I seem to remember someone mentioned using MCE (Memory Card Explorer) to copy the various Avaya Firmware/Software to PCMCIA cards.

I also seem to remember a particular person mentioned having used a Compaq computer for the task, but I cannot find the original post/thread content.

Or maybe it wasn't on this forum....

Thanks

What are you trying to accomplish ?

Hopefully without drifting too far off topic...

I'm find an acceptable PC mother board to install the Elan version of Memory Card Explorer as well as Ricoh's MCERICOH 1.00 for Windows XP. Both software packages are compatible with the Elan P423 Card which can among other items read/write to Linear Flash Cards, which both Avaya and Ricoh uses in their older systems.

The software seemingly has a bundle of rules for hardware compatibility.

I was hoping to use an Intel D945GNT mother board with a P4 processor. It also has SATA HDD connections. If that is not viable, I suppose a search for a P3 Motherboard will be next.

I tried installing on a fresh XP install with a Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H motherboard and Intel I5 CPU. This mother board I had previously from another purpose.

MCE started up with no conflicts. This is further than I have ever been able to get with on any other box I have here at home. MCE set-up can only include/exclude up to 8 PC slots.

The Gigabyte MB's first PC slot (closest to the CPU) is labeled #12. Obviously MCE couldn't see the Elan P423 card reader in PC slot #12.

I asked about this on Copytechnet and most of the replies were, (why mess with something so old). Well it works, and as long as it continues to work it won't cost me a boatload of cash to replace it....just yet.

The MCE manual is posted here:
MCE for Windows XP User Guide (Ricoh)

For reference the Elan P423 data is found here:
P423 PCI Bus to PC Card Read-Writers 2 Slot Internal

Manager allows you to format and recreate the SD card. The version of Manager and its binaries determines the release recreated on the SD card.
Any files that you need to add to the card can be done through Embedded File Management, built into Manager.
And I've uploaded files, such as configurations and PLDS license files simply using Windows File Explorer.

No idea what you are talking about or trying to accomplish above.

I forgot to mention this is these Smart Modular Technologies 1mb PCMCIA cards used on earlier ATT Partner/Avaya ACS. Ricoh used their own PCMCIA 4mb card with a proprietary file format.


The card reader only recognizes the PCMCIA cards as Smart Modular Technologies. There is no driver available. I've also searched online. According to Memory Card Explorer's manual, even though Windows XP doesn't have Card Services, that doesn't matter as MCE can still read/write the cards.

The ability to save programming data from the PCMCIA card to a PC would be nice as well.

I do remember years ago downloading ACS upgrade software and putting it on a Partner backup/restore card that then became an upgrade card. I still use that card today. I used a laptop that had that card slot. I remember having to go into reg edit after downloading to change a parameter to allow unlimited upgrades instead of a one time.

-Hal

The guy you're asking about is Tom Daugirdas. He was able to clone linear flash cards for Partner/Magix and build an SSD to replace the mechancial hard discs used for voicemail. I haven't spoken to Tom since 2011 and the phone number that I have for him has long been disconnected.

Tim!!!

I wanted to give an update on my progress.

A full version of Elan Memory Card Explorer v3.21 was shared with me about a month ago. I was able to successfully install and use it with a fresh install of Windows XP x86 on a new Intel Intel D945GTP mother board with a Pentium 4, 1 gigabyte of ram and a 1TB HDD. This mother board is a bit more modern in that it has SATA for the HDDs. The PC Card Reader/Writer is an Elan P423 which I purchased as NOS on eBay of which Synchrotech has a few more for sale.

Elan Memory Card Explorer will also operate on other hardware such as PC laptops with a card reader of a certain era.

My search for more info about Elan Memory Card Explorer led me to the MHHAuto Usergroup, where I was able to piece together some important missing information. According to the MHHAuto Usergroup a few known PC laptops which this will work on are the Dell Inspiron 9100, Dell d531, Dell D630 XP laptop, Dell 620, and Dell 630.

I was able to successfully erase and copy the .bin files for Avaya ACS R5 and ACS R6 to both a Lucent branded Partner ACS PC Card (Backup/Restore PC Card) and an Avaya branded Backup/Restore Card. Both were ID'd by Memory Card Explorer as AMD C/D compatible Smart Technology 1MB Linear Flash cards.

Without a hitch I was then able to successfully update the Avaya Partner ACS I have here from R3, to R5 and then R6.

If you're up for it, I'd like to swap notes on what you find venturing into Avaya IP Office SD cards.

A word of *WARNING*:

Use a PCMCIA Card you may be willing to sacrifice.

Once you use either the Write or Erase command in Memory Card Explorer, it will completely wipe out the contents of a BackUp/Restore PC Card, or any other Partner ACS PCMCIA (Linear Flash) Card.

There is code/software on the BackUp/Restore PC Card which gives it the ability to Back Up and Restore system settings.

If you are going to use a BackUp/Restore PC Card (PCMCIA) for the purpose of upgrading a system, back-up the contents of the card first using the "Read (new file)" Operations command from either the pull down menu or the buttons in the Memory Card Explorer Window.

When saving the BackUp/Restore PC Card to a file it can be named something like "ACSBckRestoreMstr.bin" .

I don't know that I will be venturing into SD cards as the version I have of Memory Card Explorer is only for PCMCIA style Type II, III cards whether they be:

"16 bit, Wireless LAN Card (802.11b, Bluetooth, etc.), SRAM cards, Linear Flash cards, ATA cards, Modem cards and LAN cards".

As is the Elan P423 hardware also.

With the above, though setting up a working system can be a bit of a hassle, you are dealing with binary files which can be I believe in almost any format. With Linear Flash cards they do not require formatting, (proprietary or otherwise).

If the files used with SD cards are not directly transferable with a PC using something like Synchrotech's SD Card Reader seen here:

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 XQD and SD Card Reader + USB 3.0 port

Their SD card readers do not require software that I know of.

The USB compatible PCMCIA Card readers from Syncrotech with software are presently $569.00 which includes the software.

Even with the digging I did, I believe what I spent to make this work was around half the price.

There are reports from the MHHAuto Usergroup that Memory Card Explorer v3.21 will operate under Windows 7 as well.

Not sure if I answered your question though.

In addition SD Cards like ATA Flash cards require formatting before use.

If Avaya, Panasonic etc. use proprietary formatting scheme, which is different from a PC or MAC it will not be easy to replicate those cards. An alternative might be cloning software similar to that used with HDDs.