN even if the jumper is shorted. Have you been able to boot off the Zip with the C drive defined in the CMOS?


    zfolkerts wrote on 05-16-2001 21:31:30:

    I just got an eMachines MSN Companion yesterday and had the same problem with the usb zip drive.
    The reason it won't boot has nothing to do with a jumper. The usb zip drive hasn't "spun" up in time to be searched for a boot sector. What ended up working for me was to press [pause/break] while the eMachines logo was displayed, wait for the zip drive to spin up, and then press [enter]. Booted fine. Now i just need to get jailbait to use /dev/hda.

    fyi... I'm also working on a Virgin Webplayer too, getting the ide cable today.

    10-03-2002 08:36:20

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    I did not actually document what I did, but from memory:
    1) install freebsd on another computer
    2) create custom kernel config for the msn companion, including usb drivers
    3) attach usb zip drive. use sysconfig to partition 5mb dos, rest freebsd partition
    4) use win machine to install os on the 5mb dos partition of the zip disk
    5) on freebsd machine, copy above kernel to the dos partition along with bsbboot.exe from the tools directory of the distrib.
    6) copy using tar the most important directories for booting to single user to the zip disk freebsd partition (basically all except /usr)
    7) use vnconfig to map the mfsroot.flp image to /dev/vn0 and mount it at /mnt
    8) tar /mnt to a file
    9) boot from the zip disk on the msn companion
    10) use bsdboot to boot the kernel
    11) use sysconfig to partition & newfs the sandisk (in the config options, select install to /mnt, then newfs for "/", afterwards reboot because this step really confuses freebsd)
    12) untar the file created above to the sandisk, copy the kernel from the dos partition to the sandisk.
    13) create a rc file containing the programs you want to run
    14) copy the files you want to the sandisk
    The above glosses over a bit. This works because sysconfig has the most used freebsd commands compiled into it, and the mfsroot image contains symlinks from the command names to sysconfig that cause the appropriate command to execute. In addition:
    15) to get rid of some error messages you will need to copy various files to /etc on the sandisk
    10-03-2002 15:01:44

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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    jpe_dty,

    that will come in handy, thanks. any shot you could make an image of that using dolly, etc... and post it somewhere?

    -me

    10-03-2002 16:06:41

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    Possibly. It might be a little while.
    10-03-2002 16:12:46

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    Ok, took less time than I expected. The image is at http://jpe45305.homeunix.org/dl/images/EMSNFBSD.ZIP
    Please note that if you are not familiar with FreeBSD this will be a difficult image to get working.
    10-04-2002 16:26:06

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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    Correction!

    I previously, and incorrectly reported that the Iomega Zip 100 USB drive (NOT the square translucent blue, but rounded blue unit) would not work. It did. After jumpering the single pin set located at the bottom of the front of the board, located straight down the line from the bios battery. The unit did boot.

    my bad ppl.

    So, the steps I took:

    1. Attached a normal keyboard, hit F2 to get into the bios menu.
    2. Changed the boot sequence.
    3. Saved and exited.
    4. Powered down (unplugged the power)
    5. attached usb iomega zip
    5. hit pause to allow usb zip to spin up (when you first see the emachines logo)
    6. hit resumed after drive spun up
    7. zip drive booted. (remember, you need a formatted and bootable zip disk.)

    Thanks! to jpe_dty we now have a FreeBSD image.

    jpe_dty, please email me (see signature)

    jsmmd / MethodicJon
    10-04-2002 20:21:51

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jsmmd
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    RatBastard

    where you able to make any progress?

    ppl

    does anyone have their emachines hacked and running, other OSs?

    I have tried SEVERAL images for other appliances, the BE.IMG, BE2.IMG, and the MSN20_clean.IMG, all with no luck. So far jpe_dty's FreeFSB worked, but I got no clue how to use it. :)

    10-05-2002 15:26:18

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    pick up a book, but to give you some examples,
    LS for list directory CD to advance to a directy CD.. to go back a directroy. if supported try the MAN command means manual.
    12-03-2002 15:01:33

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) shadowsunrise
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    'eMachine' MSN Companion... Is this the same little white I-Appliance w/ the built-in POS LCD and wireless keyboard w/ near useless joystick-pad-thingy that I know and love? or is the 'eMachine' different from the 'Compaq'?
    dont panic
    12-04-2002 12:15:49

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) keith721
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    nope, it's different, manufactured by Vestel in eastern Europe, I believe. It doesn't have a display (or a keyboard, if I recall correctly) and E-Machines recalled most of them before they ever hit the stores. Lonnie at TigerDirect was supposed to get some of these last year, but I think that deal fell through due to lack of interest, or lack of inventory/supplies.

