forum.system-cfg.com

Hi!

Sorry for digging out this topic after a year but I have some minor problems with my micral 65 PC. I can't boot it, as well some errors are shown (cmos, system cfg failure etc. same ones as fneck had on 1st page) Do You happen to know where can I find original disks for this machine? I mean bios setup, ms-dos.... Thank You in advance!

The BIOS setup is the same for all the Bull's computers. You can find it here:
https://software.system-cfg.com/bios/bull/

Thank You. Once again excuse me for the post about 65 - but I don't want to start new topic to mess....
I've tried to boot from floppy but it doesn't work - LED is active all the time while the drive isn't loading anything at all.

My question is -won't be any problem to take out the whole controler, put a soundcard with IDE/FLOPPY controller and try to boot it somehow from there? I've already put an ISA card to check if it gonna power on - without problem. Changed EGA card to VGA too - success. Maybe I'm asking silly questions, but my PC world started from 1990 using a 386/486....

I've attached some fotos showing this beauty.

P.S. I've rescued her from the scrapyard.... Just some small rust in the upper front - but I will clean it later.

I really would like to see this PC booting up, loading some msdos - maybe even norton commander!

Thanks for the help!

The problem is that the floppy controller is built into the motherboard and I don't think it can be disabled (to be checked).

Spitz a écrit : ↑06 sept. 2020 20:56 I've tried to boot from floppy but it doesn't work

You know that the floppy drive may be 720KB and not 1.4MB ?

I was thinking about it, under windows 95 I can't format disk like that - If Im correct I need to "cover" hole with tape to make 720KB from 1.44MB? I'll try to archieve it under msdos tommorow. Thanks for the tip.

Yes, you need to cover the hole. Some OS don't format correctly in 720 KB, you will have to switch to a command window and use the syntax FORMAT A: /t:80 /n:9.

Spitz a écrit : ↑06 sept. 2020 20:56 Once again excuse me for the post about 65 - but I don't want to start new topic to mess...

I think it's better to start a new topic for your Bull 65, can I do it?

fneck a écrit : ↑06 sept. 2020 21:56 (...)
I think it's better to start a new topic for your Bull 65, can I do it?

Yes please! Great French PC and I would like to keep it, would be smart to do this. Thank You!

Ok some little update. Im trying to create bootable disk. In WinImage I left 1.44MB option as 720KB doesn't work, even in dos/windows with command FORMAT A: /t:80 /n:9. BUT from what I can see - floppy disk is reading disk! Pls see attachement.... So i wonder now - how should I make a bootable disk correctly.....

You don't give us enough information on how you do to recreate a floppy disk. What is the configuration of your computer, OS (it looks like Win95), floppy drive, disk image used?

I'm using images provided in link. Both DOS 6.22 and WIN95 for making a boot disk doesn't work - using 1.44mb floppy unit, 720KB/1.44mb option ... Nothing. Looks like I'll need some straight instructions what to do.

OK, so you use the file "bullsetup 2.2 - 720k.img" (you need this image for BM65) with the link above.

I assume you're using Winimage. I don't understand what you mean with "720KB/1.44mb option" because the file is already in the right format. I don't have any computer with Win95, so I just tried it with Win7 and a USB drive:

1- in a Ms-Dos command windows: FORMAT A: /t:80 /n:9
2- Open "bullsetup 2.2 - 720k.img" in Winimage, then choise <disk> and <write disk>

For me this works perfectly. From the Ms-Dos command line you can type <DIR A:> to see the contents of the floppy disk.

OK fneck - thank You very much for the help. USB floppy drive was faulty - now it reads disks OK. Still in the config menu I can't find my HDD - there are over 20 config types but I can't put info about heads, cylinders etc. manualy .... need to sort it out somehow

So my Micral 65 has .... 2048 KB memory ... Last error is about this disk. I wonder how can I make this work I mean - to set the proper informations for this drive.

Edit:
Spmething strange Has happened, after I've disconnected floppy driver and mounted another to try 1.44MB (unsuccesfull - board is dictating 720 mode i think) the HDD came to life.... Strange... But still I cant activate it by config tool.

What are the references and parameters of the hard drive? Then in the list proposed by the utility you can try to take the model with the same number of heads and sectors but with less cylinders.