home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
-
-
-
-
- rea 2 nor
- ************
- Topic 2 Thu Oct 24, 1991
- C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 04:36 EDT
- Sub: Ram Link
-
- This topic is for comments, suggestions, and news about CMD's Ramlink.
-
- 168 message(s) total.
- ************
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 1 Tue Nov 02, 1993
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] (Forwarded)
-
- Thanks for the info... Got another question. If I get RamLink with only a one
- Meg. RAM Card, can I increase the memory to four Megs without having to buy
- another Ram Card? (at a later date). *s
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 2 Tue Nov 02, 1993
- H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded)
-
- RENT,
-
- Yes.
-
- Howie
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 3 Tue Nov 02, 1993
- CMD-DOUG (Forwarded)
-
- As Howie mentioned, yes. RAMLink can hold only 1 RAMCard. The RAMCard has 4
- SIMM sockets, which can hold either 1 MB or 4 MB SIMMs. When you buy a 1 MB
- RAMLink, it comes with a RAMCard and one 1 MB SIMM installed. You may add
- three more SIMMs, but all SIMMs must be either 1 MB or 4 MB with only one
- exception - you may use a single 1 MB SIMM mixed with one, two or three 4 MB
- SIMMs.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 4 Wed Nov 03, 1993
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] (Forwarded)
-
- What about geoPrint Cable. Is there any problem with using RamLink and the
- geoCable?
-
- Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 5 Wed Nov 03, 1993
- H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded)
-
- RENT,
-
- This one I'd answer: no. No problem, that is.
-
- I am sure, however, that Doug may amplify on this. :)
-
- Howie
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 6 Thu Nov 04, 1993
- CMD-DOUG (Forwarded)
-
- Absolutely no problems using RAMLink and a geoPrint Cable together. I do it
- all the time. Or at least every time I print from in GEOS. :)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 7 Sun Nov 28, 1993
- R.DAY at 04:31 EST
-
- On my RAMlink I want to unhook the parallel cable but unhooked the power one
- that I did not want to. I said good thing I have the battery on it I only had
- it out for I guess 5 sec. but all the ram 14 meg reset. I had it in there for
- 2 months. O well can't get mad I guess if it happins anuff I will lern to back
- it up. I think it my be because of the battery connector just not getting a
- good connectshion. I think CMD did change this, did they? I tested it after
- all my ram was gone
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- it will not give me the next line I can keep typeing and all is lost!!!!!
-
-
-
-
-
-
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 8 Sun Nov 28, 1993
- GEOS-TIM at 11:41 EST
-
- A black hole in the message threads. Glad to see you got out of it. Twilight
- zone music is on the SID. :) -Tim
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 9 Sun Nov 28, 1993
- CMD-DOUG at 12:14 EST
-
- Perhaps the connection, but perhaps not. Unplugging the Power Supply from
- RAMLink with the computer turned on isn't good - RAMLink watches the power
- lines on the computer to determine when it needs to take over refreshing the
- RAM. I believe that Mark made changes to this in the v2 circuitry, but I can
- tell by your post that you have a v1. Not sure how you could really confuse
- the parallel with the power, big difference in size - but you really should
- use extreme caution when unplugging cables from RAMLink.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 10 Sat Dec 11, 1993
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 18:59 EST
-
- On page 43 of my RamLink Users Manual, it states that a JiffyDOS manual is
- included with your RAMLink manual so that you may become familiar with the
- JiffyDOS commands and enhancements. But I can't find it im my copy of the
- RAMLink Manual. I do not have JiffyDOS installed in my C-128. I am thinking of
- getting the JiffyDOS chip for my 1571 drive though. I have the most recient
- version of RAMLink.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 11 Sat Dec 11, 1993
- CMD-DOUG at 23:59 EST
-
- If you have the plastic spine bound RAMLink manual, then the JiffyDOS manual
- is part of it. Take a look at the last 60 or so pages.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 12 Sun Dec 12, 1993
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 13:24 EST
-
- No. I have the small blue three ring binder with CMD printed on the comver. I
- checked the last sections in the book and it is not there. Not even in the
- Appendix. My RAMLink is only one month old. Did they perhaps revise the Book
- and no longer include the JiffyDOS instructions in it?
