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Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin>

New MessageAnyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) nleahcim
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Hi - that CF header on the virgin mobo just screams at me to use it. I'm sure I could get a plug for it - but would it be worth the work to solder it in? Anyone get it to work? Would windows just automatically recognize it?
03-14-2003 22:08:14

New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) zmoz
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I don't know what or where, but you also must solder in other things along with the CF socket.
03-16-2003 23:39:07

New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) wvgeo
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I have installed a compact flash in the Webplayer by purchasing a CF/IDE adapter that has a 44-pin and 40-pin IDE connector. I hooked it up to the 44-pin IDE header on the MB and it was recognized as a harddrive. The adapter allows the CF to be removed and can be set up as a master or slave drive if you want to use the DOC. I bought the adapter from Mesa Electronics in Richmond, CA, ph 510-223-9272, part no. CFADPT II for $25.00 (Sept 02 pricing) plus shipping. Hope this helps.
03-17-2003 11:00:19

New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) nleahcim
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Yes - I'm aware that there are IDE to CF adapters - but what about the CF header already on the board?
03-17-2003 17:46:19

New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) hwhack
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I am familiar with the IDE header, but is there a second CF header?

Sorry, if there is I did not know about it. Do you have a pic I can see?

Thanks!

03-23-2003 22:00:51

New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) linoleum
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I'm not sure this matches the thread so much as the topic, but...

I have one of those cheap USB compactflash readers. Is it possible to get it to boot from a CF card using one of these devices? I played with it a little a few months ago with no success; I think it recognized the USB reader as a storage (maybe boot, too?) device in the BIOS but when it got to actually booting it didn't. Aside from "it just won't boot from a USB reader," this could have been due to BIOS settings or maybe my attempt at creating a bootable CF card?

Anyone tried it?

03-24-2003 12:24:10

New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) nleahcim
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Lets say you look at the virgin from the back (ie usb ports facing you). Directly to the left of teh IDE plug is where a CF plug could be attatched. About booting off of teh USB CF card: Have you enabled USB in the BIOS? the virgin comes with UB disabled.
03-24-2003 19:38:57

New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) linoleum
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OK I tried again last night.

USB is enabled in the BIOS. It does show a Generic USB Storage device in the boot order list. Once it gets to the actual booting I've gotten at best a "No operating system found" error to at worst a frozen black screen (depending on what's on the card). When I hit enter after getting the not found error, the little light on the USB reader blinks, so I figure it's looking in the right place. So I'm guessing I just need to know how to create a bootable CF card. I've got a choice of linux/windows OSes, so if someone can explain the process for either of those....

03-25-2003 09:38:05

New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) MOOKIE
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Here's the steps I used to make a bootable CF card (internal on my Gateway Touchpad):
  • Use a master pc running Windows ME (Yes, it MUST be WinME)
  • Download Ranish Partition Manager
  • Run Ranish Partition Manager - This will allow you to:
    a) Format the card.
    b) Set the partition ACTIVE
    c) Set the bootflag on the CF card in a USB reader.
    For some reason Windows ME is the ONLY solution we've come up with.
    Ranish runs as a Dos App within ME.
    All other Windows OS's will not let it run this way.
  • Next copy your OS image (that you've already created for the Virgin) to the CF card.
  • Now you have a bootable Compact Flash card with your OS image on it.
  • Plug everything into your Virgin and let us know if it boots
    Adam@MOOKIE
    • 03-25-2003 13:35:10

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) linoleum
    Profile
    I can fdisk the card from linux (partition, set active flag). Does it matter what filesystem I use? I'm not sure about part c). Is that something specific to your program or should you be able to do it with generic disk tools (like fdisk, etc)?

    I guess the part I don't have is the "OS image that I've already created." What's a good way to make one? Apparently floppy disk images aren't good enough cause they're the wrong size. ;)

    I'm using an 8mb card for now (testing; I figured I could boot DOS or linux at least with that). I also have a 128mb card that I'm hoping is enough to boot something that could flash the DOC (?), but for now it's sitting in my digital camera. :)

    03-25-2003 15:01:47

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) MOOKIE
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    For my Virgin, I installed the 98lite image on the 48mb DOC. It was available somewhere on this board a loooooong time ago. To do that I had to first install a hard drive, install Windoze, download the image, drivers, etc, then copy the image to the DOC, then remove the hard drive and reboot. Simple but tedious.

    I did the same on my Gateway Touchpad. I created my own 98lite image. Then transferred it to a 128mb compact flash card using the procedure above.

    You should be able to boot to Dos or Linux if your card is bootable. BE AWARE that the USB port on the Virgin is lousy at best. That may be the problem. Or maybe it doesn't recognize your brand of CF card. That happens on some machines (not just the Virgin).

    03-25-2003 20:29:18

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) linoleum
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    I'd prefer not to use a hard drive.

