Satisloh V50 · i486 / AMIBIOS · CompactFlash IDE

Satisloh V50 Lens Generator OS & Recovery Image

A ready-to-write CompactFlash disk image of the complete Satisloh V50 boot system — MS-DOS, control software, machine/tool configuration and all language files — for legacy i486 AMIBIOS generators stuck on “DISKETTE BOOT FAILURE” or a worn-out CF card.

Buy & Download OS Package – $299 USD Check compatibility

Sector-exact image of a working V50 card (boot sector included)
File system verified and boot-tested to the V50 control screen
Write it with Win32 Disk Imager, Rufus (DD) or dd
Instant download after PayPal payment
Step-by-step BIOS and calibration guidance

V50 CONTROLLER · VGA

486DX4-S 100MHz · 640KB Base Memory

Checking NVRAM..

DISKETTE BOOT FAILURE

INSERT BOOT DISKETTE IN A:

PRESS <F1> TO CONTINUE_

› write satisloh_v50_cf.img → CF card

› BIOS: USER 122 / 2 / 32 · Boot C:

Starten von MS-DOS...

C:\TP\CNC90> TEST 1 → LOH V50

Typical failure screen and the recovery path

Quick answer

If your Satisloh V50 lens generator stops at “DISKETTE BOOT FAILURE – INSERT BOOT DISKETTE IN A:”, the controller can no longer boot from its CompactFlash card. The usual causes are a flat CMOS battery that erased the BIOS drive settings, or a corrupted or worn-out CF card. Replace the battery and re-detect the drive first; if the card itself is bad, write this sector-exact V50 disk image to a new 4 MB-or-larger industrial CF card, set the drive geometry to 122 cylinders / 2 heads / 32 sectors, and restore your own machine parameters before cutting lenses.

Hardware identification

Is this the right image for your machine?

Compare your generator with the specifications below. The image fits the Satisloh V50 with an i486 controller that boots MS-DOS from a CompactFlash card on an IDE adapter.

Machine hardware
Machine model	Satisloh V50 (Satis Loh V50) CNC ophthalmic lens generator
Controller CPU	Intel i486DX4 @ 100 MHz
BIOS	AMIBIOS System Configuration (American Megatrends Inc., © 1985–1994)
Boot storage	40-pin IDE bus with CompactFlash-to-IDE adapter (Altec Compact FlashDisk IDE Vers 1.0)
Original media	SanDisk industrial CompactFlash Type I, 4 MB (SDCFB-4) or 8 MB (SDCFB-8)
Display	VGA / EGA
Typical failure	“DISKETTE BOOT FAILURE” / “INSERT BOOT DISKETTE IN A:” at power-on

Recovery image
Image type	Raw sector-by-sector disk image (.img) incl. MBR and boot sector
File system	FAT12, one primary partition at sector 32
Volume size	3.8 MB volume (7,776 sectors); whole image 7,808 sectors × 512 bytes
Drive geometry (CHS)	122 cylinders / 2 heads / 32 sectors per track Use these values for the BIOS “USER” drive type if auto-detection fails.
Verification	FAT file system checked (171 files, 0 errors); boot-tested in a 486 PC emulator through MS-DOS to the LOH V50 control screen
Minimum card size	4 MB CompactFlash (any capacity up to 128 MB works with the USER geometry above)
Operating system	MS-DOS 6.22 (German edition)

Operating system & firmware

What’s inside the recovery package

A complete, sector-exact copy of a working V50 boot card: the MS-DOS boot system, the Satisloh control software, machine and tool configuration, factory defaults and six operator languages.

Boot system (MS-DOS 6.22)

The DOS kernel and start-up files exactly as installed on the machine.

IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, COMMAND.COM: DOS kernel and command interpreter, with the original bootable MBR and boot sector
CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT: Start-up configuration: loads HIMEM, then launches the V50 control program
DOS\HIMEM.SYS, DRVSPACE.BIN, MODE.COM, CHOICE.COM: Memory manager and DOS utilities used at start-up

Loh / Satisloh control software

The generator’s operating program in C:\TP\CNC90 and its data.