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 13 Sun Dec 12, 1993
- CMD-DOUG at 21:21 EST
-
- Sounds like they forgot to put the JD section in yours. Just give a call and
- mention this, and request they get you one right away. Meanwhile, I'll check
- to make sure they aren't doing this on all the manuals. (Have to keep an eye
- on production, seems like they need retraining every time we come back from a
- holiday weekend...) ::sigh::
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 14 Mon Dec 13, 1993
- B.KIRKLAND at 07:01 EST
-
- When I bought my RAMDrive about a year ago, the manual in it also said there
- was a JiffyDos manual included, but I could not find one either. There is no
- page numbers, but it's in the third paragraph, in section 5, JiffyDos. Even
- though it has been about a year, can I still get a JD manual?
-
- Bob.
-
- BTW, mine is also the three ring blue folder with CMD on the front and side.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 15 Mon Dec 13, 1993
- CMD-DOUG at 20:53 EST
-
- At various times the JiffyDOS manual has been either a totally separate entity
- or a printed part of the RAMLink and RAMDrive manuals. So anyone who thinks
- they did not get one should always check the last 60 pages or so of the manual
- they did get to make sure. But if it isn't there, call and report this so that
- you can get a replacement. I can't answer for management on whether they will
- honor such a request a year afterwards. I can't see why they wouldn't, but
- they're obviously going to ask why you waited a year to make the request. For
- anyone in this latter category, I suggest the following excuses:
-
- 1. I've been suffering from Desert Storm Syndrome.
- 2. My wife hid my [RAMLink/RAMDrive] until I finished cleaning the garage.
- 3. I couldn't figure out how to hook it up to my IBM.
-
- Doug :)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 16 Mon Dec 13, 1993
- THE.OUTLAW at 21:19 EST
-
- LOL Doug! I like those excuses! My manual didn't come with one either but I
- wasn't worried about it.. I have 2 JD manuals from buying the JD chips for
- both the 64 & 128 :>
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 17 Mon Dec 13, 1993
- CMD-DOUG at 22:18 EST
-
- This is really strange. I had no idea that there were that many of them out
- there getting shorted on this. I'm really going to have to do some looking
- into this.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 18 Sat Dec 18, 1993
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 00:42 EST
-
- CMD Doug,
- I received the JiffyDOS manual today, Thanks a lot!! CMD's customer service
- is excellent!
- Thank You. :)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 19 Sat Dec 18, 1993
- CMD-DOUG at 07:17 EST
-
- We're not without our flaws, but we do try to make up for them. :)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 20 Sat Dec 18, 1993
- MRABOY at 08:36 EST
-
- Doug, I removed my RL from my 128D and when I replaced it I got amessage
- "Device not present." I don't get access or activity lights to come on but I
- can reset my computer with RL. Other cartridges don't seem to to work either.
- Any input would help.
- Otherwise the computer and other drives seem to be working.
- Mike :)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 21 Sat Dec 18, 1993
- CMD-DOUG at 09:12 EST
-
- Sounds like either the power supply, or the RAMCard isn't properly seated.
- Could be other things, but those are the two most likely problems that would
- cause what you're (not) getting.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 22 Thu Jan 06, 1994
- S.PADOVE1 at 19:56 EST
-
- Have a RamLink w/16 megs, battery backup and REU 1750 used in direct mode (to
- allow use of large Dialogue 128 buffer). Other hardware includes 128D w/1571
- as 8, 1571 as 9, 1581 as 11, CMD HD 40-85 as 12, and the RL as 16.
