comms link help

[play2win]

Hi,

I just installed my Datel PC Commslink pro, to backup all of my save games on my 4in1 cartridge. Its in the ISA slot of my motherboard, a KT7A 1.3, but I can't seem to get the software to work. I'm trying to ideally use it in windows XP. When I boot right into DOS with a dos Bootdisk I get an invalid drive specification when I refer to the hard drive, but whenever I try to run the software in windows, it just hangs when it tries to communicate with the card. Can someone help me get this working? Thanks!

 

[CyberWarriorX]

http://forums.segaxtreme.net/index.php?act...ndpost&p=142318

Cyber Warrior X

 

[play2win]

I did stumble on that threat, but when I tried both totalio.sys and directio.sys, I still had problems. With those drivers running, action.exe would isntantly freeze when I opened it. I could not move the selector at all it at all. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

 

[ExCyber]

Are you using Datel's ACTION.EXE or EMS's? I'm not sure they're compatible with each other...

 

[RockinB]

Originally posted by play2win@Thu, 2005-08-25 @ 04:23 AM

I did stumble on that threat, but when I tried both totalio.sys and directio.sys, I still had problems. With those drivers running, action.exe would isntantly freeze when I opened it. I could not move the selector at all it at all. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

[post=138711]Quoted post[/post]​

Same for me, but I cannot guarantee that my commslink cart is okay. It is most likely broken. But would be cool if it's not. My setup worked years ago with Win98, but it was very error prone.

 

[antime]

IIRC Datel's/EMS' software has some issues running in windowed mode. Running it in fullscreen prevented it from freezing, but I don't think I managed to get it working even then. I used it from DOS to reflash the cartridge once.

 

[Berty]

Its possible that your dos boot disk doesnt like NTFS, it may be a better option to put all of your software on a floppy and run from there?

 

[play2win]

I've been using datel's action.exe program since that's what came with my card. I will try running the program fullscreen when I get back. I have also tried executing the software from the floppy in "pure dos" mode (dos that I boot through a floppy) but haven't had much luck with that either. I have not tried running datel's software in fullscreen mode with the ports opened through totalio.sys, I will try that later today when I have a moment. Do you think EMS' software might work better? At this point I'm willing to try almost anything. Thanks!!

 

[play2win]

Originally posted by play2win@Thu, 2005-08-25 @ 10:40 AM

I've been using datel's action.exe program since that's what came with my card. I will try running the program fullscreen when I get back. I have also tried executing the software from the floppy in "pure dos" mode (dos that I boot through a floppy) but haven't had much luck with that either. I have not tried running datel's software in fullscreen mode with the ports opened through totalio.sys, I will try that later today when I have a moment. Do you think EMS' software might work better? At this point I'm willing to try almost anything. Thanks!!

[post=138735]Quoted post[/post]​

Ok, I've got it working. Thanks very much for all the help! I want to post my method for others' benefit. What ultimately worked for me was crating a dos floppy boot disk within windows xp (through the drive format menue). Then, I copied the files in /saturn from the datel floppy to a separate blank floppy. I rebooted the comp and booted from the dos boot disk. I then put the floppy with the /saturn files in it and ran action.exe from there. After that, it was simply a function of finding the right i/o port, uploading the games to the floppy, and then copying the floppy files to the hard disk after xp was loaded. I may tinker a bit to see if I can get it working within windows but in the mean time, this will do fine. Hope that helps everyone! Thanks again.

 

[ExCyber]

Do you think EMS' software might work better?

Yes. If you have an EMS-made cart, it's a better idea to use EMS's software (I think it's hiding in the misc/help section of SX or you should be able to find it on http://www.hkems.com). I think the basic command set between the two carts is the same, but at the very least firmware upgrades will definitely not work unless you are using the matching software.

 

[dibz]

Because the method you described worked, I would have to go with Berty's suggestion. I would definately say its a filesystem issue, it simply wasn't designed to work with NTFS. (your floppy would have been FAT or FAT32)