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Project 'Micro PC' for the EWS64:
A possibility to use the EWS64 with modern PC's!

Contens:
  1. Introduction Micro PC for EWS64
  2. Hardware requirements for the Micro PC
  3. Additional hard- and software requirements
  4. How to install the Micro PC
  5. How to configure the Master PC
  6. Additional information about the project Micro PC
  7. Actual P4 motherboards with ISA slot(s)
Special tip for users of 'RealVNC':
At this place you'll find useful information to setup VNC Server and VNC Viewer !

1. Introduction Micro PC for the EWS64

Since 2002 many EWS64 fans have a big problem: It becomes more and more difficult to get a modern motherboard with an ISA slot, which is necessary to build in the EWS64. If an EWS64 owner plans to buy a new faster PC, he will mostly not be able to use his EWS64 in this new PC anymore.
Because of the extraordinary possibilities of the EWS64 this fact is very annoying.
The EWS64 is too harm for the 'Museum' (look at: Advantages of the EWS64) !

Fortunately a real cheap solution exists to solve this problem:
Continue using your EWS64 in a cheap legacy PC via network interface card and a program called 'VNC'!
This tiny legacy PC (further called: Micro PC) consists of a few inexpensive legacy hardware components. It doesn't need an own monitor and can be placed anywhere in a corner: You will be able to control this Micro PC from your new fast PC (further called: Master PC) via network and 'VNC viewer' and like this you can use your EWS64 for many years !

Advantages of this concept:
Here you'll find here a very detailed guidance to build up this Micro PC:
Even PC beginners without any knowledge about networking should be able to finish this project successfully.

Let's go EWS64 anno 2004 :-)
Thanks to Olaf Bussmann (Homepage: www.melancolic.de) for his helpful hints to this project :-)

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2. Hardware requirements for the Micro PC

  1. A legacy motherboard with at least one ISA slot (motherboard with PCI bus instead of VESA bus recommended)
  2. A suitably CPU with at least 100 MHz (Pentium I or AMD)
  3. A suitably case including a power supply unit (as small as possible)
  4. At least 32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended for Windows 98)
  5. A harddisk with at least 1 or 2 GB
  6. Any PCI grafic adapter with at least 2 MB RAM (4 MB RAM recommended)
  7. A 100 MBit network interface card (PCI recommended)
  8. A keyboard
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3. Additional hard- und software requirements

  1. Your Master PC also needs a 100 MBit network interface card (PCI)
  2. Your Master PC needs a PCI soundcard (if possible with 'SP/DIF Coax-Input')
  3. A LAN cable (Attention: For a direct connection between 2 computers you need a 'Crossover cable')
  4. A MIDI cable from 'MIDI Out Master PC' to 'MIDI In 1 EWS64'
  5. A Cinch cable from 'Dig Out 1 EWS64' to 'Dig In Soundcard Master PC'
  6. Windows 98 or 98SE for the Micro-PC (98SE recommended)
  7. The freeware program 'VNC' (size: 1 MB)
    (look at: VNC Homepage)
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4. How to install the Micro PC

A. Preparing steps

For the basic installation you need to connect additionally a mouse, a CD-ROM drive and a monitor to the Micro PC. After finishing of the basic installation these devices are not longer necessary!
For this reason it's a good idea to 'rent' these devices from your Master PC for the basic installation and reconnect them to the Master PC after finishing. Any further changes on the Micro PC can be done later via network and 'VNC Viewer'.
To start the installation of the Micro PC I recommend a suitable DOS boot floppy including 'EWS64CFG.EXE', a CD-ROM driver and a mouse driver.

B. Installation of Windows, drivers and software
  1. Set the correct values of the EWS64 EEPROM via Boot floppy (look at: EWS64 EEPROM setup).
  2. Please use Windows 98 or 98SE (98SE recommended) - Do not use Windows 95/ME/2000/XP!
  3. Don't install Windows 98 (or 98 SE) via CD-ROM drive! Please first copy the directory 'win98' of your Windows 98 (SE) CD to your harddisk via DOS command 'xcopy'. Now start the installation using 'setup' in the win98 directory of your harddisk.
    Note: Like this you will never need to insert the Windows CD in cases of any later changes of settings of the Micro PC.
  4. First install 'DirectX 8.1' (DirectX 9 normally makes no sense at such old systems).
  5. Then install the graphic card drivers and use the same display settings like the Master PC (if possible).
  6. Now install the drivers for the network interface card.
  7. Finally install the drivers and (after a reboot) the software for the EWS64.
    (look at: Installation of the EWS64 under Windows 9x).
  8. Install your prefered Audio recording software (Wavelab, SoundForge...), if you want to make Audio records with the EWS64.
  9. Note:
    At this point you won't need to install every software which you want to use in future on the Micro PC. When the Micro PC is fully network integrated, you can do the further software installations via 'VNC Viewer' from your Master PC. You can also change any Windows settings later in the same way!
C. Network settings for the 'Micro PC'

Introduction:
The following detailed 'step by step' guidance I've made for network newcomers.
With this information you'll be able to set-up a Windows 'Peer to Peer Network'.
Administrators only need the following information: 'VNC' only works via TCP/IP protocol.