-
- Have been having problems with the RL loosing everything for no apparent
- reason. When that happens all that shows up as partitions is (1) with 17xx
- blocks. If I remove the 1750 REU and then plug back in I get two partitions
- #1 - 2048 blocks and #2 - 63232 blocks. I then reinstall programs into new
- partitions. This will hold for anywhere from 2 weeks to 1-2 days. There has
- been no power outages and the battery is fully charged (6.5).
-
- I really don't want to install anymore programs till I resolve this problem.
- Any suggestions???
-
- TIA "C"
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 23 Thu Jan 06, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 20:25 EST
-
- I've not seen such a problem as you've described it before. This one sounds
- like you should get in contact with Mark at our technical support line.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 24 Sun Jan 30, 1994
- M.KIRBY2 at 17:23 EST
-
- Help!! This is an urgent plea to anyone with a C128 and RAMLink.
-
- I Was recently downloading some files from a BBS and when I finished a HUGE
- chunk of files was missing from my RAMLink. The first eight files were still
- there along with the last file I DLed but every thing in between (and there
- was a lot in between) is gone. None of the files in the other partition were
- affected. I know I didn't accidently format it because some of the original
- files are still there. I have a program to retrieve scratched files but
- don't know if it will work on RAMLink.
-
- I'm using a C128, a RAMLink with a one meg card, an REU expanded to 2 megs,
- and was using Dialogue 128. I've had this setup for a while and never had a
- problem like this before.
-
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 25 Sun Jan 30, 1994
- C128.JBEE at 19:06 EST
-
- Sometimes Dialogue messes up your disk (nukes the partition table?) like
- it NEWed the whole partition IF one of the files contains a "/" slash
- in the file name. Also, there was a file called U-96 (the battleship
- game) that kept nuking my native mode partition, so I renamed it before
- it went live (of course).
-
- All I could think was Dialogue 128 was making the "u-96" into a command
- channel command. Never could track the exact problem down.
-
- Also, when downloading files, Dialogue 128 will cut the file off before
- the "/" in a filename. So we try to make sure the C= RT files do not
- have any "/" slashes in them.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 26 Mon Jan 31, 1994
- L.SCHONDER [Lou] at 05:11 EST
-
- Nuked ramLink partitions!!!! Just the thought of it is terrifing!!!! I'll be
- careful of "slasher" files!!!
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 27 Mon Jan 31, 1994
- M.KIRBY2 at 09:06 EST
-
- Well, I've never had this problem before and like I saide some of the old
- files were still there. And I don't have any fils with a "/"in them.
-
- Whatever caused it I'm more interested in what could be done about it. Is
- there a program to unscratch RAMLink files? I don't think I can use the one
- on my commodore DOS Shell disk because the BAM is different.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 28 Mon Jan 31, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 22:21 EST
-
- No. File Name Type Address YYMMDD Bytes Access Lib ----- -
- ----------------------- - ------------ ------ ------- ------ --- 11585
- UNSCRATCH.SFX X CMD-DOUG 930307 5376 36 8
- Desc: File Unscratch for CMD & CBM drives
-
- Also highly recommended: CMD UTILITIES from CMD. FCOPY+ on this disk contains
- an UNSCRATCH function, as well as an UNNEW function. Lot's of other goodies
- for CMD device owners as well.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 29 Mon Jan 31, 1994
- M.KIRBY2 at 22:36 EST
-
- Thanks. I'll try it.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 30 Mon Jan 31, 1994
- M.KIRBY2 at 22:43 EST
-
- Can't get the file it's a private library. Who do I have to Email for acces?
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 31 Tue Feb 01, 1994
- C128.JBEE at 00:23 EST
-
- e-mail CMD-DOUG with your name, address, model, and serial numbers.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 32 Tue Feb 01, 1994
- F.OGLE [Color BBS] at 01:09 EST
-
- FCOPY+ is the single copy utility that I use the most. This handy utility
- does everything but take out the trash. BTW is that feature being worked on?
