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Text File | 1992-06-30 | 26.8 KB | 791 lines

************* ├ATEGORY 4 ╘OPIC 40 ************* ╘OPIC 40 ╙AT ═AY 16, 1992 ─.┬┴╥╥2 AT 00:58 ┼─╘ ╙UB: 128 UPGRADES UPGRADE DISCUSSIONS FOR THE ├128 17 MESSAGE(S) TOTAL. ------------ ═ESSAGE 1 ╙AT ═AY 16, 1992 ─.┬┴╥╥2 AT 01:01 ┼─╘ ╔ JUST RECEIVED A ╟RAPEVINE CATALOG AND ╔ AM INTRIGUED BY ALL THE UPGRADE COMPONENTS FOR THE ├128. ┬UT...╔ HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE FOR OR WHAT ╔ GAIN. ╘HERE IS NO EXPLANATION IN THE CATALOG, JUST A LISTING AND PRICE. ╔ SEE A 64K VIDEO RAM EXPANSION, ╥╧═ UPGRADES AND OTHERS. ┴NYONE FAMILIAR WITH THESE ITEMS WHO CAN ENLIGHTEN ME? ┴RE THEY WORTHWHILE? ------------ ═ESSAGE 2 ╙AT ═AY 16, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 20:42 ┼─╘ ╘HE 64╦ ╓─├ UPGRADE IS WORTH EVERY PENNY! ╔ WOULD SKIP ALL THE ╥╧═ UPGRADES AND INSTEAD SAVE MY MONEY FOR ╩IFFY─OS. ╒NLESS YOU HAD A SPECIFIC NEED FOR A ╥┼╒, ╔ WOULD SKIP THE ╥┼╒ AND PUT THE MONEY TOWARDS A ╥AM╠INK. ------------ ═ESSAGE 3 ╙UN ═AY 17, 1992 ╥.╦╬╧╨1 [╥OB ╦NOP] AT 12:32 ┼─╘ ╔ DUNNO, ╔'VE BECOME A MAJOR FAN OF ╥┼╒'S LATELY. ─ON'T HAVE A ╥┴═╠INK (YET... FINGERS CROSSED :) ), BUT HAVE DECIDED THAT IF/WHEN ╔ DO GET ONE, ╔ WILL LEAVE THE ╥┼╒ IN TRANSPARENT/DIRECT/WHATEVER IT'S CALLED MODE, AND CONTINUE TO USE THE ╥┼╒ AS AN ╥┼╒. ╘HERE ARE ENOUGH PROGRAMS THAT MAKE EFFECTIVE USE OF THE ╥┼╒ TO MAKE IT WORTH KEEPING. ╞OR INSTANCE, ╔ LIKE ─IALOGUE128'S ╥┼╒ BUFFERS. (┴ 512╦ BUFFER IS NICE FOR CAPTURING LOTS OF TEXT ONLINE - THE 64╦ "BOUNDRY" INVOLVES ═╒├╚ LESS LOSS OF TEXT THAN CAPTURING A DISK FILE.) ┬IG ┬LUE ╥EADER USES THE ╥┼╒ FOR A BUFFER. ┌┼─ USES THE ╥┼╒ FOR SYSTEM MEMORY! (╘ALKING TO ├RAIG ┬RUCE, HE IS ADDING SUPPORT IN HIS ─YNAMIC ═EMORY ROUTINES TO USE A SPECIAL ╥┴═╠INK PARTITION AS SYSTEM MEMORY - BUT, SINCE ╥┴═╠INK DOESN'T USE ─═┴, ACCESSING THE ╥┼╒ IS STILL FASTER.) ╠IKE MY ╥┼╒, ╔ MUST ADMIT. -╥OB ------------ ═ESSAGE 4 ╙UN ═AY 17, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 15:39 ┼─╘ ╧H, ╔ CERTAINLY LIKE BOTH AND MAKING ╙╞╪ FILES BUT IF ╔ HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER ╔ WOULD GO WITH ╥AM╠INK BECAUSE IT WORKS WITH MORE SOFTWARE. ------------ ═ESSAGE 5 ═ON ═AY 18, 1992 ╚╧╫╔┼-├┬═ AT 12:18 ┼─╘ ╔ ECHO EVERYTHING THAT ╥OB JUST SAID. ╘HE ╥┼╒ IS A *═╒╙╘* FOR SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY RUNNING LOTS OF SOFTWARE. ╙O MUCH SO, THATNEMENTS. ╟IVEN ONE CAN ONLY AFFORD ONE OF EITHER AN ╥┼╒ OF SOME SORT OR A ╚ARD ─RIVE WHICH DO YOU EXPERTS RECOMMEND A NOVICE SHOULD INVEST IN FIRST??? ╘ONY ------------ ═ESSAGE 7 ╞RI ═AY 22, 1992 ╥.╦╬╧╨1 [╥OB ╦NOP] AT 01:40 ┼─╘ ┴LTHOUGH ╔ DON'T HAVE ONE, ╔ WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND A ╥┴═╠INK FOR YOUR ONLY ╥┴═ DEVICE. ╥┴═╠INK IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF SOFTWARE (NEARLY EVERYTHING THAT USES A DISK DRIVE), AND IS THE MOST VERSATILE OF ALL THE DEVICES. ╫HAT DO YOU WANT TO USE YOUR ╥┴═ DEVICE FOR? ╥┴═╠INK IS MUCH LIKE AN ULTRAFAST HARD DRIVE WITH 0.5-8 ═EGS. ╙OME PROGRAMS (E.G. ╟┼╧╙) USE A 1750 ╥┼╒ MAINLY AS A ╥┴═ DISK, AND CAN USE ╥┴═╠INK IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. ╧THER PROGRAMS USE A 1750'S ╥┴═ DIRECTLY (E.G. THE ┬IG ┬LUE ╥EADER USES IT AS A BUFFER, ┌┼─ USES IT AS SYSTEM MEMORY). ┴ 1750 HAS SOME UTILITY THAT A ╥┴═╠INK CAN'T COMPLETELY REPLACE. ╚OWEVER, FOR THE AVERAGE ├= USER, ╔ THINK THAT A ╥┴═╠INK WOULD BE MORE OFTEN USEFUL. -╥OB ------------ ═ESSAGE 8 ╞RI ═AY 22, 1992 ┴.