TP\CNC90\TEST.EXE: V50 CNC control program (Loh Optikmaschinen, 2000 build), started by AUTOEXEC.BAT
CNC90.INI, ERROR.DAT, TOOL.BOX, RECH.DAT, ERG.DAT: Controller settings, alarm table, tool box and calculation data
DATEN\F001–F012.EDG, F100.EDG: Edge/shape definition files
*.CHR fonts: Screen font set (BOLD, EURO, GOTH, LCOM, LITT, SANS, SCRI, SIMP, TRIP, TSCR)

Machine & tool configuration

Parameters of the source machine plus factory defaults for the whole V-series.

V50MAK.INI: Machine parameters (axes, measuring system, interfaces) — from the source machine
V50WZG.INI: Tool table (Werkzeug) — from the source machine
V50MEN.INI, V50VER.INI, V50LOCK.INI, V50V13.INI, V50V19.INI, BETRSTD.INI: Menu, version, option and operating-hours settings
*.DFT: Factory default parameter/tool/menu sets for V50, V50R, V75, V95, V95S, V100 and V100C

Languages

Operator messages, menus and help screens in six languages.

V50MSG.*, V50MEN.*, V50HLP.*, V50DIO.*: English (ENG), Spanish (ESP), French (FRA), German (GER), Dutch (HOL), Italian (ITA)
ALLMSG.*, SPHMEN.*, SPHHLP.*: Shared message, menu and help files

Download structure

satisloh_v50_os_backup.zip
├── 00_READ_ME_FIRST.txt            ← start here
├── 01_TERMS_AND_DISCLAIMERS.txt
├── 02_DISK_IMAGE/
│   ├── satisloh_v50_cf.img         ← write this to the CF card
│   └── SHA256SUMS.txt              ← integrity check
├── 03_FILES_REFERENCE/             ← every file on the card
│   └── (IO.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, TP\CNC90\TEST.EXE, V50MAK.INI …)
├── 04_GUIDE/
│   ├── 1_BACKUP_YOUR_CURRENT_CARD.txt
│   ├── 2_WRITE_IMAGE_WINDOWS.txt
│   ├── 3_WRITE_IMAGE_LINUX_MACOS.txt
│   ├── 4_AMIBIOS_SETUP.txt
│   └── 5_PARAMETERS_AND_CALIBRATION.txt
└── 05_TROUBLESHOOTING.txt

Why a disk image instead of loose files?

The V50 boots from the card’s boot sector, which a normal file copy does not include. A raw image restores the partition table, boot sector, DOS system files and the control software in one step — exactly as they were on the working machine.

The 03_FILES_REFERENCE folder still gives you every file individually, so you can compare start-up files or pick out factory defaults without mounting the image.

Note: the parameter files are those of the source machine. Plan to restore your own V50MAK.INI / V50WZG.INI or recalibrate — see step 7 of the guide.

Step-by-step guide

How to restore a Satisloh V50 boot CompactFlash card

Write the Satisloh V50 OS recovery image to a new CompactFlash card, configure the AMIBIOS drive settings and bring the lens generator back into service. Allow about 45 minutes, plus calibration time.

You will need

Industrial CompactFlash card, Type I, 4 MB or larger (SanDisk SDCFB-4 / SDCFB-8 recommended)
Satisloh V50 OS Recovery Package (satisloh_v50_os_backup.zip)

Tools

USB CompactFlash card reader (Type I)
Windows, Linux or macOS computer
Win32 Disk Imager, Rufus or dd