- ;)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 33 Tue Feb 01, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 19:27 EST
-
- No. We have to leave something for future upgrades... :)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 34 Thu Feb 03, 1994
- E.WHITAKER2 [Scormus] at 04:05 EST
-
- Well, boy do I feel stupid.... I've been noticing a bit of a problem with my
- ramalink lately. I'm not yet certain if it's software or hardware related,
- but occasionally, the reset button has been intermittently failing to
- function. My first thought , of course, was... HARDWARE. Something's not
- fully plugged in. I have a SuperSnapshot V5 cartridge, a 1750 clone from SSI,
- and of course the main ramcard and rtc plug into the motherboard as well.
- Please, when you read the next few lines, DON'T PITY ME. It was my own fault.
- Anyway, I made the [stupid] decision to unplug the SS5 and then plug it back
- in. No big deal but it led me down the path. The next time the reset failed,
- I popped out the 1750 clone and then stared in horror at the former 384K geos
- ramdrive full of information in my hand. Well, after I recovered from my
- shock, I turned off the ramlink, plugged in my now barren REU (praying the
- whole time to the gods of CMD that the rest of my data was still ok & I was
- not about to ruin my entire Ramlink hardware wise). Now for the big test.
- AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH. turning on the system, the familiar 3 second wait, and I
- have two partitions. One, the size of my empty clone, and the other, the size
- of all my expansion ram, and two or three weeks worth of tinkering and
- puttering with my new laser was gone. I had been writing a printerdriver for
- SuperScript and the Epson Action Laser 1500. Well, fine. I, of course, had a
- backup of my ramlink on HD, minus the stuff I had been working on.
- Additionally, I have a paper printout of my partitions, sizes, etc. made
- with the program uploaded by me (scormus) in the libraries. Additionally, of
- course, I have a 16 block copy of my System partition stashed on the HD. Now
- what?. I didn't feel like a 29 minute wait to do a restore, and I really had
- nothing to lose, So i decided to experiment. I copied the 16 block system
- file into memory, & then sent it to the ramlink. Nothin happened. D***, I
- thought. Then I remembered seeing somewhere that the ramlink reads certain
- data on powerup and doesn't reread it. Turning off the power, and then
- turning it on. VOILA. Back in business. I am AMAZED at the quality of the
- Hardware that is produced at CMD. I know that plugging things in and
- unplugging them is a Major risk, but I simply cannot say enough good things
- about this device and it's performance for me so far. Anyway, my next step
- was to round up the laser printer horses that had escaped through the
- proverbial barn door. Then, I had to write on the blackboard 100 times... I
- will not write any programs,data files, or text files without saving them to
- at least two different forms of data storage.
-
- Thanks, CMD, for a fantastic piece of equipment. By the way, I apologize for
- making this whole thing one sentence. Also, any Idea why the reset button
- might be giving me trouble?
-
- The moral of the story? All's well that ends without hardware damage.
-
- Scormus aka Eeek
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 35 Thu Feb 03, 1994
- H.HERMAN1 at 05:08 EST
-
- Scormus,
-
- >... No big deal but it led me down the path. The next time the reset
- >failed, I popped out the 1750 clone and then stared in horror at the
- >former 384K geos ramdrive full of information in my hand.
-
- I wonder...
-
- Is this the way it happened....
-
- with Mrs. Bobbitt? :)
-
- <<THUD>>
-
- Actually you are a lot luckier. Imagine just replugging the REU clone back
- into RAMLink, and you found all the RL's ram intact. I never would have
- believed such a thing possible!
-
- Thinking about it, I do not think that I would ever think to do something
- like that. I mean all that plugging and unplugging while RL is still
- powered. That is the first "thou shalt not" commandment we all learned
- at the very beginning. But then I usually follow the rules, instructions,
- and everything else...
-
- I have never had a reason to make a copy of RL's sys setup. However, after
- reading your experiences, I will be runnning that just as soon as I signoff
- from here.
-
- You wrote the RL Root printer? Outstanding utility.
-
- Thanks!!
