Genrad GDS3500 WDS Docking Station
#401
You will not be able to buy a new battery as I understand (NLA?). The cells can be replaced by disassembling the battery pack and rewiring news cells and the little circuit board.
The docking station has the CDROM and the 'A' drive so THAT is how you load software. You can also save VID blocks and sessions to the Floppy Disc Drive ('A'Drive).
bob
#402
Got it.
I have the software.
I will need the B203 cable...that's going to be the tough one to find, isn't it...
I understood that the A204 cable is the power cord. I thought there was a workaround for that, to get power.
I will figure out the battery when I have the unit in hand. I'm sure there's a simple solution to that. I did notice that I would need to keep that small circuit board connected to the new battery set.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to being a full fledged member!
I have the software.
I will need the B203 cable...that's going to be the tough one to find, isn't it...
I understood that the A204 cable is the power cord. I thought there was a workaround for that, to get power.
I will figure out the battery when I have the unit in hand. I'm sure there's a simple solution to that. I did notice that I would need to keep that small circuit board connected to the new battery set.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to being a full fledged member!
#403
The A204 is required when asked for. There is no 'work-around' without applying power to the several pins in the A socket on top of the PTU. EVEN DOCKED with AC power the software asks for the A204 to be connected at times, usually during configuration of a module. You cannot proceed until the PTU recognizes that the power from the A204 is applied.
bob
bob
#404
#405
I am having a problem with the touch screen on one of my WDS, it displays fine, but, it does not respond to touch...I have to use a mouse on that one. I have tried reloading software both Ghosts from Aston and Ford, but, it does not help...Intermittently it will function....How deep has anyone gone into these units? I have 3 units that do not display at all, can I steal parts from one of those or is it just a single layer screen display/touch unit? Thanks for any ideas, Ken
#406
I have one PTU that will not display. I connected an external monitor to the top of the docking station and just use the keyboard and mouse as human interface.
The touchscreen works but I have to poke the dead screen and look at the external monitor to use it.
The B203 cable can be repaired with a short extension attached to the end.
bob
The touchscreen works but I have to poke the dead screen and look at the external monitor to use it.
The B203 cable can be repaired with a short extension attached to the end.
bob
#409
Finally got my hands on the machine.
She's alive. I added RAM and surprisingly enough the battery pack has been replaced, since there is a big BatteriesPlus sticker on the pack.
So I turn the machine on and...
...d'oh! I didn't think to check the CD slot...there was an A-5 disk already in there. I think it took that disk and overwrote the files I had already extracted on to the hard drive I put in.
I probably have to start this all over again, wiping the hard drive and placing the extracted files (using Ghost Explorer) on the hard drive?
Oh, I got the 2217 error code as well, but I'm leaving the thing plugged in over night. The batteries, new or ancient couldn't possibly be charged. It'll need a full recharge and I'll see where I'm at tomorrow.
UPDATE: Batteries seem fine, I no longer get the code, but I'm still gonna have to start all over again. It keeps asking for a blue CD, I think the A5 disc took over.
1. When I place the file back on the HD, I'm extracting all of the files from the ISO file, then extract, using Ghost Navigator, the GHO file?
2. When burning the 42a and 43 discs, I'm just burning the ISO files as is, right? I'm not extracting anything?
3. Is the fan on the docking station supposed to be running all the time when plugged in? There's no switch? When the station is plugged in, the fan runs. Not sure this is normal.
She's alive. I added RAM and surprisingly enough the battery pack has been replaced, since there is a big BatteriesPlus sticker on the pack.
So I turn the machine on and...
...d'oh! I didn't think to check the CD slot...there was an A-5 disk already in there. I think it took that disk and overwrote the files I had already extracted on to the hard drive I put in.
I probably have to start this all over again, wiping the hard drive and placing the extracted files (using Ghost Explorer) on the hard drive?
Oh, I got the 2217 error code as well, but I'm leaving the thing plugged in over night. The batteries, new or ancient couldn't possibly be charged. It'll need a full recharge and I'll see where I'm at tomorrow.
UPDATE: Batteries seem fine, I no longer get the code, but I'm still gonna have to start all over again. It keeps asking for a blue CD, I think the A5 disc took over.
1. When I place the file back on the HD, I'm extracting all of the files from the ISO file, then extract, using Ghost Navigator, the GHO file?
2. When burning the 42a and 43 discs, I'm just burning the ISO files as is, right? I'm not extracting anything?
3. Is the fan on the docking station supposed to be running all the time when plugged in? There's no switch? When the station is plugged in, the fan runs. Not sure this is normal.
Last edited by Vee; 05-03-2017 at 09:35 AM.
#412
#415
Houston, I have a problem.
First, I was unable to correctly write the JWDS_ENG_4 image on to the Hard Drive. I received a message, "Invalid HIBERNATION partition/fil...RUN HDPREPEZ..."
Screenshot included.
