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General Category => Technical support - Hardware related => Topic started by: Edoz(MSX) on 17:11, 31 August 20

Title: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 17:11, 31 August 20
Hi, somehow my CPC is showing the default basic screen when booting the CPC with the M4 attached.I can browse the M4 and i can access the web- portal.. but on the CPC it does not work..I already cleaned the slot pins and replaced the cable between the CPC and M4..
I am not a CPC user so i am stupid in this case..

What could be wrong? On the web portal of the M4 i can see the files on the SD but if i type CAT on the CPC i see the contents of the floppy drive...

Any suggestions ?
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: SOS on 18:27, 31 August 20
Quote from: Edoz(MSX) on 17:11, 31 August 20
I already cleaned the slot pins.
Do it much more times!


Quote from: Edoz(MSX) on 17:11, 31 August 20
What could be wrong? On the web portal of the M4 i can see the files on the SD but if i type CAT on the CPC i see the contents of the floppy drive...
So the M4 works :-)
Maybe try it with an external power-source for the M4, you must change an jumper on the M4
(PSU is an sensitive thing on the CPC)
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 19:23, 31 August 20
Hey SOS! Thanks for you help! I already tried with different power supplies.

- Using the Mini USB port (with the correct dip switch)- Putting the M4 on the motherM4 with or without power 5v on the motherX4- Connected the M4 directly on the bus connector on the CPC without motherX4, with and without power supply- Replaced already the band cable between the CPC and M4 or MotherX4
All same results. I see CPC basic but no extra M4 in the screen... seems the CPC is not reorganizing the M4. However if i pause the CPC or reset it from the M4 web- portal this works.
Any other suggestions? Do i have to load ROM;s or so? (sorry i don't know how the cpc works),
Can i do some basic commands to test something?
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 19:43, 31 August 20
Can it be, i have a CPC that has a QWERTY keyboard, but has a french layout..

I have some floppy disks.. i can run Arconoid for example .. not if tis says something but at least it seems in working condition.I used alcohol and contact spray .. and the connector is blinking .. so i have no idea..

Do i need to load something on the rom slots?
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: robcfg on 19:44, 31 August 20
Which model of CPC do you have? Any expansions?
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 19:54, 31 August 20
Amstrad 128 k CPC6128-XMEM-M4-MotherX4


Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: pelrun on 22:42, 31 August 20
Just trying the dumbest thing - on the Roms page, is the first "Enabled" option ticked?
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 07:19, 01 September 20
i cleaned a lot with alcohol etc.. and all kind of stuff... but this morning i decided to use Sandpapier .. as a last thing to try.. and wtf.. it solved the issue :D i'm very happy, it was cleaning after allThank you so much!
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 07:59, 01 September 20
Shit.... now it doesn't work anymore... i'm lost... i was able to use it then after removing the SD it didn't come back anymore.. it is just odd.... i'm pretty sure the contacts are clean...
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Shaun M. Neary on 08:37, 01 September 20
Ditch all the additional expansions for now and just plug the M4 directly into it.
Sounds like there's not enough power for all the expansions.

S.
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 10:43, 01 September 20
I already tried this. It does not matter, different power adapters, etc..

It seems, that sometimes it works, sometimes it does not (even even i don't touch) the CPC.. all very odd.
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Shaun M. Neary on 10:47, 01 September 20
Which slot is the M4 rom set to?
I find it works best in slot 7, unless you wish to use AMSDOS, then move the M4 rom to slot 6.
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Skunkfish on 11:36, 01 September 20
I've had some issues getting my M4 and X-Mem to play together nicely lately - not sure what the exact issue is. But since you've tried with only the M4 plugged in directly then it's not the same.

Out of interest - have you been able to use the ROM board functionality of the X-MEM with any success?
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 13:29, 01 September 20
Quote from: Shaun M. Neary on 10:47, 01 September 20
Which slot is the M4 rom set to?
I find it works best in slot 7, unless you wish to use AMSDOS, then move the M4 rom to slot 6.
I'm sorry i'm not a CPC user... how do i do or check this? And what is AMSDOS? sorry for all those questions
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 13:30, 01 September 20
Quote from: Skunkfish on 11:36, 01 September 20
I've had some issues getting my M4 and X-Mem to play together nicely lately - not sure what the exact issue is. But since you've tried with only the M4 plugged in directly then it's not the same.

Out of interest - have you been able to use the ROM board functionality of the X-MEM with any success?
How do i do this or check this? I have a Xmem but no idea how it works.. I need my setup to run SymbOS for testing my apps. (So i need the memory and this is where i need the Xmem for?
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: GUNHED on 14:51, 01 September 20
In the Web Interface move the M4 ROM to slot 6 and enable it. Enable all ROMs.
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 15:15, 01 September 20
Okay, you mean like this?
(https://www.msx.pics/images/2020/09/01/roms.jpg)

I changed it like this.. but it seems not the solution. Maybe i should contact Duke about this.

95 % of the time it is not detecting the M4 in CPC basic at startup.. and what i do it stays like this.. and suddenly it is back for one "session"  and then i get the CPC basic without M4 startup.. very odd
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: GUNHED on 18:12, 01 September 20
Yes, perfectly configured.

Your description sounds like a dodgy contact at the expansion port adapter.

Alternatively it can be a too weak PSU.


Can you:
- Try another expansion port cable?
- Use another PSU (2A at least)?

I assume you did format the SD card a couple of times, to be able to start from scratch. Or course you did.


Hope you get if working!  :) :) :)
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 20:11, 01 September 20
(https://i.ibb.co/KzLhqTy/Image-from-i-OS.jpg)

This case is very strange ... last night I was trying to help him, and we managed to see the screen above once, but, when resetting the M4 again, the message from the M4 was no longer seen ...
maybe @Duke (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1624) , can provide some more solution  :o
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Duke on 07:43, 02 September 20
Quote from: XeNoMoRPH on 20:11, 01 September 20

This case is very strange ... last night I was trying to help him, and we managed to see the screen above once, but, when resetting the M4 again, the message from the M4 was no longer seen ...
maybe @Duke (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1624) , can provide some more solution  :o
@Edoz(MSX) (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1188) can ship it back to me for a check up, sounds like something is dodgy with it.
Title: Re: Need help setting up M4
Post by: Edoz(MSX) on 09:55, 02 September 20
Cool! Maybe i can send you my complete expansion boards :D i will send you a PM!
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