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    PCEngines alix2c3 (Substitute for WRAP) boot failes

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    • V
      vangual
      last edited by

      @fridaynoon:

      (snip)
      Hope that helps.

      Thanks! I've tried to create it this way but the resulting cf doesn't boot for me either. I've tried both using the freedos files from the pcengines freedos image as well as the ones from a default win98 bootdisk.

      Additionally I've also tried using the xmodem upload capability from inside the bios but after uploading and a complete poweroff, the bios was still the same.

      I've contacted pc engines to see if they sell cf cards with a preloaded working dos installation or at least one that matches their given freedos image.

      @hk:

      With latest BIOS ( http://www.pcengines.ch/file/alixb098d.zip ) it's working now!

      Great news!

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      • G
        gtcnet
        last edited by

        can someone offer some insight on how to get the latest bios updated via Xmodem?

        in the 98d zipfile there are several files alix0,alix1 and alix2.  I've tried to xmodem over the files but the bios dosen't seem to change.

        Can anyone offer suggestions as to which file worked via xmodem and any special procedure to make it work?

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        • C
          Clown
          last edited by

          Works now.

          But one bad thing about the new ALIX board, the interface devices are not VLAN capable (just a driver problem?)!

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          • C
            covex
            last edited by

            Works now.

            how?!  ??? did you use 128mb cf?

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            • C
              Clown
              last edited by

              @covex:

              Works now.

              how?!  ??? did you use 128mb cf?

              Yes, the one I boght direct by pcengines…

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              • C
                covex
                last edited by

                ok  :(
                is there any way to do it without ordering this cf from pcengines?

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                • H
                  hk
                  last edited by

                  @covex:

                  ok  :(
                  is there any way to do it without ordering this cf from pcengines?

                  Yes, I used an old 128MB CF with the FreeDOS-Image from PCEngines. I put the image on the card with physdiskwrite: http://m0n0.ch/wall/physdiskwrite.php

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                  • C
                    covex
                    last edited by

                    Yes, I used an old 128MB CF with the FreeDOS-Image from PCEngines. I put the image on the card with physdiskwrite: http://m0n0.ch/wall/physdiskwrite.php

                    ok 
                    is there any way to do it without ordering this cf from pcengines or using 128mb cf?  :(
                    i can't find any 128mb cards here.

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                    • GruensFroeschliG
                      GruensFroeschli
                      last edited by

                      You dont "have" to use a 128 MB card.
                      Any CF card bigger than 128 MB should work as well. (have it running on a 512 Mb card right here)

                      We do what we must, because we can.

                      Asking questions the smart way: http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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                      • C
                        covex
                        last edited by

                        You dont "have" to use a 128 MB card.
                        Any CF card bigger than 128 MB should work as well. (have it running on a 512 Mb card right here)

                        did you use the image from pcengines? how did you put it on. i've 256mb cf and running phydiskwrite freedos.img doesn't work. trying to boot getting a message bootable partition damaged or something

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                        • S
                          sbyoon
                          last edited by

                          If you succeeded in freedos booting with other CF card that are not supplied by pcengines, pls let us know the maker or brand name of the CF card. I tried with Sandisk 512mb and Transcend 128mb but they didn't work.

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                          • M
                            Md2k
                            last edited by

                            PNY 256 MB and Transcend 2048 MB didn´t worked with Freedos on my ALIX.

                            I succesfully flashed the BIOS with a lended hama 128 MB Card after 2 evenings wasted with my bigger cards.

                            Pfsense is running very well now.

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                            • GruensFroeschliG
                              GruensFroeschli
                              last edited by

                              @covex:

                              You dont "have" to use a 128 MB card.
                              Any CF card bigger than 128 MB should work as well. (have it running on a 512 Mb card right here)

                              did you use the image from pcengines? how did you put it on. i've 256mb cf and running phydiskwrite freedos.img doesn't work. trying to boot getting a message bootable partition damaged or something

                              d'oh… i meant you where talking about the pf itself and not about flashing the bios.
                              that i did with a 128 mb card ^^"

                              We do what we must, because we can.

                              Asking questions the smart way: http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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                              • V
                                vangual
                                last edited by

                                Just a small headsup. There is now a seperate page on the pcengines websites giving some instructions how to create your own freedos bootable cfdisk. :)

                                http://www.pcengines.ch/freedos.htm

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                                • C
                                  covex
                                  last edited by

                                  Just a small headsup. There is now a seperate page on the pcengines websites giving some instructions how to create your own freedos bootable cfdisk.

                                  received an email from Pascal with this link. haven't tried this yet though.

                                  …

                                  didn't work  :( i feel stupid! board wont recognize this partition as bootable...

                                  even though my alix board is working with pfsense-1024 image i can't reboot it from the interface, only power cycle. what is the difference between pfsense.img and pfsense-1024.img anyway?

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                                  • F
                                    felixh
                                    last edited by

                                    It took me 2 days to find a way to update the bios of my alix w/o a 128cf :S

                                    I followed the instruction for creating a bootable disk for syslinux (second part) on http://ben.franske.com/blogs/bensbits.php/2007/08/21/booting_dos_from_a_usb_flash_drive

                                    after copying the bios update files to the cf - it booted fine, but asked me to enter the full path to the command-interpreter - instead of command.com i gave him sb.com. voila! flashing started and finished with an ok.

                                    now my alix works with RC3.

                                    I used a 46MB CF - formatted it with FAT instead of FAT32

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                                    • I
                                      Issacsim
                                      last edited by

                                      I just got my Alix board and red case.

                                      Where are you guys drilling for the antenna (antenna hole covered by USB ports)?
                                      Which lead on the Atheros card to use for the pigtail (if it makes a diffrance)?

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                                      • I
                                        Issacsim
                                        last edited by

                                        Are there any other ways to flash this bios. I have tried all the methods above with 4 different cards and none will boot. The most I got was "ROOT FAT" and than nothing.

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                                        • I
                                          Issacsim
                                          last edited by

                                          OK, got it working with "File Copy" Option from http://www.pcengines.ch/freedos.htm on a 2GB SanDisk

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                                          • C
                                            covex
                                            last edited by

                                            i still can't set neither of my cf's active and make alix boot from them :(

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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