Re: CompactFlash IDE - not recognized

On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 07:18:59 -0800, Kapp wrote:

I am converting an old laptop into a digital picture frame. My thought was
to create a small XP (nlite) with the apps I need (slideshow, wireless, vnc)
on a hard drive and then copy it over to a CompactFlash which I would then
replace the laptop harddrive with. I've got a nice tight version on a hard
drive (under 500Mb) ready to put onto CF.

Problem: it doesn't appear that the BIOS I have will recognize the CF as a
drive. I am using a 44-pin CF/IDE adapter I picked up on the internet. Using
a desktop, I confirmed that the adapter works (of course I had to adapt IT
to 40 pin IDE) and actually got the desktop to DOS boot from a formatted CF
(two actually, a 1.0GB Sandisk and a 512MB PNY). Unfortunately, hooking it
into the old laptop (DELL Inspiron 3500) the BIOS doesn't see it and thus
fdisk gives me "no fixed disks present."

Questions: Anyone have any thoughts on how to get around this? Perhaps a
different adapter? Am I lost for this laptop? I ensured it is the latest
BIOS version (for this inspiron Rev A14). I can proceed with using a hard
drive but the thought of using the CF really appeals to me. One thought I
had as to why the BIOS is not recognizing it was whether it has to do with
the CF card being marked as "removable". However, because it works on the
newer desktop I wonder if this could be it. Other than that, my limited
experience in these matters leaves me clueless!

The "adapter" is transparent to the IDE hardware, you did have a card in
it when you powered the machine ? - the BIOS would need to see the card
during POST for it to work, some cards do not support the generic IDE mode
required.

Jon


.

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