╨┼╥╧╘╘╔ AT 23:24 ┼─╘ ╔'M THINKING THAT WITH A HARD DRIVE ╔ DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE POWER GOING OUT AND THEN HAVING TO RELOAD ALL THAE SOFTWARE AGAIN. ╨LUS WITH A 20 MEG ╚─ ╔'LL HAVE LOTS OF ROOM FOR EVERYTHING ╔ USE REGULARLY. ═Y THINKING IS THAT A ╥┴═ DRIVE WOULD MAKE A NICE ADDITION AFTER ╔ BUY A HARD DRIVE. ╫ITH THE ├═─ ╚─S ╔ COULD LATER INVEST IN ╥┴═ LINK WITH ╥┴═ EXPANSION INCLUDED AND RUN A PARALLEL CABLE TO THE ╚─ SO ╔'D GET SEVERAL ENHANSEMENTS IN ONE (SOMETIME AFTER GETTING THE ╚─) ─OESN'T AN ╚ARD ─RIVE MAKE A BETTER OVERALL MASS STORAGE MEDIUM THAT THE ╥┴═ EXPANSION? ╔S MY RATIONALE SOUND??? --╘ONY ------------ ═ESSAGE 9 ╙AT ═AY 23, 1992 ╠.╙├╚╧╬─┼╥ AT 00:06 ┼─╘ ╫HAT IS ┌┼─? ------------ ═ESSAGE 10 ╙AT ═AY 23, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 02:13 ┼─╘ ╔F YOU NEED MASS STORAGE THEN A HARD DRIVE IS THE WAY TO GO. ├OST PER MEGABYTE, THE ╚─ IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN THE ╥AMLINK. ╔F YOU DON'T HAVE A TON OF DATA AND YOU ALREADY HAVE A 1581 DISK DRIVE THE ╥AMLINK IS A VERY NICE OPTION. ╫ITH A 1581 LOADING A 4 MEGABYTE ╥AMLINK TAKES ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THE ╥AMLINK IS SO FAST WITH AN AVERAGE USE OF 10 HOURS PER WEEK YOU WOULD PROBABLY SAVE THAT MUCH TIME. ╧F COURSE IT DEPENDS ON YOUR SOFTWARE TOO. ╙OMEONE THAT REALLY LOVES ╟EOS SHOULD GET THE ╥AMLINK INSTEAD OF THE ╚─! ------------ ═ESSAGE 11 ╙AT ═AY 23, 1992 ╚╧╫╔┼-├┬═ AT 22:34 ┼─╘ ╠OU, ┌┼─ IS A 128 MODE TEXT EDITOR THAT YOU'LL FIND HERE IN THE ╞LAGSHIP ╠IBRARY. ╔T IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAM IN THAT IT NOT ONLY EXPANDS THE CAPIBILITES OF THE 128, AND ALLOW IT TO BUFFER 650K FILES INTACT (WITH A ╥┼╒), BUT IT ALSO DOES ALL OF ITS MANY EDITING TASKS FLAWLESSLY, AND EXTREMLY FAST. ╔ USE IT EVERY DAY SINCE ╔ FIRST GOT IT! :) ╚OWIE ------------ ═ESSAGE 12 ╙UN ═AY 24, 1992 ┴.╨┼╥╧╘╘╔ AT 23:35 ┼─╘ ╘HANKS FOR THE ADVICE ╩┬┼┼. ╫HAT IS THE SPEED COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ╚─ AND ╥┴═╠INK WHEN COMPARED TO THE 1541? ╔ PRESUME THE ╥┴═LINK IS THE FASTEST, BUT BY HOW MUCH? --╘ONY ------------ ═ESSAGE 13 ═ON ═AY 25, 1992 ╥.╦╬╧╨1 [╥OB ╦NOP] AT 14:35 ┼─╘ ╬OTE: ╥┼: ╥┴═╠INK AND POWER OUTAGE, YOU CAN GET A BATTERY BACKUP UNIT FOR A ╥┴═╠INK THAT WILL MAINTAIN ITS CONTENTS FOR SEVERAL HOURS (HOW MANY? 20?) EVEN IF THE POWER GOES OUT. ╥E: ╚─ SPEED, THE ╚─ IS FASTER WITH A ╥┴═╠INK. ╙O, IF YOU HAVE THE DOUGH, THE IDEAL SOLUTION IS OF COURSE TO GET BOTH A ╚─ AND A ╥┴═╠INK! :─ -╥OB ------------ ═ESSAGE 14 ═ON ═AY 25, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 19:40 ┼─╘ ╫ELL, WITH ╩IFFY─OS, ╔ WOULD HAZARD A GUESS THE ╚─ IS UP TO 50 TIMES FASTER, ESPECIALLY WITH RELATIVE FILES. ╥AMLINK IS ALMOST INSTANT WHEN LOADING FILES AND WORKING WITH RELATIVE FILES IT IS ABOUT THREE TIMES FASTER THAN THE ╚─ WORKING WITH THE PARALLEL CONNECTION. ┴CTUALLY, ╥AMLINK MAKES THE ╚─ LOOK LIKE IT IS CRAWLING, WHEN IN FACT, THE ╚─ IS PRETTY DARN FAST! ╔ HAVE LEFT MY ╥AMLINK WITHOUT POWER FOR ALMOST A WHOLE DAY (24 HOURS -3MEGS) AND STILL HAD EVERYTHING THERE. ╔N A PREVIOUS ├═─ CONFERENCE WE DISCUSSED CONNECTING TWO BATTERIES TO THE ╥AMLINK TO DOUBLE ITS BACKUP POWER. ┴CTUALLY, IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME WORRY ABOUT DATA INTEGERITY IT WOULD BE POORLY WRITTEN PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY OLDER PROGRAMS, THAT WOULD CORRUPT THE DATA. ╬O MATTER WHAT MASS STORAGE DEVICE YOU GET YOU SHOULD BACK UP ANY DATA YOU CAN'T STAND TO LOSE. ╘HAT IS WHERE ┴╥├ AND ├╙/─╧╙ CAN COME IN HANDY. ╫HEN ╔ WANT TO BACK UP A PARTITION FILLED WITH FILES ╔ USE ┴╥├, DO THE WHOLE THING TO A 1581 AND COME BACK LATER WHEN IT IS DONE. ------------ ═ESSAGE 15 ╫ED ═AY 27, 1992 ┴.