-
- Howie
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 36 Fri Feb 04, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 23:43 EST
-
- RE: Reset button... can you 'feel' it click when this happens? If not, the
- switch may be sticking, and if it is it may have other problems internally, or
- may have a bad solder joint. There are also some components in that circuit,
- but generally they're the type that would either be good or bad, not
- occassionally one or the other. The switch can be replaced pretty cheaply -
- I'll check on a price.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 37 Fri Feb 11, 1994
- E.WHITAKER2 [Scormus] at 02:33 EST
-
- doug, the switch is clicking. The problem doesn't seem to occur often, & I
- haven't isolated any specific circumstances. I'm tempted to think that it
- could be software related now, though. I just noticed that Superscript won't
- reset properly unless the super snapshot cart is installed. IT's to prevent
- people from examining the code, I guess, but if you don't exit through the
- software's quit function, the computer locks up.
-
- H.Herman1 >> The ram APPEARS to be intact, and some of it is verifiably so but
- I don't know for sure that the system area was the only part that was
- rewritten. The whole thing was scary as h**k though. As for which programs I
- have online, Search for Scormus. That's a key word on all of them. There's
- a very useful version of find, among others.
-
- Scormus aka Eeek
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 38 Fri Feb 11, 1994
- C.OGLE2 [V128_B.Stick] at 04:02 EST
-
- While we're on the Ramlink subject... I was reading in Compute'S C128
- Programmers guide that the 128's can't access 2 relative files simultaneously,
- yet out of curiosity I tried in on both my Ramlink and HD, with no problems.
- Will this cause any unforseen side effects, or were CMD products adapted to do
- this?
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 39 Fri Feb 11, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 04:53 EST
-
- Accessing more than one REL file at once is not a shortcoming of the computer
- itself - it is generally a limitation of a specific drive, based on the number
- of buffers available. The limitation of one REL file applies only to 1541 and
- 1571 disk drives (or clones). The 1581, RAMLink, FD and HD can all handle at
- least two (the FD and HD can actually handle several).
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 40 Fri Feb 11, 1994
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 22:49 EST
-
- Having a problem with RamLink/GEOS and a C128D...
-
- First, this is how I had RamLink/GEOS configured with my FLAT 128. GateWay is
- located in a NATV Partition. Part.#1 RamLinks default device number is 8 I
- have a Super 1750 Clone REU installed in the RAM PORT. It is Partition number
- 31. (for Switcher and geoWizard) And I had a 1571 drive set at device #9 Now
- when I boot gateway from RamLink (#8), everything worked fine. I nnever had a
- problem...Until I bought a refurbished C128D... Before iI installed RamLink, I
- changed the device number in the Internal drdrive to #9. (Cut the trace
- closest to the front of the Computer.) But when I boot GateWay from RamLink
- (#8) it starts to load, but freezes right after the Pull-down menus and the
- date/tie appear. The Trash can and drivers never appear. Neither does the
- filePad. Just stops...
-
- I have tried to boot from the floppy boot disk, same result. Even tried to
- boot from the Master GEOS Disk (after pressing SWAP 9), again, GEOS starts to
- boot, the DeskTop appears, so does the trash, then CRASH!
-
- Now, if I disable RamLink, and boot from the GEOS Master Disk, it works, but
- you obviously can't access the RamLink...
-
- Any Ideas??? Is there any reason I can't change the internal drive
- number to 9...
-
- :(
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 41 Fri Feb 11, 1994
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 23:03 EST
-
- Oh, I forgot...
-
- All my other software, both 64 and 128 loads and runs from RamLink flawlessly.
- Just having a problem with GEOS...
-
- Thanks
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 42 Fri Feb 11, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 23:54 EST
-
- Could be any of a number of things... If you aren't running with the timing
- jumper clip installed, that would be something to try. Position of the
- Normal/Direct switch also can cause boot failure if it isn't set exactly the
- same way as it was when the boot disk was created. Something could also be
- messed up in the System area of RAMLink, so you may have to ZAP SYSTEM and
- recreate the partitions.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 43 Sat Feb 12, 1994
- C128.JBEE at 03:34 EST
-
- If you have this problem using gateWay it is usually because your disk
- drivers are not in proper order.