The Network settings:
(You will find these settings in 'Control Panel/Network')
  1. Check at point 'Configuration', that the 'TCP/IP-Protocol' has been installed. There should be an entry 'TCP/IP -> ... 10/100Mb Ethernet NIC ...'
    If you don't have such an entry, you have to add this protocol via 'Add / Protocol / Microsoft / TCP/IP'. After this installation you will need to reboot Windows.
    (Note: You do not need to install additional protocols like 'NetBEUI' or 'IPX/SPX')
  2. Check the bindings in 'Configuration' at the 'Properties' of your network interface card: TCP/IP protocol has to be active:

    Choose 'Properties' of the LAN card Select 'Bindings' of the LAN card
     
  3. Activate in 'Configuration' at 'Primary Network Logon' the selection 'Client for Microsoft networks':
     
    Select Client for Microsoft networks
     
  4. Activate in 'Configuration' at 'File- and Printer-Share' the entry: 'Other users should get access to my files'. Press 'OK' und restart Windows.
     
    Allow file- and printer sharing
     
  5. Set in 'Configuration' for 'TCP/IP -> Your Network Interface Card' in 'Properties' the following:

    A. In 'Bindings' you should activate'File- and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Network':

    Activate Properties of TCP/IP > LAN card Select TCP/IP Bindings for the LAN card

    B. In 'IP-Address' activate 'Use the following IP-Address' and please configure the following values for 'IP-Address' and 'Subnet Mask': 'IP-Adresse' value '192.168.0.2' and 'Subnet Mask' value '255.255.255.0':

    Select IP Address and Subnet Mask
     
  6. At 'Identification' define a name for your 'Micro PC' in the field 'Computername' (e.g.: EWS64HOST). Define also a workgroup name in the field 'Workgroup' (e.g.: HOME). Attention: Don't use spaces or any special characters for names!
    Important: Notice these names for later using!
    Now you should restart the PC.

    Select Computername and Workgroup
     
  7. Now you have to configure the fileshares, so that you get file access from your Master PC. Open 'My Computer', click right on the icon for 'Drive C:' and select 'Sharing...'. In the dialog 'Properties / Sharing' select 'Shared as:' and type a Sharename in the field 'Sharename' (don't use any Space or Special Characters!). Activate in 'Accesstype' option 'Read-/Write Access' and press 'Apply' (Note: the fields 'Comment' and 'Password' can be left empty):

    Allow file sharing for local drives
     
    If you have more than one drive on your Micro-PC (D:\, E:\,...) then you have to repeat these steps for each additional drive (using different Share names).
    Note: For CD-ROM drives you must set 'Accesstype' to 'Read Access'!
D. Installation of 'VNC-Server' on the 'Micro PC'

Notes to VNC
You can download this freeware programm from the VNC Homepage .
You'll need to download 'VNC Server' for the Micro PC and 'VNC Viewer' for the Master PC.
Hint:
On the VNC Homepage you will find detailed help for this program. This helpfile is also downloadable as a PDF-file.

Installation and configuration of the 'VNC Server'
  1. First install 'VNC Server' on your Micro PC starting 'vnc-3.3.7-x86_win32.exe'.
  2. Now first install the default settings for 'VNC' via 'Start / Programs / Vnc / Administrative Tools / Install Default Registry Settings'
  3. Start 'VNC Server' with 'Start / Programms / Vnc / Run WinVNC (App Mode)'
    The dialog 'WinVNC: Current User Properties' will open with several possibilities of settings
    You should leave all settings as default but one exception:
    In field 'Password' you MUST (!) enter a password.

    WinVNC: Current User Properties

    Important: Please make a notice of your password - You will need this password later often!
  4. Finally the 'VNC Server' (File 'C:\...\VNC\WinVNC.exe') has to be added to the 'Startup Group' of Windows, so that Windows will start this program after every Windows Startup automatically.

    Note:
    Alternatively WinVNC can be installed as a 'service' ('Install WinVNC Service'): This method could be of advantage under Windows NT4/2000/XP
    For details please look at VNC Homepage or into the WinVNC PDF help file
E. Conclusion of the Micro PC installation

In principle the installation of the Micro-PC now is finished: All substantial parts are installed. After the setup of your Master PC any additional software installations or changings of Windows settings on your Micro PC can be made via 'VNC Viewer' from your Master PC.

