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How do I format an HP-48GX FRAM Card?
08-05-2024, 08:44 AM (This post was last modified: 08-05-2024 09:15 AM by JDW.)
Post: #23
RE: How do I format an HP-48GX FRAM Card?
I applied flux and then used my heat gun set to 360°C, flow set to 2 (low), and reflowed all the legs of everything on the component side. I checked every connection under a microscope and used a small soldering iron tip to touch any leg that I couldn't see well or doubted. I then let the card cool and used 100% IPA to clean off the flux. After that, I let the card dry out a few hours.

I inserted the card into Slot 1. When I pressed ON, I got the same WARNING, INVALID CARD DATA error text. I then tried PINIT again, and this time it was uneventful. After that, I powered OFF and then ON. Surprisingly, I am not getting the WARNING anymore!

I then checked the 48G User's Guide and found "Port RAM Test." I gave that a try:

1. Properly seat card (already done)
2. Set DIP SW to Read/Write (already done)
3. Turn ON calculator.
4. Press-and-hold ON.
5. Press then release "D"
6. Release ON. The calculator beeped once, and then vertical lines appeared at far left, far right, and in the very middle of the display.
7. Press then release up-arrow key. The screen was filled with random pixels, and then I saw something change in the upper left part of the screen, and it then ended by saying:

RAM1 OK (showed only for a brief flash of maybe 200-300ms, then vanished)
RAM2 90000 (appeared in place of "RAM1 OK")
(vertical line down the middle of the display)
Nothing was inserted into Slot-2, so I assume the above info shows all is well.

8. Press-and-hold ON.
9. Press then release "C"
10. Release ON. (Got me back to normal calculator operation.)

I did that twice, and it gave me the same thing.

After that, I did the following test:

1. Put a number on the stack.
2. Left-Arrow and "2"
3. Pressed "A" corresponding to "PORTS"
4. Pressed "B" corresponding to :1:
5. Right-Arrow and "+" (to get : : double colons)
6. Typed "1" (for slot 1)
7. Pressed Right-Solid-Arrow (to move past the 2nd colon)
8. Typed "BBB" (just a random name)
9. Pressed "STO" (then "BBB" appeared as a softmenu)
10. Pressed "A" corresponding to "BBB" and it returned the number I had previously on the stack.

I then did this:

1. Left-Arrow and 2
2. "1"
3. Press "B corresponding to PVARS
It then displayed this:

{ :1: A }
131048.5

After deleting my lone variable and rechecking, it shows:
131072

This again is showing proper operation of the FRAM card in Slot 1.

I then did MERG, followed by 1 & PVARS, which then said "SYSRAM".

Meta Kernel does not load, which means the card ended up getting wiped. At least I am assuming that. So I will need to reinstall that and see how it goes. But for now, the above tests show something positive!
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Messages In This Thread
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - JDW - 07-31-2024, 12:29 AM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - JDW - 07-30-2024, 12:35 PM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - AndiGer - 07-30-2024, 03:44 PM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - JDW - 07-30-2024, 09:39 PM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - JanS - 07-30-2024, 06:09 PM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - 9aplus - 07-31-2024, 02:21 PM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - KeithB - 07-31-2024, 02:35 PM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - JDW - 08-01-2024, 08:59 AM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - Kiwi - 08-01-2024, 12:16 PM
RE: Format 128K RAM Card in 48GX - JDW - 08-02-2024, 12:24 AM
RE: How do I format an HP-48GX FRAM Card? - JDW - 08-05-2024 08:44 AM



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