Hello all,
I am having a problem I hope someone can help me with. I have a CFFA3000 v1.0 Rev C that I successfully installed in my Apple IIe Platinum back in 2018. I have recently wanted to get back into my retro Apple computing, and unfortunately, I can not get the card to boot, or even get into the menu.
I have tried in an Apple II+, a IIgs Rom01, and the original IIe Platinum. I have experimented with removing all other cards and trying to boot. I have booted, and then done a PR#X (just hangs), I have booted and gone directly into the monitor to try to call the menus directly using *C[X]30G (no luck). I have performed the Power-on self tests (Switch 6 ON) and passed successfully. I have also been able to reflash (blind) the firmware with the latest CFFA.xsv and CFFA.bin together, separate, and trying older versions (all successfully). I am seeing the (2,7) blinks after the fireware updates, and (3,7) after the CPLD updates. I have even tried multiple Compact Flash cards, including the one I received with the card. Also, on the IIgs, I did flip Switch 7 to on, but I was never able to see the CFFA3000 CDA.
Does anyone have any ideas? Is there a way I can enable (Switch 3 ON) and view the detailed debugging without access to the menus? Are there any other tests I can try. The card seems responsive and it is very strange I'm not getting the menu (holding M at boot).
Recently, I have been attempting to go into the monitor at the card and follow the assembly to see if it is possibly corrupt. Does anyone have a listing of the initial dump at say *C[X]30G that I could compare the first 20-30 bytes with?
I have also registered for the dreher.net forum at https://dreher.net/forum1/, but there appears to be very little activity.
thanks for reading.....
I have a working CFFA3000 v1.0 Rev C. With the card in slot 5, no USB stick and no CF card:
Boot:
Boot.JPG
Menu:
Menu.JPG
Excellent. This helps point to a key issue. I have attached my listings as well.
It is obvious that there is a problem. I'm doing a more detailed anlaysis, but for at least the C500 listings, it seems several of my bytes are often off by 1 bit or so. It is also interesting that it appears that some form of the 'menus' are starting at my memory location C518, although again off by 1.
Is it possible that the issue is on IIe or the card itself? I'm going to find ANOTHER CFlash card and reflash again to see if that changes anything. I will also try the card in the IIgs to see if I'm seeing the same results.
thanks again,
Boot Bad:
Boot_Bad.jpg
Menu Bad:
Menu_Bad.jpg
Well, if it's happening on 3 different machines as you stated in your original post, chances are the problem is in the card itself.