retard question: can GMPCM software be used with a Mac?

[twinturbosedan]

i've been planning on getting a laptop before i start anything, but can i at least somehow play around with GMPCM software for the time being - with my Mac?

obviously i'm pretty new with this
:oops:  :oops:  :oops:
joshua

[TGPilot]

Tonto say, "Go here...ask question....how!" :lol:

http://www.gmpcm.com/main.htm

8)

[GPChief]

Will that work on an Italian computer?? :?  :roll:  :roll:  J/K

[Mick]

GMPCM is best suited for windows laptop PC's, which you can have kicking around in your car for a while.  :)
It will run on all versions of Microsoft Windows developed after Windows 3.1 (i.e. requires a 32 bit windows operating system).  

So all you really need to do in this situation is install a 32 bit version of windows on your Mac, and GMPCM should run just fine after that.  
However, since installing 32 bit windows on a Mac would require that you replace the motherboard, processor, memory, keyboard, case, video system, and reformat your hard drive, it may not be the best option. :)

[twinturbosedan]

thanks, i've always been a Mac person :oops:  :P  i'm not exactly good with computers (doh), i'd rather be out wrenching.  gotta start learning sometime tho, or i'll never get my 'V' motor to work with the Getrag 282....

guess i need to buy a laptop before i do anything :)
thanks again Mick.
joshua

[LukeZ34]

You can install Virtual PC on your mac and run Windows 98. But the only problem would be getting the emulated version of windows to recgonize the hardware for the chip. Plus, you have to have a beefy mac to do it. My eMac I had at my old place of work was a G4/800 w/ 384mb ram, and it kinda pokey at running Windows 2k.

[twinturbosedan]

i'm just gonna get a cheapo ebay laptop PC that i can sit on the front seat and use with Diacom (or whatever scan tool end i up using).

sounds like i'll need to get a PC and Pocket Programmer before i can use gmpcm software.  so far it sounds like the only really hard part is removing the stock EPROM from the memcal, and doing the necessary modifications to the memcal in order to be able to easily R&R an EEPROM after burning/editing it.  but that's for another thread and it will be awhile before i'm ready to start doing that :wink:

thanks
joshua

[Mick]

The memcal modifications are real easy, and you do not even need to modify it if you use the UV erase method.
The stock eprom in the memcal is a UV erasable prom. Basically a device with a black light is used to erase the eprom in this scenario, and the entire memcal can be placed into most UV eraser devices.
A certain amount of time is required for the UV light to erase the eprom, after which the new code is burned with the eprom burner.

Although the UV eraser equipment is fairly inexpensive, many prefer to replace the existing eprom with an EEPROM (electrically erasable prom) such as the Atmel AT29C256. This permits direct reprograming so that only the eprom burner itself is required.
This also requires removal of the existing eprom, and I have found it quite easily done by cutting each of the legs with nail clippers.  Then apply heat to each remaining section of leg and pull out with some tweezers. This method is very fast, but a soldering iron with a very small sharp tip is extremely useful here.

Either way you choose, it is a very easy process, just more time consuming with the stock eprom, since it takes a bit of time to erase the eprom with UV light.

One very inexpensive part will make all the difference here. It is called a 34 pin wirewrap protected header, and it is modified slightly to create an adapter.  Here is a header before and after the slight modification :



This permits one to burn the eprom directly through the memcal (i.e. no eprom removal required). Here is what it looks like on the Pocket Programmer:



The 34 pin header can be purchased online, as can the UV eraser :

34-Pin Wire-wrap protected header
PN: CHW34G-ND
Price: $4.46
http://www.digikey.com/

DataRase II EPROM eraser
PN: 1022
Price: $46.95
http://www.thebytefactory.com

[twinturbosedan]

yeah i was reading the page on thirdgen.org here - excellent info for those getting started BTW

i did not know that you could leave the EPROM in the memcal when erasing it with a UV eraser.  at first it seemed like it would be easier to construct a memcal with a ZIF socket and use EEPROMs, but i think i'd rather just buy a UV eraser, leave the EPROM in the memcal, and use the modified 34 pin wirewrap protected header.  removing an EPROM from a memcal looks kinda scary, i'll probably try it later but use the modified 34 pin header method first.  thanks for the help, i appreciate it :)  i can't wait to start!
joshua

[god910]

I thought it was scary as well, but it's not half as bad as I made it out to be in my mind.  There are pics on my WWW of various stages of removal of an EPROM.  (Pics in the random crap area)  I will also take pics of the EE going in.

[twinturbosedan]

I thought it was scary as well, but it's not half as bad as I made it out to be in my mind.  There are pics on my WWW of various stages of removal of an EPROM.  (Pics in the random crap area)  I will also take pics of the EE going in.

thanks Jay, that's the first time i've seen a memcal with the EPROM removed.  let us know how hard the soldering job is.
joshua