╨┼╥╧╘╘╔ AT 20:47 ┼─╘ ╔ HAVE TRIED ┴╥├ AND ├╙/─╧╙ AND HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED. ╘HEY ARE VERY GOOD PROGRAMS! ------------ ═ESSAGE 16 ╙AT ═AY 30, 1992 ─.┬┴╥╥2 AT 01:09 ┼─╘ ─UMB QUESTION, BUT...JUST WHAT WILL THE 64K ╓IDEO ╥AM ┼XPANSION DO FOR ME? ┴ND WILL IT DO IT WITHOUT INTERVENTION FROM ME? ------------ ═ESSAGE 17 ╙AT ═AY 30, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 06:07 ┼─╘ ╘HERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION, ANSWERS ON THE OTHER HAND ... :─ ╘HE 64╦ WILL GIVE YOU ACCESS TO A WHOLE RANGE OF NEW GRAPHIC CAPABILITIES SUCH AS FULL COLOR BITMAPS, ═┴├ ╨AINT VIEWERS, INTERLACED PICTURES, LARGE VIRTUAL BITMAPS 640X800, EXTENDED VIDEO ANIMATION, THE LIST GOES ON. ┴LMOST ALL THE PROGRAMS MAKE USE OF THE EXTRA 64╦ AUTOMATICALLY. ╘HOSE THAT DO NOT MAKE USE OF IT AUTOMATICALLY USUALLY ALLOW YOU TO MAKE A SIMPLE CHANGE IN THE BASIC BOOT FILE, LIKE ╫IZARD DOES. ╘HE 64╦ IS REQUIRED FOR A LOT OF THE NEWER PROGRAMS COMING OUT. ┴FTER YOU INSTALL THE 64╦ ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS USE IT. ╒NTIL A PROGRAM ACCESSES THE 64K AS FAR AS THE ├128 IS CONCERNED YOU HAVE A STOCK MACHINE WITH 16K AND THE EXTRA MEMORY WILL NOT INTERFER WITH PROGRAMS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE THE EXTRA MEMORY. ------------ ************* ├ATEGORY 4 ╘OPIC 4# ************ ╘OPIC 41 ╙UN ═AY 24, 1992 ╥.╠┴┌┴╥1 [╙HADWELL] AT 09:46 ┼─╘ ╙UB: 128─ AND ╙╔─ CHIPS ╫HY DOES CERTAIN SOFTWARE SOUND DIFFERENTLY ON MY 128─ THAN ON MU ├64? 7 MESSAGE(S) TOTAL. ------------ ═ESSAGE 1 ╙UN ═AY 24, 1992 ╥.╠┴┌┴╥1 [╙HADWELL] AT 09:52 ┼─╘ ╔'VE NOTICED CERTAIN DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY MY 128─ SOUNDS WHEN USING CERTAIN SOFTWARE. ╔ JUST DRAGGED OUT ╔MPOSSIBLE ═ISSION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS AND NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE SOUND EFFECTS (SCREAMS &VOICES) WERE ALMOST INAUDIBLE ON MY 128─. ┴LSO, MANY OF MY SIDS DO NOT SOUND THE SAME PLAYED ON THE 128. ┴NOTHER RELATED QUESTION...IS THERE ANY REASON FOR TTHE MOUSE POINTER IN ╟┼╧╙ TO SHAKE QUITE A BIT WHEN ╔ HAVE A JOYSTICK PLUGGED INTO PORT 2 ┴S WELL AS HAVING A MOUSE IN PORT1? ┴NY HELP EXPLAINING THESE THINGS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED :) ╥OB ------------ ═ESSAGE 2 ╙UN ═AY 24, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 15:38 ┼─╘ ╘HE ├-128─ HAS A COST REDUCED ╙╔─ CHIP THAT OPERATES AT 9╓ VS 12╓ AND THIS MAKES FOR A "SOFTER" VOICE. ═OST OF THE PROBLEMS CAN BE WORKED AROUND BY INITALIZING THE ╙╔─ CORRECTLY. ╘HOUGH YOU WILL HAVE TO PUMP UP THE VOLUME ;) ╔ THINK THE SHAKY ╟EOS POINTER HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE MOUSE THAN ╟EOS. ╔ KNOW THEY HAD TO WRITE NEW DRIVERS FOR ╥╒╬PAINT TO SUPPORT THE NEWER ├-1351 TO ELIMINATE THE JITTERS. ------------ ═ESSAGE 3 ╙UN ═AY 24, 1992 ╥.