Hey Adrian,
First of all I want to thank you for this video. I wasn't aware of this option ROM and made a huge difference for my vintage PC's.
I just wanted to share my thoughts regarding this.
As software.
Version 2.0.0 beta 3 from 2013 it's OLD.
The project it's still maintained here:
http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.p ... ead/page38
You can get the latest binaries here:
http://www.xtideuniversalbios.org/binaries/
For the current downloadable version r591 - you must download ide_atl.bin (the image) AND xtidecfg.com program. Put them both on a DOS pc - and run xtidecfg.com. You load the bin image in configuration program, and you can choose "auto config" and everything will be done including padding and checksum bits at the end. It will be configured for YOUR controller. You can specify 16 or 32 bit transfer mode ... etc.
After you done this - you should have a 12K ide_atl.bin.
I done the next part in Linux:
(for ((I=12288; $I<16384; I=$[$I+1])); do echo -en "\xFF"; done) > pad.bin
now you have a pad to 16K with FF
cat ide_atl.bin pad.bin > xtide-16k.bin
now you have a 16K ROM
cat xtide-16k.bin xtide-16k.bin > xtide-256.bin
now you have a ROM for a 256KBIT EPROM, cat 2 times for it.
OR
cat xtide-16k.bin xtide-16k.bin xtide-16k.bin xtide-16k.bin > xtide-512.bin
cat 4 times for a 512KBIT EPROM.
There's NO REASON for not using the 12K version. Has boot menu - and alot of improvements.
There's no need to calculate the addressing unless you don't want to duplicate - and write to a specific address only.
For the 2015-02-20 version that I used previously - you don't need to configure anything. Just burn it.
Regarding the HARDWARE.
I cannot be asked to use UV erasable EPROM's anymore. They are a thing of the past.
For testing I use Winbond W27C512-45Z that I bought 30 for peanuts from Aliexpress. They work fine, but they prove to be FAKES (relabeled junk, wrong signature ... ) but at least I can electrically erase them.
After I've done my testing I burned everything in: ATMEL AT27C512R-45PU OTP's. They are ONE TIME programmable ones, but they are cheap. You cannot erase them.
After all I prefer genuine ATMEL parts. You can get them here:
https://www.digikey.com/products/en?key ... C512R-45PU
They cost 1.63 USD / piece. They are FAST and really reliable (200 years data retention in theory). I replaced everything in my system with those. Main BIOS, Video BIOS, Video SYNC BIOS, XTIDE...
They have also a really low power requirement and fully pin to pin compatible with ST Microelectronix M27C512 UV ones.
Regarding the NETWORK CARD.
On my 3COM Etherlink 3 Combo - a DOS utility called " 3c5x9cfg.exe " needs to be run from DOS, and there you can ENABLE THE OPTION ROM and choose the adress space it will use.
To check the ROM addressing (video bios, main bios ... etc) you can use DOS utility "CheckIT" - File -> Memory Map. choose a free adress space - and from your card's config utility you must enable the option ROM before it will be even used by the system. So it's a matter of "luck" on finding your utility for your specific card make. The adressing space doesn't need to be something specific, just make sure it doesn't conflict with any other rom. What the utility has by default should be fine.
DOWNLOAD.
I made a ZIP archive with 2 ide_atl.bin. One it's 2015 generic version that I used, and the other it's 2016 version that's CONFIGURED for my system (2 drives only). Both are tested with Winbond and Atmel EEPROM's and work perfectly.
Also included is a label for what I've exchanged in my PC exported as PDF. Maybe someone will find it useful. I printed those on Rayfilm sheets that I reccomend especially for UV EPROM's.
You can find details here:
http://www.rayfilm.cz/e-shop/select.php ... ozsah=vse2
I used Silver Matte Rayfilm (10 sheets pack).
You can get it from here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P11g2V ... sp=sharing
Thanks again for the info. Really helpful. It would be nice to see more vintage HARDWARE content.
All the best !