-
- Since you did not mention gateWay, I will assume you do not have it.
- So, run your OLD boot disk on the flat 128 with Ramlink, then pick the
- configure file and set up the drive sequence the way you want it with
- the 1571 attached (or in this case with a C-128D). Then save the
- configure file. Next time you boot GEOS on the 128D, it will properly
- search for the drives.
-
- Sometimes you have to configure the 1571 as a 1541 if you are having
- problems booting (especially with the Maverick boot).
-
- When using the normal deskTop, you HAVE to have the A/B drives as 8/9.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 44 Sat Feb 12, 1994
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 10:50 EST
-
- I am using GateWay. The switches are in the same position as before. This
- morning, I connected RamLink to my Flat 128 and GEOS/GateWay booted with no
- lock-up. Everything worked. Also I do have the jumper clip ins [A [C [C [C [C
- [A [B [C [C [B [D [D [D [D [D [D [D [D [Dd on the PLA. On the 128D that is...
-
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 45 Sat Feb 12, 1994
- M.RANDALL2 [Maurice] at 11:35 EST
-
- Obviously, your RamLink is working OK, you've proven that on your C-128. But
- you need to figure out if the problem exists with it being connected to the
- 128-D or if it is just a problem with the 128-D itself, or if it is the
- internal drive. Since you can't disconnect the drive, put your RamLink back on
- the C-128 and boot up gateWay. Then, delete all the disk drivers except the
- one you need for the RL. This way, when gateWay boots up, it won't even
- attempt to look for the 1571, and any access problems with it won't occur. So,
- put the RL back into the 128-D and boot it up. If it comes up OK, then the
- problem is with the 1571. If it still does not work then it is a problem
- either with the computer or the computer/RL combination. Keep testing.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 46 Sat Feb 12, 1994
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 14:57 EST
-
- M.Randall2... ...Thats it!!!!
-
- I booted gateWay/GEOS from my flat 128, removed the 1571 driver from the
- partition. Plugged RamLink into the 128D, booted gateWay, and it worked. Just
- can't use the internal 1571 drive. There must be a defect in the 128D and or
- the drive. I bought it from a mail order company. Its going back on
- Monday...Damn.
-
- Before I send it back, is there anything I can do to make the drive work with
- gateWay/RamLink?
-
- Thanks alot for all your jhelp!!! I really appreciate it! :)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 47 Sat Feb 12, 1994
- M.RANDALL2 [Maurice] at 18:09 EST
-
- Now that you've got it narrowed down to the drive, here's the next thing to
- check. My 128D is very sensitive to having certain monitors sitting on top of
- it. It will mess up about 10 percent of the time and it only seems to happen
- with certain programs. But ever since I changed the layout, it hasn't faulted
- yet. I now have two 1541s sitting on top of the D and then a power center on
- top of the 1541s. Then on top of the power center is the monitor. I think
- that the 1541s are providing a good shield for the built-in 1571. Try
- relocating your monitor and see what happens. Also, pay attention to little
- things like how the drive sounds, if the heads sound like they are moving
- smoothly. Does the drive start spinning if a disk is either removed or
- inserted? If not, then that is one problem to investigate. You might also have
- to do a ram test of the drive. Maybe somebody else has some other ideas. But
- I'd check the monitor for messing up the drive first.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 48 Sat Feb 12, 1994
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 20:21 EST
-
- My monitor doesn't sit on the computer. In fact, nothing sits on the computer.
- The drive starts spinning when a disk is inserted and removed. How do you do a
- drive RAM test?
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 49 Sun Feb 13, 1994
- M.RANDALL2 [Maurice] at 01:03 EST
-
-
-
- Here's a little BASIC program that will test the ram area
- that the GEOS turbo code resides in within any drive that
- GEOS can use. It works on the 1541,1571,1581,HD,and FD.
