The Sinclair QL Forum

Hi everyone (and esp. Alain Haoui - if you're here!)

I've finally gotten my Aurora+SGC system built and started to explore using the QubIDE (original board - but with the v2 GALs "1a/2a") expansion-card.

I had successfully attached and formatted a 128MB DOM (single partition) with the QubIDE v2.01 ROM/driver and was able to save and access files on it. At each reboot, a 'FAT problem' was reported, but no problems accessing the files.

I then re-programmed the ROM with Alain's v3.11 QubATA ROM image (driver_S_ROM). It successfully detected the existing DOM at boot-up (the boot-up diagnostics are very helpful!), but reported a problem with the FAT and couldn't mount the existing partition.

This wasn't a problem as I hadn't stored much there so proceeded to read Alain's excellent QubATA User Guide to understand how to re-initialise the DOM, following carefully the 'Typical sequence' steps listed on page 20 (Manual v3, from here: https://dilwyn.theqlforum.com/qlrom/QubATA311.zip)

However, at step #6 "WIN_DISK CREATE,<dev>,<part>,<size>", the command returns 'Disk full' - even though no partitions are listed by WIN_DISK "SUMMARY",<dev> (only the column headings are displayed.)

Any ideas?

One point to note - I had manually 'hacked' the ROM images (both the v2.01 and the v3.11) in a Hex editor to replace all occurrences of 'WIN' with 'QUB' - I also have a working SD-Card in this system that already uses the WIN device-name. Alain does explain that the RAM version can be CONFIGured to use the alternative device-name, but I wasn't sure how relevant that was for the ROM image, so did it by hand - which seemed to work under v2.01...

Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

Hi Martyn


The error message FAT problem means there is no Qubide Partition table on the drive.

On nee drives of say 1Gb, I use this process:
It doesn't have to be a Superbasic programme, but I forget the process to create a QubATA drive system.

Thank you Derek

Your SB program appears functionally similar to the process I followed.

I suspect something awry with my DOM - I have another to test - after I return from the family holiday in August

Warm regards,
Martyn.

Hi Martyn

Some DOM need power, maybe adding a power supply to the DOM will help.

What is the make and model of the DOM?

You could try inserting the DOM into a PC IDE port, and use the Windows or Linux diagnostics to see if there is any problems.

Hi Derek

Yes, I provide power via a separate 2-pin 5v connector (though it could take power from Pin-20 as well.)

Is a 'PQI 128MB' - cheap, if I remember correctly, so probably not quite to standard anyway.

What is perplexing is that it formatted and was accessible under QubIDE 2.01, but not once I upgraded the driver to Alain's terrific QubATA 3.11 - which autodetects the brand/model, just doesn't like the FAT and doesn't seem to allow me to remove/re-add the partition...

Good idea to try it on a PC - let's see what Windoze makes of it...