    of course, if you want to provide your own screen, keyboard, and mouse, it might be okay for just futzing/hacking. to each his own . . .

    keith721

    12-04-2002 16:41:22

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    http://www.hitechcafe.com/eshop/product.asp?sku=EZNET+200&dept_id=14
    This is an emachine
    12-05-2002 20:10:44

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    I managed to get FreeBSD 4.7 installed and running on my emachine. It requires an external usb storage device, and as-is provides X11 and vnc. It is at:
    http://jpe45305.homeunix.org/dl/images/emsn
    01-03-2003 04:56:04

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) TaurusGuy
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    How did you get the image on to the sandisk using what usb storage method and how)?
    01-03-2003 14:42:04

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    I'll put an entire POST on how to do this on my website by the end of the weekend. With any luck an other website that has been already started will copy and or contrib. to my write up.

    As is my website is http://members.panax.com/bachh/

    01-03-2003 15:38:39

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) TaurusGuy
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    I'll be happy to put it on my site once it is written.

    http://www.mbmd2002.com/emsn/

    Shoot me an e-mail at hpiper@tconl.com when you get it finished. Thanks!

    01-03-2003 16:20:46

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    both of the imagies are binary images. One might be able to use dolly (boot from zip disk & write to the sandisk.) Getting the image on the 256MB compact flash would probably have to be done from another computer.
    I actually created the images with freebsd (cp /dev/ad0 emsnrt ; cp /dev/da0 emsnext ) using a zip disk that booted freebsd.
    01-03-2003 17:49:08

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) TaurusGuy
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    What I'm saying is that the machine does not automatically recognize the compact flash. How do you get it to?
    01-03-2003 19:17:40

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    The image for the sandisk is the absolute minimum required to boot the freebsd kernel, start up usbd (for one tree span,) recognize the usb compact flash adapter, mount the compact flash, and resume the normal boot process on the compact flash from that point.
    01-03-2003 19:38:49

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    correction: "the image for the _internal_ sandisk"...
    01-03-2003 19:39:39

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) TaurusGuy
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    OK, so my point is, how does that image get onto the internal SanDisk? What did you use?
    01-03-2003 21:26:39

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    Well, I'm not sure how relevant it is, but I did the following:
    1) create a 100MB zip disk, partitioned with a 5MB bootable dos partition and (approximately) 95MB freebsd partition. I did this by first using windows & fdisk to create the dos partition then format /s 'd it. Then I used the zip drive with a freebsd machine to fdisk the freebsd partition.
    2) performed a minimal freebsd install on to a harddrive on another computer
    3) used tar to move just the essential parts of the bsd filesystem onto the freebsd slice on the zip disk
    4) copied the freebsd kernel and a program called bsdboot (from the freebsd dos tools directory on the distrib cd) to the dos partition
    5) booted the zip disk on the eznet200. used bsdboot to boot the freebsd kernel and mount the bsd partition as root
    6) use /stand/sysinstall to fdisk a freebsd partition on the internal sandisk & label it as /dev/ad0s1a & write partition boot code
    7) on the other freebsd machine used vnconfig to mount the floppy mfsroot image from the cd distrib
    8) used tar to copy this mfsroot image onto the zip disk
    9) boot the eznet200 again with the zip disk
    10) use tar to copy the mfsroot image to /dev/ad0s1a (the internal sandisk)
    11) copied necessary files to get freebsd to boot from /dev/ad0s1a (from memory: init, usbd, usbd.conf, create a fstab, create symbolic links so the kernel and init can find the files they are looking for, create an rc script to run usbd mount an external compact flash and run rc from that compact flash.)
    12) the external compact flash was created by using sysinstall to fdisk & label it, then used tar to copy the necessary files from the harddrive from the above minimal freebsd install
    01-03-2003 21:43:10

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    (I think I am repeating myself!)
    01-03-2003 21:52:36

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    ...perhaps I have been misunderstanding your question?
    If you want to know how to get the image on the internal sandisk, create a bootable zip disk on a windows machine and put emsnrt and a copy of dolly on it. Boot off this zip disk on the eznet200, and use dolly to write emsnrt to the sandisk (i.e. the first harddrive.) I don't know the parameters offhand, but someone else here must.
    01-03-2003 22:36:13

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 1 times) radarman
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    jpe_dty,
    Just out of curiosity,have you posted to the FreeBSD questions list lately? There's a guy on the list working on a 5.0 RC2 install to an IA-1.
    01-03-2003 22:36:50