I was able to write the JWDS_ENG_4 image on to a CD and when I started up the machine, it took it and that seemed to work. It did what it was supposed to do, and I was asked to insert a green Jaguar CD, so I inserted the CD42a disc, and it began a long process of copying files.
(BTW, CD42a says it's Jaguar 4.0.0.0 in the upper left hand corner while it's copying files, if that helps)
When I got to the end of the second CD, the WDS_CD42a, I received two error messages. I clicked OK through both of them. Both screenshots are included. The it asked for a CD with a green world mass on it, so I installed the CD43 disk.
It did ask me to insert the third disk, so I thought it would be good enough, however after I slid the 43 disc in, it asks me to select a language, and then I am told that the version of disc A currently installed is not compatible with the disc B? Screen shot included.
What to do?
First, I was unable to correctly write the JWDS_ENG_4 image on to the Hard Drive. I received a message, "Invalid HIBERNATION partition/fil...RUN HDPREPEZ..."
Screenshot included.
I was able to write the JWDS_ENG_4 image on to a CD and when I started up the machine, it took it and that seemed to work. It did what it was supposed to do, and I was asked to insert a green Jaguar CD, so I inserted the CD42a disc, and it began a long process of copying files.
(BTW, CD42a says it's Jaguar 4.0.0.0 in the upper left hand corner while it's copying files, if that helps)
When I got to the end of the second CD, the WDS_CD42a, I received two error messages. I clicked OK through both of them. Both screenshots are included. The it asked for a CD with a green world mass on it, so I installed the CD43 disk.
It did ask me to insert the third disk, so I thought it would be good enough, however after I slid the 43 disc in, it asks me to select a language, and then I am told that the version of disc A currently installed is not compatible with the disc B? Screen shot included.
What to do?
Last edited by Vee; 05-06-2017 at 08:08 PM.
#416
Hi All
I am looking for another of these little boards for my WDS.
It's the screen back light driver thing.
Screen is dead but if I plug in an external screen that displays O.K & the touch works on the screen, also if I shine a light at it I can just make out a picture.
So pretty sure it's this.
Anyone? Thanks.
#417
Start again.
To get rid of the hibernation error you need to completely wipe the drive & start from a raw drive start.
When the first disk starts it creates the partitions which one is the said partition.
Mark sure disks are nice & clean.
#419
Hi All
I am looking for another of these little boards for my WDS.
It's the screen back light driver thing.
Screen is dead but if I plug in an external screen that displays O.K & the touch works on the screen, also if I shine a light at it I can just make out a picture.
So pretty sure it's this.
Anyone? Thanks.
The monitor itself is a Samsung lt121ss-105 if you want to look up the datasheet for more leads.
#420
I have been using the 44 pin to CF adapter card as a replacement HDD for the WDS as the old ATA33 drives fail one-by-one.
I also found a new way to add USB for flash drives without using Windows 98SE upgrade.
The Win 98SE causes trouble with the docking station not recognizing the CD or A drive.
I found a way to add PCMCIA USB card to the GDS3500 PTU.
Software is a 'kinda' Unofficial Win 98 Update/Service Pack for Windows 98 4.10.1998.
http://www.technical-assistance.co.u...ESP230EN-R.EXE.
This will let the PTU recognize the USB PCMCIA card.
Then I installed the USB drivers.
http://www.technical-assistance.co.u...0-Eng-98FE.exe.
I have not tried to use the USB card for a USB printer. (YET)
The card does show the flash drives and data on them.
I also have a PCMCIA CF adapter that works to have a quick way to load software or files to the PTU.
A DVD/CD ROM will also work in the CD drive for the docking station. I put a Data DVD in the drive and the PTU was able to access the info.
The limited size of the HDD in the PTU can be overcome with USB, CF and DVD for things like electrical guides and TSBs without having to get it from another computer or filling up the WDS PTU HDD with extra files.
The WINDOWS + E keys get you to windows explorer and all the rest of Windows 98.
bob
I also found a new way to add USB for flash drives without using Windows 98SE upgrade.
The Win 98SE causes trouble with the docking station not recognizing the CD or A drive.
I found a way to add PCMCIA USB card to the GDS3500 PTU.
Software is a 'kinda' Unofficial Win 98 Update/Service Pack for Windows 98 4.10.1998.
http://www.technical-assistance.co.u...ESP230EN-R.EXE.
This will let the PTU recognize the USB PCMCIA card.
Then I installed the USB drivers.
http://www.technical-assistance.co.u...0-Eng-98FE.exe.
I have not tried to use the USB card for a USB printer. (YET)
The card does show the flash drives and data on them.
I also have a PCMCIA CF adapter that works to have a quick way to load software or files to the PTU.
A DVD/CD ROM will also work in the CD drive for the docking station. I put a Data DVD in the drive and the PTU was able to access the info.
The limited size of the HDD in the PTU can be overcome with USB, CF and DVD for things like electrical guides and TSBs without having to get it from another computer or filling up the WDS PTU HDD with extra files.
The WINDOWS + E keys get you to windows explorer and all the rest of Windows 98.
bob