Finally the following steps are necessary:
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5. How to configure the Master PC

A. Master PC installation

You can setup your Master PC based on your own conception: Select an operating system of your choice (Windows 9x, 2000 or XP, Linux or Apple) and install all necessary drivers (chipset, DirectX, display card, network interface card...). What you should have is a modern PCI soundcard with a digital input (SP/DIF coaxial). Like this you will be able to record all sounds of the EWS64 without any loss of sound quality.

Note:
It's just as possible to use 'Linux' or 'Apple OS' as operating system for the Master PC:
For these operating systems adapted versions of 'VNC-Viewer' are available for accessing your Windows 98/98SE based Micro PC in the same comfortably way!

B. Master PC network configuration

Basicly you have to do the same steps as already described in Network settings for the Micro-PC: C. 'VNC-Viewer' installation

Copy the file 'vncviewer.exe' for example in the folder 'C:\Program Files\vncviewer\' of your Master PC - that's all!
The 'VNC-Viewer' will be operational immediately. A shortcut on your Desktop for 'vncviewer.exe' is very approriately.

D. Remote control of the Micro PC via 'VNC Viewer'

Start the program 'vncviewer.exe' on your Master PC. Now the dialog 'Connection details' opens. Type in the field 'VNC Server' the 'Name' of your Micro PC (look at your notice).

VNC Viewer: Connection details

Note: If the following window 'VNC info: Failed to get server address' appears, the most likely reason is a type mismatch in field 'Name' for the Micro PC:

VNC info: Failed to get server address

Now the dialog 'VNC Authentification' will open. Type in the field 'Session Password' the password (look at your notice), which is configured on your Micro PC for the VNC Server and press 'OK'.

VNC Authentification - Session Password

Note:: If you get 'VNC info: failed to connect to server' the most likely reason is a type mismatch in the password field.

VNC info: VNC authentication failed

Now you should have the desktop of the Micro PC on the display of your Master PC!
Like this you are able to achieve full remote control of the Micro PC.

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6. Additional information about the Project Micro PC

For the following references you first have to connect via 'VNC viewer' to your Micro PC. This fact I will set ahead in the following.

A. Later additional software installations on the Micro PC

Goto 'My Network Places' of your Micro PC and configure a 'Network Connection' to the Master PC CD-ROM drive (the CD-ROM drive share activation on your Master PC must exist before!). Now you can access the CD-ROM drive via a new 'Drive Letter' (e.g.: 'D:') and you're able to install additional software from this drive on the Micro PC via network.

B. Changing of Windows settings on your Micro PC

Via 'VNC viewer' you are also able to change all Windows settings of your Micro PC as you like. For many changes in Windows you normally need the Windows Setup CD.
Note: If you have installed Windows via HD (as described above), you will never need to insert the Windows CD again for any changes!

C. Audio recordings with the EWS64

You are able to make HD audio recordings with the EWS64 directly to harddisk of your Master PC. Configure a 'Network Drive Mapping' on your Micro PC to any shared HD drive of your Master PC. In your audio record software on the Micro PC just select this network drive as record destination.
Like this you can easily make any recordings to any HD of your Master PC without any problems!

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7. Actual P4 motherboards with ISA slot(s)

Below I've listed some actual P4 motherboards (for socket 478) still featuring ISA slot(s). Unfortunately I don't know any actual Athlon(64) board featuring ISA slot(s) too.

Important note:
All mentioned motherboards (except of the ICP board, where I don't have any further information to this) offer 5 Volt power supply for ISA cards! Since a long time (~TX chipset for Pentium I) most motherboards only offer 3,3 Volt for ISA cards, which can cause problems using older professional ISA cards, which often need 5 Volt to work properly (for example the Yamaha SW60XG and many more). So that's a great feature! Newer ISA cards (already designed for only 3,3 Volt) should also work fine with 5 Volt ISA power supply.