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) jpe_dty
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    radarman,
    I am not sure what list you are referring to.
    Also, I do not have an IA-1.
    01-04-2003 07:38:24

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) radarman
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    Guess not. I subscribe to freebsd-questions at FreeBSD.org. It's a mailing list for people interested in FreeBSD. I get the digest version, because it generates a lot of mail. It's a lot like this forum - a few people know a lot, more people know a little, and most people know nothing (but are looking to learn). ;)

    I've been posting with another fellow about custom code for the IA-1 to turn on the LED's/backlight, handle the "function keys" in Xfree86 3.3.6, turning off the backlight from the screen saver module, etc. I'm rewriting portions of the operating system to handle the IA-1's quirks.

    01-04-2003 08:46:50

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    radarman we have one of these type's of computers, NOT IA-1's. Well most dont as far as I can tell in THIS post.
    http://www.mbmd2002.com/emsn/
    No screen, just a box with VGA OUT, and the rest of the parts that make a computer work.
    01-04-2003 09:49:10

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) Kurlon
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    radarman: Thats actually me posting about the 5.0RC2 install on an IA1. Nice to see there's people from here reading the freebsd lists!
    01-04-2003 22:50:52

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) hwhack
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    Ok,

    Here's a little tidbit I've discovered, which should help those of you make something of this "storage starved" box.

    There is a 32 pin DIP pattern just to the right of the ROM. This appears to be present to allow for a M-System DiskOnChip DIP part to be put there. I populated the socket with a 32 pin DIP socket, put in a 8MB DOC (DiskOnChip) that I had lying around [that was setup to be DOS bootable], and sure enough I was able to boot. You'll need to do 1 of 2 things: either when you create your DOC image you specify /FIRST (so that the DOC is the boot drive), or go into SETUP and Disable the Primary IDE channel. I did the latter, since my DOC image was already created. Otherwise it will still try to boot off the SANDISK.

    Works like a champ! Now you can get however big a DOC is these days (something like 288MB)!

    Enjoy!

    PS: I believe the patterns under the DIP socket, and on the other side of the board, are for soldered down version of the DOC. This would allow for two 8MB parts to be soldered down, yielding 16MB total (same as the on-board SANDISK). Seems to make sense...

    01-05-2003 00:20:28

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    witch chip did you use? part number, I'm intrested.
    01-23-2003 14:20:48

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    witch chip did you use? part number, I'm intrested.
    01-23-2003 14:20:54

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) hwhack
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    M-Systems MDOC MD-2800-D08 (8 MB), but any M-Systems DOC chip should work...
    01-26-2003 20:48:07

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    When booting do you boot to a dos C: prompt?
    01-27-2003 06:01:21

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    Got one more question, what side of the board did you plug the modual into? cpu side or other side and witch orientation?
    01-27-2003 08:47:01

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) hwhack
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    Component side of the board. Yes, boots to C: (or will be D: depending on how you setup the DOC).

    Looks like this:

    ---------------- top of board --------------
    1--------32
    2 31
    . .
    . .
    -------- . .
    | PLCC | . .
    |Flash | . .
    | ROM | . .
    ---1---/ . .
    16--------17

    Coin
    Batt

    Hope this helps!

    01-27-2003 15:17:00

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) hwhack
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    Crap, it cut out my leading spaces! Oh well, I tried.

    Anyway, put yer socket on the component side and place pin 1 of the DOC nearest the outside of the board and you will be right.

    01-27-2003 15:20:03

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    Ok, so pin one is the squar pin. Oh ya any of you guys tryed my IDE hardware hack? I dont know for shure if it fully works just yet? but i know it detects a hard drive in the bios AT this point. A pin i forgot to pin out is the "csel" or cable sellect pin. on the sandisk controler chip thats pin 23 witch is labled. If thats connected to a test point the IDE should work then. A cdrom or a hard drive under 500megs will work befor any other newer hard drive will work.

    Any of you guys have or know someone with broken non working eznet?? I'm in search for one so i can do more pin out tracing. one thing I want to pinout are the video video connecters so i can add a composit encoding chip. and 2 of the missing ide lines.

    http://members.panax.com/bachh/ My EZnet 200 tower, hacking page.
    01-29-2003 17:00:16

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    There is a new BBS page for the EZNET 200. Nothing there yet but its there on the main bbs page.
    02-05-2003 19:20:23

    New MessageRE:eMachine MSN Companion (modified 0 times) mp3boombox
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    oh for IA'S didnt read the post i gues.
    02-05-2003 19:23:02

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