    I guess the things I need answered (or a link to the answer) are:
    a) How to create the image
    b) How to copy the image to the flash card
    c) How the card is made bootable

    03-26-2003 08:41:39

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) MOOKIE
    Profile
    I just saw your other post about hard drives. To create an image you first have to install a new OS on the Virgin.
    Install 98lite (download at 98lite.net) from scratch, then remove all the unneccessary setup files and other bits and compress the drive down so it is smaller than 128mb.

    That is the image that you will create using a tool like Norton Ghost. Then just extract that image onto your bootable CF card, set the Bios to boot from USB and you should be in business.

    Go to this site for further instructions on installing Win98 (98lite installs the same way). Don't worry about mounting your hard drive since you will remove it anyway.
    http://www.larwe.com/technical/webplayer_pc.html

    03-27-2003 11:17:26

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) jhd3rd
    Profile
    Please note I have NOT tried this on my webplayer yet, but I have been doing a lot of work recently with bootable USB flash devices.

    First, be sure your flash device hardware is bootable. Most devices that are "USB Mass Storage" compatible are bootable. Another way to tell is if they are compatible with Windows 2000 and XP without needing a driver. Devices that require a special driver under XP or Win2K are usually not bootable.

    By far the easiest way to make your device bootable is to use a Windows 98 PC. Install any necessary drivers for Win98 and then plug the device in. It should show up as a drive, we'll call it drive X:. Now, open a DOS window and do:

    format /s x:

    If you already have stuff on the card and don't want to reformat, do:

    sys x:

    If you are using linux, you can also install lilo to the device. This is a bit more complicated and may vary from machine to machine, but if you are linux-savy it's not rocket science.

    03-28-2003 12:10:23

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) jhd3rd
    Profile
    OK, I tried to make my Webplayer boot from USB, but I don't see anything in the BIOS that indicates USB booting is supported. Please tell me where your USB device is showing up in the BIOS screens. Could you have a different BIOS version than me?

    BTW, I am using a pen drive that I have successfully booted from using other machines.

    03-28-2003 18:31:22

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) jhd3rd
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    Never mind, I see it now under "Removable devices" in the boot order screen. Unfortunately, it isn't booting. I'll keep playing around with this and see if I can get it working. It would be nice to have another bootable storage alternative.
    03-28-2003 18:38:38

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) Joonysam
    Profile
    Right...so has anyone actually tried to solder a CF header and not use a USB CF reader or an IDE to CF adapter?

    Go to molex.com and plug in 0538565010 where it says "Enter Molex Part No." then click the samples button to get one for free! I've ordered one for the heck of it but I don't plan to actually attempt to solder it on due to my lack in soldering skillz

    03-28-2003 21:07:13

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) hwhack
    Profile
    nleahcim:

    Ah, I see it now: http://www.larwe.com/technical/img/wpl_mobotopann.jpg (the place where the CF connector needs to go). Thanks!

    Perhaps I will try to order a free one (like Joonysam says to do) and try it out. Does not sound like anyone else has, or they have and have not gotten it to work (yet).

    Regards.

    03-31-2003 21:45:38

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) drider
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    OK. I got one of those CF connectors, but b-4 I spend the time soldering it in, can anyone say for certain if I can use a CF in the Webplayer (not an IDE or USB device)?
    07-27-2003 19:48:43

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) nleahcim
    Profile
    From everything that I've heard - it won't work. Maybe when I'm bored some time I'll take a look at it and see if I can figure out how to make it work. Probably wouldn't be too complex. I bet it's just missing a couple components... Anyways - short answer is no - it won't work - don't waste your time.
    07-29-2003 02:16:21

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) Svartalf
    Profile
    Skip soldering anything onto the Webplayer. It's not worth the risk unless you're REALLY good at soldering and you're just as likely as not to end up with a paperweight because it's all pretty much surface mount stuff. Even if you DID solder one on there, it'd be no different than the 44-pin IDE header (They're using the same circuitry...) and you're just as well off buying one of the many 44-pin IDE to CF adapters. You won't have hot-swap with it (but you wouldn't have with the soldered on socket anyhow...) but it WILL boot off of CF's that have been properly partitioned and have a proper bootloader installed on them, etc. It works exactly like a harddisk- just no moving parts and a lot smaller capacity.
    07-30-2003 16:38:08

    New MessageRE:Anyone ever have any success with compactflash on the virgin> (modified 0 times) kronchev
    Profile | Email
    "Right...so has anyone actually tried to solder a CF header and not use a USB CF reader or an IDE to CF adapter?
    Go to molex.com and plug in 0538565010 where it says "Enter Molex Part No." then click the samples button to get one for free! I've ordered one for the heck of it but I don't plan to actually attempt to solder it on due to my lack in soldering skillz"


    #### you, sir, for abusing a free service.

    09-17-2003 16:30:44

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