╠┴┌┴╥1 [╙HADWELL] AT 19:22 ┼─╘ ╘HANKS FOR THE INFO ╩OHN :) ╔S IT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE 128─'S 9V ╙╔─ CHIP WITH A 12V? ╠OOKING THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE GROUP CATALOG ╔ NOTICE THAT 3 DIFFERENT ╙╔─ CHIPS ARE LISTED...6581, 8500, AND 8580. ╫HICH ARE WHICH? ╥OB :) ------------ ═ESSAGE 4 ╙UN ═AY 24, 1992 ╨┴╒╠-═┬ AT 19:34 ┼─╘ ╥OB AND ╩┬┼┼, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE ╙╔─ IN THE 128 IS CHEAPER. :) ╔ FIRST NOTICED THIS THE NIGHT ╔ GOT MY 128─ WITH ╚ARDBALL!, WHICH WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN ╔ KNEW. >>> ╨AUL >>> ------------ ═ESSAGE 5 ╙UN ═AY 24, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 23:13 ┼─╘ ╘HE 6581 IS THE ORIGINAL ╙╔─, THE 8580 WOULD BE THE ├-128─ CHIP (?), DONT KNOW ABOUT THE 8500. ╔F YOU POP OPEN YOUR ├-128─ AND LOOK TO THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE POWER SUPPLY YOU CAN SEE THE ╙╔─ CHIP. ╘HOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE ╙╔─ CHIP WITH A HARDWARE HACK, IT ISN'T REALLY WORTH DOING. ------------ ═ESSAGE 6 ╙AT ╩UN 06, 1992 ╥.╨┴╘┼╥╬╧╙╘2 [╥AY] AT 00:27 ┼─╘ ┴LTHOUGH ╔ AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 8580 (128─ ╙╔─) AND THE 6581, THE 8580 IS BY NO MEANS CHEAP! ╔N THE LATEST ╟RAPEVINE ╟ROUP FLYER, THEY LIST THE 6581 FOR LESS THAN $9, BUT THE 8580 IS STILL $14! ┴NYBODY KNOW WHAT GIVES? ------------ ═ESSAGE 7 ╙AT ╩UN 06, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 18:24 ┼─╘ ┘ES, THEY ARE OVERPRICED AND SOLE SOURCED. ┘OU CAN PICK UP THE 6581 A LOT CHEAPER FROM OTHER MAIL ORDER PLACES. ╔ HAVE A DISK CATALOG FROM A PLACE CALLED ├╬┼ AND ╔ BELIEVE THEY SELL THE 6581 FOR $6! ╧NCE ╔ USE ┬┬╥ TO MOVE THE TEXT FILES FROM THE ╨├ DISKS TO ├= FORMAT, ╔ WILL UPLOAD THEM IN ╙╞╪ FORMAT. ┬EEN ONE OF THOSE RAINY DAY PROJECTS ;) ------------ ************ ├ATEGORY 4 ╘OPIC 42 ************* ╘OPIC 42 ╞RI ═AY 29, 1992 ┬.╠╒├╔┼╥ [BILL L.] AT 00:19 ┼─╘ ╙UB: ╘ELLING WHAT DISK DRIVE IS HOOKED UP.. ╔ NEED A WAY TO TELL WHAT DRIVE IS HOOKED UP. ╫HAT ╔ WOULD LIKE IS TO BE ABLE TO DO A MEMORY-READ AS ╔ THINK THIS WOULD BE THE MOSE EFFICIENT WAY BUT ╔ AM OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS. ╙EE THE FIRST MESSAGE FOR MORE. 3 MESSAGE(S) TOTAL. ------------ ═ESSAGE 1 ╞RI ═AY 29, 1992 ┬.╠╒├╔┼╥ [BILL L.] AT 00:19 ┼─╘ ╔ NEED A WAY TO TELL IF A GIVEN DRIVE IS A 1571/1541 OR A 1581. ╔ KNOW THAT WHEN THE DRIVE IS TURNED ON AND THE ERROR STATUS IS READ IT WILL TELL BUT ╔ MAY NEED TO READ IT AT OTHER TIMES TOO. ╔S THERE A SPOT IN THE ROM THAT ╔ COULD READ THAT WOULD INDICATE WHAT DRIVE IT IS? ╔ COULD TRY READING DIFFERENT TRACKS TO SEE WHAT DRIVE IT IS BUT THAT SEEMS INEFFIECENT. ┴NY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. ╘HANKS ┬ILL ╠. ------------ ═ESSAGE 2 ╘UE ╩UN 09, 1992 ╟.├╧╥╥┼┴ AT 00:06 ┼─╘ ╞ROM THE ╘╫╔╬ ├╔╘╔┼╙ ├╧═╨┼╬─╔╒═ #1, PAGE 139 (REPRINTED FROM ╘├128#15): 10 T= ┴┬╙(╨┼┼╦(65533)=255): ╥┼═ T WILL EQUAL 0 IF ON A 64 OR 1 IF A 128. 20 A= 780: ╔╞ T ╘╚┼╬ A= 6 30 ╨╧╦┼ 144,0: ╨╧╦┼ A,UNIT: ╙┘╙ 65457: ╨╧╦┼ A,1: ╙┘╙ 65427 40 ╔╞ ST < 0 ╘╚┼╬ DO WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO IF UNIT AIN'T THERE. ╘HIS WORKS ON BOTH THE 64 & THE 128. ╔F YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT DRIVE TYPE IS, ADD THE FOLLOWING 25 ╞╧╥ UNIT= 8 ╘╧ 30: ╥┼═ 30= MAX ALLOWABLE DISK DRIVE DEVICE # 40 ╔╞ ST < 0 ╘╚┼╬ ╬┼╪╘ 50 ╧╨┼╬ 15,UNIT,15,"U;": ╔╬╨╒╘#15,A,A$ 60 ╔╞ A <> 73 ╘╚┼╬ ╨╥╔╬╘#15,"UJ": ╔╬╨╒╘$15,A,A$ 70 ├╠╧╙┼ 15 80 D$(UNIT)= ╥╔╟╚╘$(A$,4) 90 ╬┼╪╘ ╠INES 50 & 60 ARE NECESSISARY BECAUSE OF THE 1541. ═OST ├OMMODORE DISK DRIVES ARE SUPPOSED TO RESET WITH THE ╒╩ COMMAND; HOWEVER, ╔ HAVE RUN INTO A 1541 OR TWO THAT LOCK UP WHEN ╒╩ IS ISSUED- THEY RESET ON ╒;. ╒; DOESN'T SEEM TO HURT ANY OF THE OTHER DRIVES IN ANY WAY ╔ CAN SEE, SO WE ISSUE THAT FIRST AND IF WE DON'T GET THE RESET MESSAGE OVER THE ERROR CHANNEL (73,├╧╨┘╥╔╟╚╘ ├╧══╧─╧╥┼ ─╧╙ V## 15XX,00,00) THEN WE SEND THE OTHER. ╘HE ╞╧╥...