- Since it's a BASIC program, it's kinda slow, but it works.
- It will take almost a minute and a half to run, and will
- work on either a 64 or 128.
-
- 10 input"device number to test";dv
- 20 print:print"wait, testing drive ram..."
- 30 vl=85:gosub100
- 40 vl=170:gosub100
- 50 print"drive ram is ok":end
- 100 open15,dv,15:ad=768
- 110 for m=1to32
- 120 ah=int(ad/256):al=ad and 255
- 130 a$=chr$(vl):forl=1to31:a$=a$+chr$(vl):next
- 140 print#15,"m-w"chr$(al)chr$(ah)chr$(32)a$
- 150 ad=ad+32:next
- 160 print#15
- 170 ad=768
- 180 form=1to4
- 190 ah=int(ad/256):al=ad and 255
- 200 print#15,"m-r"chr$(al)chr$(ah)chr$(0)
- 210 for l=1to256:get#15,a$:if a$=""then a$=chr$(0)
- 220 if vl<>asc(a$)then print"ram failed!!!":close15:end
- 230 next:ad=ad+256:next:close15:return
-
-
- In addition to running this test on your D's 1571, try
- something else. Try to verify that the problem doesn't
- exist with the fast bus electronics of the 1571. There
- are a couple of tests you could try. Switch JiffyDos off
- and time how long it takes to load a plain old BASIC
- file in 128 mode. Then time it on your C-128 with your
- other 1571. If there is a big difference, then you are
- getting close to the problem. Also, copy the 1541 disk
- driver to your RamLink with your C-128. Then plug the
- RL back into your 128D and issue the command @U0>M0 to
- the 1571 with a single-sided disk in the drive. Now
- boot up gateWay from the RamLink and see if gateWay will
- run your 1571 in 1541 mode.
-
- Keep checking...
-
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 50 Sun Feb 13, 1994
- H.HERMAN1 at 02:43 EST
-
- It might be prudent to take another look at the deice changing board cut.
-
- Is it a clean cut all the way thru? Any little bits of metal left floating
- around inside the 128?
-
- Howie
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 51 Wed Feb 16, 1994
- D.BOBER [RENTaLASER] at 00:09 EST
-
- I re-soldered the device number change cut. Still does the same thing. I
- noticed something else, sometimes when loading a program from the 1571 drive,
- It would do one of three things...
- 1. Program loads and runs
- 2. DOS ERROR, File not found. But the file is on disk. Spelling
- is also correct.
- 3. Nothing happens after hitting return, cursor jumps down to
- next line.
-
- Oh well, dosen't matter, I sent it back Monday for a replacement.
-
- Thanks for all of your help. I'll save that basic program and try it
- on my other drives...
-
- :)
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 52 Wed Mar 09, 1994
- H.STEVENS5 [HaroldOH] at 22:18 EST
-
- Doug, I have a question concerning the SIMM used in RAMLink. In a local used
- computer store, I have noticed a package containing two 1-meg SIMM (x8) for a
- MacIntosh. The package is listed as having one SIMM for the Mac although there
- are two in the package.
-
- My question is that I [Dif I purchase this SIMM package, I would really be
- getting two 1-meg SIMM for my RAMLink due to the fact that my C-64 is an 8-bit
- machine, and the Mac is a 16-bit machine. Is that correct?
-
- If this is correct, then I can assume that I can add these two SIMMS to my
- RAMLink, right? In other words, two 1-meg SIMMs are needed to give a Mac 1-meg
- of memory and one is needed for equal size of memory for the C-64?
