How to Net-boot NAOMI/Tri-Force/Chihiro Using Pi-Force Tools

Try only one 256mb, if fail, remove and try other one 256mb. Insert to slot 1

Ps

sometimes the RAM (SIMM) passes the test well, but NetDimm was not completely compatible. Sometimes you need to order other SIMM PC133 chip
I tried swapping out the sticks one at a time. Each of the 256mb and the 512mb from the other netdimm, no luck.
I am starting to think the issue is the pi. While trying to connect to it, none of the network indicator lights on the board lit up. As a last resort I disconnected the pi from the dimm and connected a standard ethernet cable from my internet router to the dimm. Not only did the lights come on, but I also got the checking network screen.
 

Attachments

  • modem indicators.jpg
    modem indicators.jpg
    178.5 KB · Views: 82
  • modem.jpg
    modem.jpg
    112.4 KB · Views: 76
I tried swapping out the sticks one at a time. Each of the 256mb and the 512mb from the other netdimm, no luck.
I am starting to think the issue is the pi. While trying to connect to it, none of the network indicator lights on the board lit up. As a last resort I disconnected the pi from the dimm and connected a standard ethernet cable from my internet router to the dimm. Not only did the lights come on, but I also got the checking network screen.

How are things wired up? Meaning, are you using a switch/hub or directly connecting the ethernet cable between the pi and the netdim? If I recall, you need to use a corssover cable if directly connecting the pi and netdimm. Do you have another network cable to try, or can you try hooking the pi up to a local network? To test the netdims, if you can track down the DOS "transfer.exe" program you could try loading games from a PC.
 
Last edited:
I gave up on getting the pi to work. So I tried going the pc route with transfergame.exe and it works. At least I know the dimm board was not the problem.
Thank you guys for the help!
I will probably try making a new sd card for the pi when I figure out how to do it. Mechanics are my specialty, dealing with software is not.
 
I tried swapping out the sticks one at a time. Each of the 256mb and the 512mb from the other netdimm, no luck.
I am starting to think the issue is the pi. While trying to connect to it, none of the network indicator lights on the board lit up. As a last resort I disconnected the pi from the dimm and connected a standard ethernet cable from my internet router to the dimm. Not only did the lights come on, but I also got the checking network screen.
I had same issue and it was the brand new pi itself. Network wasn’t working at all. Got a new one put the exact same sd card in it and it immediately worked.
 
I had same issue and it was the brand new pi itself. Network wasn’t working at all. Got a new one put the exact same sd card in it and it immediately worked.
That seems to have been my problem as well. I just got in a Pi from another seller and voila, it works.

I'm sure most people on this forum have already set up networking on their Naomi years ago, but for those who are new to this like myself it can be frustrating.
To figure out what was the actual culprit I tried the new Pi sd card in the bad Pi and it did not work. (Strangely enough, the sd card from the bad Pi works perfectly in the new Pi) I also tried swapping out the lcd with the one from the new Pi (just in case something could have been soldered wrong) still no bueno.

The dates on both are the same, 2011. However, the Pi that works was made in the UK and the bad one was made in ......... China.
For anyone who may be looking at purchasing one from AliExpress I am including pics to help differentiate between the two.
Green LCD w/NAOMI printed on it & Green Pi = Good 1st three pics
Green and Black LCD & Red Pi = Bad Last three pics

The bad Pi used Piforce Tools v 1.5 and the good Pi had WiPi Netbooter on the sd card.
An added note, Piforce Tools loads much faster than WiPi Netbooter on the functioning Pi.

Thanks to everyone that chimed in with help!!!!
 

Attachments

  • 20241229_024354.jpg
    20241229_024354.jpg
    120.6 KB · Views: 84
  • 20241229_023909.jpg
    20241229_023909.jpg
    164.6 KB · Views: 84
  • 20241229_024058.jpg
    20241229_024058.jpg
    187.4 KB · Views: 77
  • 20241229_024404.jpg
    20241229_024404.jpg
    134.5 KB · Views: 79
  • 20241229_023934.jpg
    20241229_023934.jpg
    166.5 KB · Views: 81
  • 20241229_024138.jpg
    20241229_024138.jpg
    187.4 KB · Views: 78
That seems to have been my problem as well. I just got in a Pi from another seller and voila, it works.

I'm sure most people on this forum have already set up networking on their Naomi years ago, but for those who are new to this like myself it can be frustrating.
To figure out what was the actual culprit I tried the new Pi sd card in the bad Pi and it did not work. (Strangely enough, the sd card from the bad Pi works perfectly in the new Pi) I also tried swapping out the lcd with the one from the new Pi (just in case something could have been soldered wrong) still no bueno.

The dates on both are the same, 2011. However, the Pi that works was made in the UK and the bad one was made in ......... China.
For anyone who may be looking at purchasing one from AliExpress I am including pics to help differentiate between the two.
Green LCD w/NAOMI printed on it & Green Pi = Good 1st three pics
Green and Black LCD & Red Pi = Bad Last three pics

The bad Pi used Piforce Tools v 1.5 and the good Pi had WiPi Netbooter on the sd card.
An added note, Piforce Tools loads much faster than WiPi Netbooter on the functioning Pi.

Thanks to everyone that chimed in with help!!!!
My bad one also came from an aliexpress seller from China that sold the universal bios and zero key together. He also kept trying to act like it was user error and wouldn’t refund me
 
Looking for the original SD Image when the pi netboot first came out. Can someone help me with this.
 
7. A Cross-over Cable.
The Net-DIMM board needs to connect to the Raspberry-Pi over a valid network. Theoretically you could use a single R-Pi to net boot multiple consoles on the same network. This guide wont go into that. In the case where you'd connect the R-Pi directly to the Net-DIMM board we'll need a Cross-Over cable. Regular Ethernet cables cannot be used without a networking switch between the R-Pi and the Net-DIMM board.
Considering this is the defentive guide for netboot, seems like now the crossover cable is not needed (straight ethernet cable works as well), wondering if this section needs to be updated?
 
I'm kinda stuck I got PI3 + Adafruit i2c 16x2 RGB (18 pin) that works with Piforce no problem.

I got PI2 and assembled new Adafruit i2c 16x2 (16 pin) but Piforce doesn't load, I can see blocks on the screen but no back light.

Interestingly If I put Adafruit i2c 16x2 (16 pin) on PI3 it works no problem with back-light turning on.

I've removed from lcd.backlight(lcd.BLUE) and changed busnum from 1 to 0 but still makes no difference.

Could this be problem with my PI2 board?
 
I'm kinda stuck I got PI3 + Adafruit i2c 16x2 RGB (18 pin) that works with Piforce no problem.

I got PI2 and assembled new Adafruit i2c 16x2 (16 pin) but Piforce doesn't load, I can see blocks on the screen but no back light.

Interestingly If I put Adafruit i2c 16x2 (16 pin) on PI3 it works no problem with back-light turning on.

I've removed from lcd.backlight(lcd.BLUE) and changed busnum from 1 to 0 but still makes no difference.

Could this be problem with my PI2 board?

If other things work on the PI2 okay, then it might be a code related issue. Like some type of setting needing to be set to be Pi2 specific vs. P3.

I have used ChatGPT to troubleshoot a few Pi related triforcetools, openjvs, and wipi issues as of late with some decent luck as of late. It might be worth explaining the issue (like above) and the code you are using on the PI2 to see if it might have a suggestion as to what could be wrong.
 
Back
Top