01
Back up your current card and parameters
Before touching anything, save what is unique to your machine. If the old card can still be read, make a full image of it and copy V50MAK.INI and V50WZG.INI to a safe place. If the machine still runs, photograph or note every machine-parameter page.
- Insert the old card in the USB reader and use Win32 Disk Imager → Read to save a full image (e.g. my_v50_old_card.img).
- Copy V50MAK.INI (machine parameters) and V50WZG.INI (tool table) from the old card. These hold your machine’s own calibration values.
- If the machine still boots, photograph every machine-parameter and tool screen. If it doesn’t, look for printed parameter lists from the commissioning report.
Caution: The image contains the parameters of the source machine, not yours. Your own values are the most valuable thing to save.
02
Get a suitable CompactFlash card and reader
Use an industrial CompactFlash Type I card of at least 4 MB that works in fixed-disk (True IDE) mode, plus a USB CF card reader.
- Best match: SanDisk industrial SDCFB-4 (4 MB) or SDCFB-8 (8 MB), the cards the V50 shipped with.
- Cards up to 128 MB work if you set the BIOS geometry manually (step 6). Industrial cards (SanDisk, Transcend industrial, Swissbit, Cactus) are far more reliable than consumer photo cards in an old IDE BIOS.
- Any USB CF reader that shows the card as a drive letter (Windows) or /dev/sdX / /dev/diskN (Linux / macOS) works.
03
Download, extract and verify the package
Extract satisloh_v50_os_backup.zip and check the SHA-256 checksum of satisloh_v50_cf.img against SHA256SUMS.txt.
- Extract the ZIP to a folder (not inside the ZIP viewer).
- Windows: certutil -hashfile 02_DISK_IMAGE\satisloh_v50_cf.img SHA256
- Linux / macOS: shasum -a 256 02_DISK_IMAGE/satisloh_v50_cf.img
- The result must match the value in SHA256SUMS.txt. If it doesn’t, download the file again.
04
Write the disk image to the CompactFlash card
Write satisloh_v50_cf.img to the CF card sector by sector with Win32 Disk Imager, Rufus in DD mode, or dd. Do not copy the files by hand: the boot sector must be written too.
- Win32 Disk Imager (Windows): run as administrator → select satisloh_v50_cf.img → choose the CF card’s drive letter under *Device* → Write.
- Rufus (Windows): select the CF card → *SELECT* the .img file → if asked, choose DD Image mode → START.
- Linux / macOS: sudo dd if=satisloh_v50_cf.img of=/dev/sdX bs=512 conv=fsync (macOS: of=/dev/rdiskN).
- Windows may say the card “needs to be formatted” afterwards — click Cancel. That is normal: Windows doesn’t like small FAT12 volumes.
Caution: Writing an image erases the target completely. Triple-check that you selected the CF card and not another drive.
05
Install the card in the machine
With the machine switched off and locked out, insert the new card into the Altec CompactFlash-to-IDE adapter on the controller.
- Switch off the main power and follow your lock-out / tag-out procedure.
- Use ESD protection. Clean the adapter contacts if the old card had intermittent faults.
- Insert the card fully into the CF-IDE adapter and check the 40-pin IDE cable is seated.
06
Configure the AMIBIOS drive settings
Power on, press DEL to enter AMIBIOS setup, run IDE HDD Auto Detection or set drive C: to USER type with 122 cylinders, 2 heads and 32 sectors, set the boot order to C: first, then save with F10.
- Press DEL during the memory count (some boards use F2 or Ctrl+Alt+Esc).
- Standard CMOS Setup → Hard Disk C: run *IDE HDD Auto Detection* and accept it if it reports 2 heads / 32 sectors.
- If it reports anything else (larger cards do), set Type = USER, Cylinders = 122, Heads = 2, Sectors = 32, mode Normal (not LBA/Large).
- Advanced CMOS Setup → Boot Sequence: C:, A: (or C: only). Leave floppy drive A: as installed.
- Check the date and time, then Save & Exit (F10 → Y).
- Expected start-up: Starten von MS-DOS... → a box asking “Initialize modem yes/no?” (press 0 or wait 5 seconds) → the LOH V50 job screen.
Caution: If the BIOS forgets these settings after a power cycle, the CMOS battery is flat — replace it before going further.
07
Restore your machine parameters and calibrate
After the first boot, put back your own V50MAK.INI and V50WZG.INI (or re-enter your parameters), then have a qualified technician reference and calibrate the axes, measuring system and tools before cutting a lens.
- If you saved your own V50MAK.INI / V50WZG.INI in step 1, copy them over the ones on the new card (card in the USB reader, machine off), then re-insert it.
- Otherwise go through every machine-parameter group and compare it with your records — especially machine version, axis encoders, measuring system, spindle type and interface (host/scanner baud rate).
- Reference the axes and check the centre-thickness measuring device and tool data with the machine in manual mode before automatic production.
- Cut test lenses and verify power, thickness and prism before releasing the machine to production.
Caution: Never run automatic production on parameters you have not verified. Wrong values can cause collisions, scrapped lenses or machine damage.

Troubleshooting & diagnostics

Satisloh V50 boot problems and fixes

The most common faults on V50 controllers, what causes them and how to fix them — whether or not you buy the image.

