Super Easy CF Card Loading Experience

[ddvzlnz]

I apologize if this method has been covered before.

I prepared to load my first soekris board with some trepidation. It could not have been easier. I downloaded and burned the latest cpe router iso onto a cd, plugged a 6-1 usb reader/writer into the usb port of my laptop, inserted a 64MB cf card into the reader, put the cd in and rebooted.

After booting from the CD the install program asked me if I wanted to install the system on my hard disk or this little 61MB scsi drive it had found.

After making the right choice it loaded the image onto the cf. I stuck the cf into the soekris...TaDaaaa I could ssh right into it.

Nicely done fellas.

Details:
The SanDisk 6-1 reader is model number sddr-86 and the part number is 20-90-00070.

The SanDisk CF disk was 64MB and has the code sdcfb on the back.

The laptop is a Dell inspiron 8000, but I think anything that will boot from a cd and has relatively modern usb ports will work. This laptop is 26 months old...

Enjoy
gt

[tony]

Thank you. Yours is the first post relating to the USB CF support. It is nice to hear it works well, as it sure makes the job a lot easier. :)

Thanks!

[georgew]

USB devices that do /not/ work...

SanDisk ImageMate dual card reader SDDR-77-07

PNY Technologies USB Reader/Writer FPTS-C

I would like part numbers for everything that does work, so I can perhaps find something /without/ having to try it first. I'm 0 for 2 so far.

[tony]

Typically if it works under Windows XP without a driver, it should be supported as they all use the same interface.

The one we use is a Muse Every Read 6 in 1 card reader.
Model: CRW-600

Things you can try, or look into:
1) Make sure you have an IRQ assigned to your USB device.
2) Make sure you have the CF and USB device plugged into the machine before you power it up. (required)
3) Try a different machine, as your USB chipset may not be supported. (most common ones are however).

Thanks!

[georgew]

I have a Dell Inspirion 8000 that I am using for this, the same machine ddvzlnz is using. The bios does not give IRQ assignment options for anything, in fact I'm suprised at how little you can really change... it's the current bios, recently updated to make the built-in ethernet card work.

Since the device must be detected during the CD boot, of course it is plugged in. I'll try them one more time from a cold start, though I'm sure I have done this already... I'm thinking that unsupported devices are likely common... unfortunitly. I'll report my results, but since I am using the same machine to test with that ddvzlnz is using the variable of my machine is less likely to be the issue...


George

[tony]

Thanks for the information. I'll try it on my Dell Inspiron 7500 in the next day or two, and see if it has the same problems as you are describing.

Thanks!