-
- --Harold
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 53 Thu Mar 10, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 07:26 EST
-
- That package isn't properly marked, I suspect. Two megs is two megs - it just
- happens that Mac's require that you add SIMMs two at a time because of how
- they are designed (they could have been designed to take one at a time, but it
- would be a little harder to manage that way). Anyway, Mac places will always
- try to sell you two at a time, being convined that there couldn't possibly be
- a use for a single SIMM. But you're right about using them in a RAMLink - two
- 1 MB SIMMs will indeed expand your unit by 2 MB.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 54 Sat Mar 12, 1994
- H.STEVENS5 [HaroldOH] at 00:33 EST
-
- That's what I thought. And this package is a deal, too. These two SIMMs are
- selling for $70 together, or $35 each. Great, this will mean that I can expand
- my RAMLink by another 2 megs cheaply.
-
- BTW, what is your E-Mail address, Doug? I tried dropping a line using CMD-DOUG
- and it refused to go through. I want to leave my address to get the writer's
- guide.
-
- --Harold
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 55 Sat Mar 12, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 11:12 EST
-
- That's the correct email address, Harold. Can't see any reason for it to fail -
- I get mail all the time with it.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 56 Sat Mar 19, 1994
- R.KING53 [Ron] at 13:16 EST
-
- I currently have a 2 meg RamLink and a C-64. If I ever get a C-128 will my
- RamLink work with it?
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 57 Sat Mar 19, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 14:11 EST
-
- Yes, RAMLink was made to be universally usable on 64's and 128's.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 58 Sat Mar 19, 1994
- L.SCHONDER [C128.LOU] at 18:22 EST
-
- hey Ron (R.KING53), I have a flat C128 for sale, CHEAP! See CAT #10, "For Sale
- & Wanted"
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 59 Tue Mar 22, 1994
- N.PHI [Toto] at 07:06 EST
-
- More on the topic of this famous RAMLink device:
-
- I would like to know what software RAMLink users have successfully installed!
- By this I mean software that was conceived well before any notion of RAMLink
- ever came forth.
-
- I have had success with the following programs:
-
- SSI role-playing games (Countdown to Doomsday, Champions of Krynn, Death
- Knights of Krynn, Gateway to the Savage Frontier, Secret of the
- Silver Blades) Black Gold, Duck Tales, Racing Destrution Set, B.A.T.,
- Puffy's Saga, Blockout ...and maybe a few others tha I can't remember off the
- top of my head. Some of these just file-copy straight into a NATV partition;
- others must be loaded into individual 1541-mode partitions; still others must
- be booted from 'snapped' files.
-
- Basically, I wonder if anybody else would like to shared his/her experience
- with me!
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 60 Tue Mar 22, 1994
- N.PHI [Toto] at 07:10 EST
-
- And YET ANOTHER question:
-
- What IS the official policy for upgrading RAMCard I to RAMCard II?? I heard
- somewhere (quite recently) that the user would have to send the old Card and
- $70 to CMD; then if it all checked out, a $50 refund would come back...
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 61 Tue Mar 22, 1994
- R.KING53 [Ron] at 21:05 EST
-
- Toto:
-
- I have installed Double Dragon, The Three Stooges, Big Blue Reader, Evelyn
- Wood's Dynamic Reader, Sylvia Porter's Financial Planner at one time or
- another. On some I had to use Maverick. As you said some worked with Native,
- but I've had the most luck with 1541 partitions.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 62 Tue Mar 22, 1994
- CMD-DOUG at 21:57 EST
-
- Last I knew, the upgrade to RAMCard II was $59.95, but some very old versions
- of RAMLink require hardware modifications at the factory in order to use the
- new RAMCard; and there's an additional charge for that. If the RAMLink is a
- Revision G or higher, it won't require the modifications.
- ------------
- Category 12, Topic 2
- Message 63 Wed Mar 23, 1994
- N.PHI [Toto] at 02:46 EST
-
- Regarding the installation of software on RAMLink:
-
- Thanks for chipping in your bits of experience! I forgot to mention that World
- Class LeaderBoard and Echelon seem to work quite well from RL. I really
- appreciate the option of NOT using the built-in fastloader for 1541 only.
- ------------