My Satisloh V50 shows “DISKETTE BOOT FAILURE – INSERT BOOT DISKETTE IN A:”. What does it mean?

The BIOS could not find a bootable drive C:, so it fell back to the floppy drive. The three usual causes are: (1) a flat CMOS battery that erased the hard-disk type in the BIOS, (2) a CompactFlash card or CF-IDE adapter that is no longer detected (dirty contacts, failed card), or (3) a corrupted boot sector on the card. Replace the battery on the 486 motherboard, re-run IDE HDD Auto Detection (or set USER 122/2/32), reseat the card, and if it still fails, write the recovery image to a new industrial CF card.

The BIOS loses its settings every time the machine is switched off.

The CMOS battery is exhausted. Depending on the motherboard it is a CR2032 coin cell or a soldered 3.6 V barrel battery. Replace it, re-enter the drive settings and the date/time, and check the board for leakage damage around the old barrel battery.

The card is detected, but I get “Missing operating system”, “Non-System disk” or the machine hangs after the memory test.

This is almost always a geometry mismatch: the BIOS auto-detected the new card with a different head/sector count than the image was built with. Set drive C: to type USER with 122 cylinders, 2 heads, 32 sectors and Normal mode. Also make sure the image was written with Win32 Disk Imager, Rufus (DD mode) or dd — files copied by hand do not contain a boot sector.

The machine boots to the C:\> prompt but the Satisloh control software does not start.

The start-up files were altered or are missing. AUTOEXEC.BAT must end by changing to C:\TP\CNC90 and running TEST 1 (the V50 control program). Compare AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS on your card with the copies in 03_FILES_REFERENCE. The safest fix is to write the full image again instead of editing the files on the card.

After restoring, the machine reports “WRONG MACHINE VERSION”, measuring-system or drive-tolerance errors.

The image carries the machine parameters (V50MAK.INI) and tool table (V50WZG.INI) of the source machine. Your V50 may have a different machine version, encoders, spindle or options. Copy back your own INI files, or have a qualified technician correct the parameters (for example the customer number / machine version entry) and recalibrate the axes and measuring system.

The card works in my PC but the V50 BIOS does not detect it.

Old IDE BIOSes need cards that operate in fixed-disk (True IDE) mode. Many modern consumer CF cards report themselves as removable media and are ignored. Use an industrial card such as SanDisk SDCFB-4/SDCFB-8, Transcend industrial or Swissbit, and clean the CF-IDE adapter contacts.

Screen text is in the wrong language or some messages are missing.

The package contains message, menu and help files in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch and Italian. Select the operator language in the control software’s configuration. If text is still missing or garbled, a file was damaged during writing: verify the checksum and write the image again.

Can I use a larger CompactFlash card than 4 MB?

Yes. Any card from 4 MB up to about 128 MB works as long as you set the BIOS drive type to USER with 122 cylinders, 2 heads and 32 sectors. The extra space on the card simply stays unused.

Is this an official Satisloh product?

No. archivesatis.com is an independent archive and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or supported by Satisloh. Satisloh is a trademark of its respective owner and is used only to identify the compatible machine.

Before you buy

Please read this first

A recovery image can save a machine — but only if expectations are clear. These points are part of the terms you accept at checkout.

This is a digital disk image of a working Satisloh V50 card — no physical card or hardware is shipped.
It contains the machine parameters and tool table of the source machine. Your parameters must be restored or checked, and the machine recalibrated, by a qualified technician.
Compatibility with every V50 hardware revision, option and machine version is not guaranteed.
Supplied “as is”: you are responsible for safe operation of your machine and for any downtime, scrap or damage.
Not affiliated with or supported by Satisloh.
Digital product: refunds only if the file cannot be delivered or is defective (see Terms).

Full details: Terms & Disclaimers

Digital download

Satisloh V50 OS Recovery Package

$299USD · one-time

Sector-exact CF disk image (.img) of a working V50
SHA-256 checksum for integrity verification
Reference copy of every file on the card
Guides: backup, writing (Windows / Linux / macOS), AMIBIOS, calibration
Troubleshooting sheet
Guides available in English, 中文 and हिन्दी
Email support for download problems

I have read and accept the Terms & Disclaimers (version 2026-11-09). I understand this is a digital disk image “as is”, that machine parameters must be restored or recalibrated by a qualified technician, and that refunds are limited as described.

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