╬┼╪╘ LOOP WILL CHECK DEVICES 8-30, 30 BEING THE THEORETICAL MAXIMUM FOR DEVICE NUMBERS THAT GET ACCESSED AS DISK DRIVES. ┘OU COULD CUT THIS DOWN TO 11 OR 15 IF YOU FEEL THE NEED. ╔ DON'T KNOW HOW ╥┴═╠╔╬╦ OR ╥┴═─╥╔╓┼ OR THE ├═─ ╚┴╥─ ─╥╔╓┼S REACT TO THIS- IT HAS BEEN TESTED ON 1541S (OLD-STYLE), 1571S (BOTH EXTERNAL AND 128─'S BUILT-IN), 1581S, AND ├OMMODORE'S ╥┴═─╧╙ (ERROR CODE REPORTS BACK 17XX AS DRIVE IDENTIFIER). ------------ ═ESSAGE 3 ╫ED ╩UN 10, 1992 ┬.╠╒├╔┼╥ [BILL L.] AT 20:16 ┼─╘ ╘HANK YOU. ╘HAT IS EXACTLY WHAT ╔ NEEDED. ┬ILL. ------------ ************* ├ATEGORY 4 ╘OPIC 43 ************ ╘OPIC 43 ╙AT ═AY 30, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 04:26 ┼─╘ ╙UB: ╬EW ├128 OWNER NEEDS HARDWARE HELP ╠OOKING TO FIX SOME C128 HARDWARE PROBLEMS... 18 MESSAGE(S) TOTAL. ------------ ═ESSAGE 1 ╙AT ═AY 30, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 04:31 ┼─╘ ╚I, ╔ JUST BOUGHT A HANDYMAN SPECIAL OF A ├128. ╔ HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS THAT ╔ NEED TO FIX. ╘HIS FIRST PROBLEM IS THAT ╔ HAVE AN UNRESPONSIVE SPACE BAR. ╔ TOOK APART AND CLEANED THE ENTIRE KEYBOARD, BUT THE SPACEBAR STILL HAS TO BE PRESSED HARD TO GET IT TO WORK. ╘HIS HAS MADE ME A BIT HEAVY HANDED AND FRUSTRATED WITH THE THING. ┴RE THE KEYSWITCHES CLOSED, OR CAN ╔ SPRAY SOME CONTACT CLEANER (╫─-40) IN? ╙ECOND, ╔ HAVE TO GET THE DRIVE REPAIRED. ╘HE 1571 HAS SOME PROBLEMS AND ╔ AM GOING TO SEND IT TO ┴&═ COMPUTER REPAIR. ╔F ANYONE HAS HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS COMPANY, ╔ WOULD BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU. ╠ASTLY, ╔ HAVE AN 1802 MONITOR THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COLOR. ╘HE ONLY COLOR ╔ GET IS A SHADE OF PURPLE. ╘INT AND COLOR CONTROLS HAVE NO EFFECT. ┴NYBODY KNOW HOW TO FIX MONITORS? ╫ELL THAT'S IT. ═Y MOST PRESSING PROBLEM IS THE SPACEBAR. ╘HIS KEY IS TOO IMPORTANT TO HAVE MALFUNCTIONING. ╘HANKS FOR YOUR HELP. ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 2 ╙AT ═AY 30, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 06:33 ┼─╘ ─╧╬'╘ ╙┼╬─ ╔╘ ╘╧ ┴&═ ┘┼╘! ╔ HAD TO FIX A COUPLE OF COMPLAINT COMPUTERS REFERRED TO ME BY ╥UN'S ├USTOMER ╙ERVICE. ╔ BELIEVE THEY CAME FROM ┴&═. ├ALL ╥╒╬ MAGAZINE'S ├USTOMER ╙ERVICE PERSON LISTED ON THEIR BACK PAGE. ╫HATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT SPRAY ╫─-40 INTO EITHER THE COMPUTER OR THE DISK DRIVE. ═OST LIKELY THE BOTTOM OF THE LITTLE PLASTIC PLUNGERS ARE DIRTY. ╘O CLEAN THEM (VERY GENTLY) USUALLY REQUIRES DISASSEMBLING THE WHOLE KEYBOARD. ┘OU COULD TRY BLOWING AIR OR CONTACT CLEANER IN THERE BUT IF THE REST OF THE KEYBOARD WAS FILLED WITH GRIME (HAIR, BREADCRUMBS, DOG BISCUITS, ETC) THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION IS TO TAKE THE WHOLE THING APART AND CLEAN IT. ╙OMETIMES IF THE PLUNGERS ARE IN REALLY BAD SHAPE EITHER FROM DIRT OR FROM HARD USE YOU CAN TAKE THE PLUNGERS AND SPRINGS FROM KEYS YOU HARDLY USE AND USE THEM FOR THE WORN ONES. ┼XAMPLE: SINCE THE + - . KEYS ARE HANDY ON THE KEYPAD AND DUPLICATED ON THE KEYBOARD THESE ARE REALLY GOOD KEYS TO PICK FOR A SWAP. ╘HEY ALSO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BEING HARDLY USED SO THEY ARE NEWER. ╔F YOU HAVE A SPARE ├16 KEYBOARD (OR ONES WITH SPRINGS WIDE ENOUGH) YOU CAN CUT A COIL OR TWO OFF THEM AND USE THEM INSTEAD OF THE REGULAR ├-128 SPRINGS. ╘HEY WILL GIVE A MUCH "HARDER" FEEL TO THE KEY PRESSES. ┴S FOR THE DISK DRIVE, IF THE DRIVE ASSEMBLY ITSELF IS WORN OR OUT OF ALIGNMENT YOUR BEST BET IS TO JUST BUY A COMPLETE DRIVE ASSEMBLY FROM ONE OF THE MANY ADVERTISERS