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Older M400 DOS issues

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:17 am
by Abdullah Butt
I am using old M400 and I am facing some issues.
First it's unlimited nc file is giving a error.
2- I have a 7.17 mill update but I am not know how my machine will update.
My old version is 5.27
3- My floppy drive is demaged and not found from market how can I get it's parameter and other config.
I make a VHD image from winimage .
Can I get some help
I attached a picture.

Re: Older M400 DOS issues

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 8:15 pm
by martyscncgarage
To me it appears you don't have any extra Software Add-Ons including the Unlimited Program Size so you will be restricted on the program file size with that control.

Re: Older M400 DOS issues

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:03 am
by Abdullah Butt
Ok Thank you..
How can I update this software from 5.27 to 7.17 without floppy drive.

Re: Older M400 DOS issues

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:13 am
by martyscncgarage
Abdullah Butt wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:03 am Ok Thank you..
How can I update this software from 5.27 to 7.17 without floppy drive.
By software add on, I mean an OPTIONAL feature such as unlimited file size. You contact Centroid or your local dealer if you have one with your control serial number, pay for it and normally you are given a code that you enter to unlock that feature.

If you want to UPGRADE the control software, you need the control serial number and email support@centroidcnc.com and ask them what would be needed to upgrade the control. If you need a floppy drive, go to ebay and find one.

Most often the motherboard needs to be upgraded to one that will support your motion controller and the software upgrade. Centroid can make suggestions. Centroid can normally send you a new Compact Flash Card or Solid State drive preconfigured to your control provided you send them the latest report from your control (F7 Utilities, F7 Create Report. In your case you need to fix the floppy drive)

I hope this helps somewhat.
Marty

Re: Older M400 DOS issues

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:03 pm
by Abdullah Butt
Thanks for kind information.
I got it's optional parameter for unlimited file size now it's solved but I want to update my DOS version with 7.17.
How can I did it.
And why I need to upgrade my motherboard.its work absolutely fine.

Re: Older M400 DOS issues

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:06 pm
by martyscncgarage
Do what I asked you. Contact Centroid and ask what your options are. Provide control serial number. If DOS based you can probably keep your motherboard.
Support@centroidcnc.com

Re: Older M400 DOS issues

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:12 pm
by Abdullah Butt
I was thinking maybe someone able to do this or did it before.
It's a special forum from centroid. And Mr Marc is a genius man. He will answer my question better.

Re: Older M400 DOS issues

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:08 pm
by cncsnw
There should be no problem running v7.17 on that console. However, there is no easy way to get the update installed without a working floppy drive.

If you know DOS well enough, you can:
1) Remove the hard drive from the M400 console and connect it to another computer (maybe a Windows computer, using a USB/IDE adapter)
2) Read the INSTALL.BAT file on the v7.17 update disk to find out what needs to go where.
3) Put those things there yourself, using whatever method you like of copying files from one place to another.

Note that the v7.17 update uses Centroid's in-house CFP archives and "FUNPACK" utility. To run that, you will either need to be running MS-DOS, or you will need to run a DOS emulator under Windows (e.g. DOSBox).

Alternately, you could obtain, install, and learn to use a USB floppy emulator (a device that connects to the computer as if it were a floppy disk drive, but which reads and writes USB "thumb" drives, typically using only the first 1.44MB of the USB drive, and sometimes requiring that the USB drive be specifically formatted with provided software.

None of those tools and procedures are fail-safe, fool-proof, or self-explanatory. But it is technically feasible. First, though, try just installing a new floppy disk drive.