Well, I hadn't expected to have this old behemoth out:
- IMG20240927110427.jpg (201.03 KiB) Viewed 26 times
But it has a PCMCIA card slot that is excellent for tinkering with the 2x512MB and 1x1GB CF cards I received that don't work via USB with my more modern workbench Mac, either in Windows or Mac OS.
But this old 17" Powerbook G4 didn't care and I was effortlessly able to dd my other CF images over onto these cards.
What is a little frustrating with the Arche, is that despite being able to specify the CHS values and being able to tell the BIOS it has a 2GB drive, I can only ever see a single 512MB partition if I want it to boot.
The machine came with DOS 4, but that allows for partition sizes of up to 2GB, but even if I set the correct drive size in the BIOS and it boots from the first 512MB partition, I can't then add additional partitions later.
I tried adding a second drive, but it wasn't keen...
I really need the FDD adapter to arrive so I can see what I can do with a straight install onto a 2GB CF card, because if I image the 2GB card in my Pocket 386 (The Arche is also a 386) it won't boot, but the imaged CF card will work in the Pocket 386. If the drive adapter works then I should be able to shoehorn a Gotek in as there won't be room for a normal FDD and the adapter.
Another annoyance today, the FFC's I ordered from Ali Express for the keyboard are wrong. They weren't expensive, but despite checking I've yet again got the correct pitch, but the contacts are .5mm rather than 1mm.
It's driving me bonkers, but I can at least use an external keyboard for now until I figure it out. I want to figure out external video as well.
Looks like it might do the trick.