Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?

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Title: Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?
Post by: PowerPC on October 25, 2006, 04:24:27 PM
'am tryn' to install NS 3.3 on my Compaq ProLinea 4/50 (16 MB RAM 1024 IDE HD (Due strange circumstances only 512 MB are recogniced))

While installing i tried the EIDE & ATAPI Device Controller (v3.35) obtainable by Apple - Installation works but while restarting am error occurs that mentioned driver isn't vailable from CD and i would 've to insert the FloppyDisk.

To the opint - when inserting the Disk following error is printed:

biosread error 0x4@18, C:0 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@18, C:0 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@18, C:0 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@18, C:0 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
Bad superblock: error 1
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
Bad superblock: error 1
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
biosread error 0x4@342, C:9 H:1 S:O
Bad superblock: error 1

Anyone knows what that's supposed to mean or encountered similar problems?
Title: Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?
Post by: RacerX on October 25, 2006, 07:59:43 PM
You have two problems... first is that it is highly unlikely that a 486 would have EIDE... it would most likely have just IDE. Second is that is it also highly unlikely that the bios on such a system would be able to work with drives larger than 512 MB.

There are two ways around this:[list=1]
Title: Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?
Post by: PowerPC on October 26, 2006, 03:46:28 AM
Well the BIOS actually says it would - in reality it wouldn't. Running DOS was never a problem - i just formated the recocnized 512 MB. NS won't do that?
Title: Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?
Post by: brams on October 26, 2006, 07:03:05 AM
Quote from: "PowerPC"Well the BIOS actually says it would - in reality it wouldn't. Running DOS was never a problem - i just formated the recocnized 512 MB. NS won't do that?

Assuming the logic board has a BIOS that you are able to flash, does it have the latest BIOS
Title: Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?
Post by: itomato on October 26, 2006, 07:27:42 PM
I would consider starting fresh.

1. Check the hard drive model number, and get the actual Cylinder/Head/Sector count.  Google the model number and see if you can find a datasheet from the manufacturer.  It's probably a Quantum.  If you don't find anything, open up the box and look for a label on the disk.  Write down the CHS numbers and put them into the BIOS manually.

2. Check out the floppy drive.  It probably needs to be cleaned - alcohol and a cotton swap should do the trick.  You might (will probably) have to take it out of the computer, and perhaps remove the top cover.

---
How much RAM is in that machine?  It looks like it shipped with 4MB!!
Can you scrounge up a newer PC?  The Dell Optiplex GX series are NeXT/Openstep-ready; Pentium II Matrox video, 4GB hard drive, Intel PIIX ATA, PC100 memory, built-in Intel ethernet..  [/b]
Title: Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?
Post by: PowerPC on October 27, 2006, 02:17:21 AM
Quote from: "itomato"Write down the CHS numbers and put them into the BIOS manually.

You can do that?

RAM is 16 MB and the only newer x86 Computer i got is probably to new (Tyan Board, Dual PIII@700 MHz, elsa gloria graphics card, 512 MB RAM & 2x60 gig HD &c.)
Title: Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?
Post by: itomato on October 27, 2006, 05:44:55 PM
Back in the olden days, that's how you had to do it.  IDE auto-detection is a relatively recent blessing.

You might actually have better luck with the Tyan.  Especially if it has an Intel BX chipset - this means it likely has the NS/OS compatible EIDE controller.

The video card should do VESA if it's a Permedia chipset, but I don't think the VESA drivers are available for NeXTSTEP.

It's worth a shot.  Of course, the OS won't make use of the second processor, but the PIII's of that vintage are the top of the line of fully supported (hardware wise) NS/OS machines.
Title: Installing NS 3.3 on i486 Compaq?
Post by: PowerPC on October 28, 2006, 01:43:57 AM
But hey - that's my Vista RC testing machine (don't lough too hard - it performes astonishing well on that computer)  8)

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