1. BCM BC875PLG (with i875P chipset)

'BCM' offers a Pentium 4 board with 1 ISA slot (BC875PLG), based on the chipset Intel 875P. It supports 'Hyperthreading' und you can use P4 CPUs with socket 478 (800 MHz FSB). It has four memory slots (DDR 400/PC 3200; 4 GB max.) and the i875P needs paired memory modules for max. performance - so you should insert at least 2*256 MB from the first moment. This board offers 5 PCI slots (one shared with an ISA slot), AGP 8x, 2*SATA (RAID), 4*IDE, 2*IEEE 1394, 100 MBit + GBit LAN with Intel chips (needs no PCI bandwidth!), 8*USB 2.0, onboard 5.1 AC97 sound and further more I/Os. From all boards listed here this will surely have the best performance, because the i875P is the fastest available P4 chipset (February 2004). This board provides an APIC controller  so you can install an EWS64 with ACPI and APIC! From all boards listed here this one will surely have the best performance (together with the mentioned Spectra MB820 below) and it is similar fast like newer P4 boards based on Intel 915/925 chipsets.
Details to this motherboard you'll find at www.bcmcom.com at page 'Long-Life PC Boards', the German distributor is Alfanet.

2. Soyo SY-P4I 845PE ISA (with i845PE chipset)

'Soyo' offers a Pentium 4 board with 3 ISA slots (SY-P4I 845PE ISA), based on the chipset Intel 845PE. It supports 'Hyperthreading' und you can use P4 CPUs with socket 478 (max. 533 FSB). It has only two memory slots (DDR 333/PC 2700; 2 GB max.) and the i845PE needs paired memory modules for max. performance - so you should insert enough memory (at least 2*256 MB, better 2*512 MB) from the first moment. This board provides an APIC controller  so you can install an EWS64 with ACPI and APIC!
Details to this motherboard you'll find at www.soyogroup.com.

3. Spectra MB800H/MB800FH (with i845GE chipset)

'Spectra' offers a Pentium 4 board with 3 ISA slots (MB800H), based on the chipset Intel 845GE (version MB800FH provides additionally GBit-LAN based on Intel chipset). It supports 'Hyperthreading' und you can use P4 CPUs with socket 478 (max. 533 FSB). The i845GE has a build-in graphic adapter (with Shared Memory), but you should use an additional AGP graphic adapter for max. performance. The MB800H has also only two memory slots (DDR 333/PC 2700; 2 GB max.), but the i845GE doesn't need paired memory modules for max. performance. So you can start with a single memory module (at least 512 MB, better 1 GB) without loss of performance. Unfortunately I don't know, if this board provides an APIC controller, which would be very useful not only for EWS64 user.
Details to this motherboard you'll find at www.spectra.de.

4. Spectra MB820/MB820F (with i875P chipset)

'Spectra' also offers a Pentium 4 board with 2 ISA slots (MB820), based on the chipset Intel 875P (version MB820F provides additionally GBit-LAN based on Intel chipset). It supports 'Hyperthreading' und you can use P4 CPUs with socket 478 (800 MHz FSB). It has four memory slots (DDR 400/PC 3200; 4 GB max.) and the i875P needs paired memory modules for max. performance - so you should insert at least 2*256 MB from the first moment. This board offers 4 PCI slots (one shared with an ISA slot), onboard VGA with 4 MB RAM, additional AGP 8x slot, 2*SATA (RAID), 2*IDE, 6*USB 2.0, 4* Dig. I/O, Solid State Disk interface, 100 MBit LAN with Intel chips (needs no PCI bandwidth!), onboard AC97 sound and further more I/Os. The onboard VGA can be used without loss of performance, because it has it's own memory (not Shared Memory). From all boards listed here this one will surely have the best performance (together with the mentioned BCM BC875PLG above) and it is similar fast like newer P4 boards based on Intel 915/925 chipsets.
Details to this motherboard you'll find at www.spectra.de.

5. ICP "ICPMB-8650" (with i865G chipset)

'ICP' offers a Pentium 4 board with 2 ISA slots (ICPMB-8650), based on the chipset Intel 865G. It supports 'Hyperthreading' und you can use P4 CPUs with socket 478 (800 MHz FSB). It has four memory slots (DDR 400/PC 3200; 4 GB max.) and the i865 needs paired memory modules for max. performance - so you should insert at least 2*256 MB from the first moment. The i865G has a build-in graphic adapter (with Shared Memory), but you should use an additional AGP graphic adapter for max. performance. This board offers 5 PCI slots (one shared with an ISA slot), onboard VGA (Shared Memory), AGP 8x, 2*SATA, 2*IDE, 1GBit LAN (with Intel or Realtek chip???), 8*USB 2.0, onboard AC97 sound and further more I/Os . This board also 'should' provide an APIC controller - so you 'should' be able to install an EWS64 with ACPI and APIC (even if there are no remarks to APIC in the manual, but that's usual for 865/875 boards)!
From all boards listed here this will nearly have the best performance, because the i865 is one of the fastest available P4 chipset (February 2005), similar to the performance of boards with i875, i915 or i925 chipsets.
Details to this motherboard you'll find at www.icp-australia.com.au.

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C/O 2002-2012: Werner Ogrodnik (Cologne, Germany)