IN ├OMPUTER ╙HOPPER. ╩┬ ╘ECHNOLOGY IS USUALLY THE BEST FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MATCHING OLDER DRIVES TO NEWER VERSIONS. ╘HE COST OF A NEW DRIVE ASSEMBLY IS $50-$60. ┴NY ALIGNMENT PROGRAM OR SERVICE IS GOING TO COST YOU AT LEAST $30+ RE:FIXING THE 1802 ╒NLESS YOU KNOW ┼╪┴├╘╠┘ WHAT YOU ARE DOING, REPAIRING MONITORS IS OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. ╬OT TO MENTION THEY ARE A MAJOR CAUSE OF COMPUTER FIRES EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT MUCKING AROUND WITH THEM. ═OST LIKELY THE "GUNS" ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ├ALL ANY ╥├┴ REPAIR SHOP OR ╘╓ REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ESTIMATE ON THE REPAIRS. ╔F THE COST TO FIX IT WAS MORE THAN $40 ╔ WOULDN'T BOTHERING DOING IT. ------------ ═ESSAGE 3 ╙AT ═AY 30, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 16:06 ┼─╘ ╘HANKS FOR THE QUICK RESPONSE. ╔'LL DEFINITELY CHECK OUT ╥╒╬'S CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE BEFORE SENDING THE DRIVE. ╔'M NOT SURE IF IT IS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM...╔ BOUGHT A KIT (FROM ┬RIWALL), AND HAVE HAD NO LUCK GETTING THE DRIVE TO TRACK NO MATTER HOW SMALL AN ADJUSTMENT ╔ MAKE. ╔ ALSO DOUBT IT IS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT ╔ CAN'T EVEN FORMAT A DISK WITH IT WITHOUT GETTING A "BAD DISK ERROR." ╔ WOULD BE WILLING TO TRY OUT ORDERING A NEW DRIVE ASSEMBLY, BUT CAN ╔ RETURN IT IF IT DOESN'T WORK? ╔ DIDN'T KNOW THEY STILL SOLD THESE DRIVES WITH THE PHOTO-SENSOR FOR SECTOR TRACKING. ╔S IT HARD TO RIG UP THE WIRING HARNESS? ┴S FOR THE KEYBOARD, ╔ AM GOING TO TAKE IT APART. ╔ AM A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THE FOIL SURROUNDING ONE EDGE..BUT HEY, ╔ BOUGHT THIS MACHINE SO THAT ╔ CAN EXPLORE IT. ╘HE MONITOR WILL STAY AS IT IS. ╔'LL JUST USE IT AS A MONOCHROME UNIT. ╔F ╔ REALLY WANT COLOR, ╔'LL HOOK IT UP TO THE ╘╓. ╔'LL GET THIS MACHINE IN PRIME SHAPE YET. :) ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 4 ╙AT ═AY 30, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 16:57 ┼─╘ ┴╥GH!! ╔ FEEL STUPID NOW. ╔ OPENED UP MY 128 AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYBOARD ASSEMBLY. ╔ REMOVED ALL THE TINY SCREWS, BUT SOMETHING WAS STILL HOLDING THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO THE BASE OF THE KEYBOARD. ─O ╔ HAVE TO DESOLDER THE WIRED IN SWITCHES FOR 40/80,CAPS LOCK, SHIFT LOCK? ╔N ANY CASE, ╔ CUT THE FOIL NEAR THE SPACEBAR AND PROBED WITH A TISSUE WRAPPED SCREWDRIVER. ╔ WAS TRYING TO CLEAR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BETWEEN THE PLUNGER AND CONTACT. ╙OMETHING WENT WRONG AND NOW THE SPACEBAR IS SIMPLY DEAD. ╔ THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME TISSUE STUCK THERE. :( ╙O ╔ GUESS ╔ HAVE TO CRACK THE KEYBOARD NOW...BUT HOW? ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 5 ╙UN ═AY 31, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 01:28 ┼─╘ ╧K, ╔'VE DONE IT. ╔ DESOLDERED THE CONNECTIONS TO THE 3 KEY SWITCHES. ╘HIS ALLOWED ME TO LIFT OFF THE KEYBOARD BACK PANEL. ╔ THEN CLEANED ALL THE CONTACTS WITH TUNER/CONTACT CLEANER. ╘HEN, AFTER THAT FAILED TO WORK COMPLETELY, ╔ TRANSPLANTED THE "-" KEY PLUNGER TO THE SPACE KEY PLUNGER. ╘HAT WORKED. ╚OWEVER, WHEN ╔ PUT THE WHOLE THING BACK TOGETHER, 3 MORE KEYS STARTED TO FLAKE OUT. ╘HIS DISSAPEARED FOR THE MOST PART AFTER USING THE KEYBOARD FOR A FEW MINUTES. ╙O, THAT'S OVER AND FIXED. ╩UST HAVE A DISK DRIVE TO DO NOW. :) ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 6 ╙UN ═AY 31, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 14:06 ┼─╘ ╔F YOU DECIDE TO SEND OUT THE DISK DRIVE, ╔ CAN HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PERSON BECAUSE ╔ HAVE BEEN USING HIM FOR REPAIRS, CHIPS, TESTERS, NEW EQUIPMENT, AND OLD EQUIPMENT FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. ╚E IS ALSO A ├OMMODORE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIR SHOP. ╬OT TO MENTION A PRETTY GOOD GUY. ┼ARL ╚ARVEY ╚ARVEY AND ┴SSOCIATES, ╔NC. 1409 ═ILL ╙T ╠ARAMIE ╫┘ 82070 307-745-7077 ╚E ALSO DOES ╘HE ╞INAL ╚ORIZON NEWSLETTER. ------------ ═ESSAGE 7 ═ON ╩UN 01, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 02:53 ┼─╘ ╘HANKS, ╔ WILL CALL HIM UP ABOUT THE DRIVE. :) ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 8 ═ON ╩UN 01, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 22:14 ┼─╘ ┘OU'RE WELCOME :) ------------ ═ESSAGE 9 ╘UE ╩UN 02, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 23:37 ┼─╘ ╔'M GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE THE DRIVE MECHANISM MYSELF. ╚OW DO ╔ CONFIGURE THE WIRING IN THE 1571 FOR THE NEW 360K MECHANISM? ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 10 ╫ED ╩UN 03, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 04:10 ┼─╘ ┴S LONG AS THE DRIVE ASSEMBLY FITS, WELL THEY ALL FIT, JUST A MATTER OF HOW THE HOLES ON THE FACE PLATE LINE UP, IT SHOULD BE PLUG COMPATIBLE AND NO REWIRING IS NEEDED. ╫HEN YOU CALL ╩┬ ╘ECH. THEY WILL HAVE A LIST OF COMPATIBLE DRIVES. ------------ ═ESSAGE 11 ╘HU ╩UN 04, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 00:54 ┼─╘ ╘HANKS, DO YOU HAVE THEIR NUMBER? ╔'M AFRAID ╔ ALREADY ORDERED A DRIVE FROM ╚─ ╔NTERNATIONAL... ╔'LL CALL AND CHECK. ╔F IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE, THEN ╔ WON'T EVEN OPEN THE BOX AND ╔'LL SEND IT BACK FOR A REFUND. ═ARKUS ╨.╙. ╫HAT ABOUT THE SECTOR PHOTOSENSOR? ─O ╔┬═ DRIVES COME WITH IT? ------------ ═ESSAGE 12 ╘HU ╩UN 04, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 02:43 ┼─╘ 805-529-0908 ╩┬ ╘ECHNOLOGIES ╔NC. 5105 ═AUREEN ╠ANE ═OORPOINT, ├┴ 93021 ------------ ═ESSAGE 13 ╘HU ╩UN 04, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 23:54 ┼─╘ ╘HANKS, ╔'VE ORDERED THE DRIVE. ╔ SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IF IT WORKS SOON. ╘HEY TOLD ME THEY ONLY HAD ONE 360╦ ── DRIVE, SO ╔ GUESS THAT'S THE ONE. ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 14 ╞RI ╩UN 05, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 07:08 ┼─╘ ┘OU'RE WELCOME :) ┬ASICALLY ALL 360K DRIVES ARE THE SAME BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE TO FIT INTO THE SAME TYPE OF ╔┬═ ╨├. ------------ ═ESSAGE 15 ╙AT ╩UN 06, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 13:08 ┼─╘ ╧K, ╔ HAVE THE DRIVE. ╚OWEVER, THE DRIVE HAS AN ╔─┼ EDGE CONNECTOR ON IT, WHICH ╔ ASSUME ╔ DON'T NEED. ╔ FOUND ALL THE MAJOR WIRE-TRUNKS TO THE HEADS, STEPPER MOTOR, DRIVE MOTOR, OPTICAL SENSORS, ETC. ╘HESE TRUNKS ARE THE SAME FOR THE COMMODORE DRIVE, BUT THE NUMBER OF WIRES DIFFER. ╞OR INSTANCE, THE DRIVE MOTOR OF THE ╔┬═ DRIVE HAS ONLY 4 LINES WHILE THE ├OMMODORE APPEARS TO HAVE 5. ╘HE ╔┬═ HEAD ASSEMBLY HAS 5 WIRES INSTEAD OF ├='S 6. ┴LSO, THE CONNECTORS ON THE ├OMMODORE DRIVE ARE MOLEX CONNECTORS, WHILE THE ╔┬═'S ARE SOME MINIATURE VARIETY OF MOLEX. ╔'M NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN SWAPPING MECHANISMS, SINCE THERE ARE MANY SMALL DIFFERENCES AND IT LOOKS LIKE ╔'D HAVE TO REWIRE PLUGS. ╔S THIS BECAUSE ╔ HAVE THE OLDER 1571? ╔N ANY CASE, ╔ AM CONSIDERING BUYING A NEW DRIVE. ╔ WAS LOOKING AT SOME REFURBISHED ╥APID ┴CCESS DRIVES FOR $129. ┴LSO, ╔ THINK ╙OFTWARE ╚UT IS SELLING SOME NEW 1571 DRIVES FOR $179.99. ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 16 ╙AT ╩UN 06, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 18:32 ┼─╘ ╔ WOULD RETURN THE DRIVE, SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT ONE. ╔F ╔ WAS GOING TO BUY ANOTHER DRIVE ╔ WOULD BUY THE ├-1581. ╔F YOU CAN WAIT A FEW WEEKS ╔ WILL BE DOING AN ARTICLE ON REPLACING 1571 DRIVES (BECAUSE MY ├-128─ NEEDS ONE AND ╔ DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO TACKLE THE ARTICLE RIGHT NOW). ╔F YOU CAN SUFFER WITHOUT IT DO SO. ┘OU COULD RESEARCH THIS THE SAME WAY ╔ WILL, BY CALLING EVERYONE THAT SELLS DRIVES AND GETTING A REPLACEMENT. ┘OU CAN ALSO BUY THE EXACT SAME DRIVE FROM ╩┬ ╘ECH. BUT WHY REPLACE AN INFERIOR DRIVE WITH THE EXACT SAME THING? ╚AVE YOU CALLED ╩┬ ╘ECH. ??? ------------ ═ESSAGE 17 ╙AT ╩UN 06, 1992 ═.╦┼╥╬1 AT 22:06 ┼─╘ ╔ CALLED ╩┬ SALES, AND THEY SOLD ME THIS DRIVE. ╘HEY SAID IT WAS THE ONLY ONE THEY HAD. ╚MM..╔ SHOULD CALL TECH SUPPORT AND EXCHANGE THE DRIVE. ╙AY, IS THE 1581 A 3.5 OR A 5.25? ═ARKUS ------------ ═ESSAGE 18 ╙UN ╩UN 07, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 04:02 ┼─╘ ╘HE 1581 IS A 3.5 DISK DRIVE. ╫HENEVER SOMEONE TRIES TO SELL "THE ONLY ONE THEY HAD" A RED FLAG SHOULD GO UP TELLING YOU THAT THE PERSON IS TOO LAZY TO GET OFF THEIR BUTT AND FIND THE RIGHT ONE. ╔ WOULD CALL THEIR TECH LINE AND ASK TO SPEAK TO A DIFFERENT PERSON AND THEN RETURN THE DRIVE AFTER FINDING OUT WHAT OTHER MODELS ARE AVAILABLE. ╘HEY ALSO SELL REFURBISHED DRIVES AND ╔ DOUBT EVERYONE IS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. ╘HEY ALSO REPAIR 5.25 DRIVES FOR $25.00 ╘HOUGH ╔ WOULDN'T BOTHER REPAIRING THE COST REDUCED VERSION CONSIDERING A NEW ONE COSTS SO LITTLE. ------------ ************* ├ATEGORY 4 ╘OPIC 44 ************ ╘OPIC 44 ╘UE ╩UN 02, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 02:56 ┼─╘ ╙UB: RECOMMENDED PRINTERS? ╘HERE SEEMS TO BE A NEED FOR A LISTING OF PRINTERS PEOPLE CAN USE WITH THEIR CURRENT SOFTWARE. ╥EAD ON FOR MORE DETAILS. 3 MESSAGE(S) TOTAL. ------------ ═ESSAGE 1 ╘UE ╩UN 02, 1992 ├128.╩┬┼┼ [* ╙YSOP *] AT 03:09 ┼─╘ ╘HESE PRINTERS LISTED BELOW ARE FAIRLY COMMON, CHEAPLY PRICED, AND GUARANTEED TO WORK WITH ALMOST ANY PIECE OF SOFTWARE. ╙TAR $129 ╬╪-1001 (BELIEVE THIS IS JUST A FANCY ╬╪-1000) 9 PIN - SLOW - BUT WORKS WITH ALL ┼PSON 9 PIN SOFTWARE ╨ANASONIC $149 ╦╪╨1180I (GET THE "I" VERSION - NEWEST ONE) 9 ╨IN - A LOT OF FEATURES - BUT IF YOU DO ONLY ╟EOS AND OTHER BITMAP WORK YOU WON'T USE THEM. ╬ICE PAPER HANDLING, LOW PRICED CONSUMABLES. $199 ╦╪╨1123 24 PIN - NICE ╬UMBERS TO CALL ╒╙┴ ╞╠┼╪ 1-800-╒╙┴-╞╠┼╪ ═IDWEST ═ICRO-╨ERIPHERALS 1-800-423-8215 ├OMPUTER ╙HOPPER IS FILLED WITH ADS, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME SHOPPING YOU COULD PROBABLY SAVE SOME BUCKS. ┴SK WHAT THE SHIPPING CHARGES ARE BEFORE YOU BUY. ┴ LOT OF CUT RATE DEALS AREN'T AFTER THE SHIPPING CHARGES. ------------ ═ESSAGE 2 ╘UE ╩UN 02, 1992 ╨┴╒╠-═┬ AT 19:02 ┼─╘ ╔ LIKE MY ═╨╙ 1200 - IT'S AN ┼PSON COMPATIBLE AND 1525 COMPATIBLE. ╨LUS IT CAN DOUBLE AS AN ╔┬═ PRINTER IF ─OOMSDAY EVER COMES ;) (: ╨AUL :) ------------ ═ESSAGE 3 ╫ED ╩UN 03, 1992 ╨.├┴╘├╚╨╧╠┼ [═IKE] AT 22:06 ┼─╘ THE ╦XP-1123 IS A GOOD 24 PIN CHOICE. ╔ USE MINE WITH A ╟-WIZ INTERFACE, AND IT RUNS VERY WELL INDEED. ╘HE ╫╥╔╘┼ ╙╘╒╞╞ IS GENERALLY THE BEST CHOICE FOR THIS PRINTER... ------------