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************ Topic 12 Tue Jul 02, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Sub: RAMDrive & RAMLink tips and tricks Let's share any tips and tricks so we all can use them. 130 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 1 Tue Jul 02, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) I'll start out with a couple I 'discovered', and another someone shared: [1] SPORT.COM which CMD released for the HD, to allow drive channel access in CP/M mode, works equally as well with RAMLink. This will let you change partitions, and do drive swaps while in CP/M mode. To make running it even easier, enter often used routines into submit files, or use CHN31 to create COM files. RAMLink access in CP/M is NOT fast, but it is a convenient means of booting into CP/M, and it IS a fast way to get files into the REU. [2] FCOPY is nice, AND it is reliable. However, it does take a while to make a new box, when/if there is a crash. To avoid sitting there and 'watching the screen', I wrote, well got part of it written anyway, a BASIC routine using the JiffyDos commands, to re-load RAMLink, and its many partitions, and directories with their hundreds of files. Depending on individual drive set-ups, most or all of the file transfers can then run automatically, and unattended. :) [3] RAMLink allows for autobooting of any selected file in BOTH 128 and 64 modes. When running from a 128, RL will always boot up in 128 mode. So, to autoboot a 64 program instead, enter GO 64 into the 128 autoboot program, and the 64 mode program will autoboot. [4] When entering 64 mode from 128, you may not always want to run the 64 mode program selected for autobooting. For example, I run a 64 mode bank telcom program, which autoboots after being selected from a 128 mode menu. Enter a time delay loop in the 64 mode autoboot. This will let you press a key, and enter BASIC instead. Or, request a keypress to continue. This lets me 'politely' enter 64 mode for other things too, and not have to abort the program, AND the program doesn't autoboot and run again when I exit from it. ------------------ I still haven't gotten used to having all these program and data files available in an instant. Not that I like waiting during disk accesses. Just haven't gotten used to how lightening fast everything is now. :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 2 Sun Jul 21, 1991 D.SCRUGGS2 [BLUE2] (Forwarded) Hi, In ref. to "SPORT. COM" for CP/M , where can it be found, I was looking around the Q. & did'nt see it? . PS, I noticed some users over their that have received GW 128..Blake ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 3 Sun Jul 21, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Blake, Thanks! That's good news that gateWay is now being shipped. SPORT.COM was shipped on disk to owners of CMD's HD, and is also on CMD'S bbs. I think (but am not sure) that the guys at CMD were surprised to hear that SPORT.COM worked so well with the RL. It's not a public domain application, however. CMD owns it. Any registered owner of CMD's HD and RL have access to the file which is in the CMD file library. So long as the caller has registered, he/she is given access to any of these libraries. I routinely log-on CMD's bbs. If you'd like me to leave a note asking them to send you a disk, let me know. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 4 Sat Aug 24, 1991 M.MCCORMIC10 [Mike Mc-] (Forwarded) S.O.S. I have just installed my Ramlink w/ 1mg & a 1764 REU.I made a Gateway boot disc but no matter what combinations I try it only shows my 1541 drive and no others. Please someone,list the EXACT files I should have on my boot disc. Thanks Mike Mc- ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 5 Tue Aug 27, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Mike, GEOS under gateWay can only recognize a maximum of three drives, which can be either 8, 9, or 10. If you've accepted RL's default assignment of #16, and did a swap before booting GEOS, then one of the drives on line would be #16, and therefore invisible. Not sure if this is what's causing the prob, but thought it might be. If it is, you can get the other drive back by adding after the software swap routine, a routine to change #16 to either 9 or 10, whichever is available. Hope this has helped. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 6 Sat Aug 31, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) For those using RAMLink with CP/M, who may have discovered that pressing CONTROL/ENTER doesn't exit back to 128 mode, there is an alternative... Press CONTROL/shifted/ENTER instead. Now wasn't that easy? :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 7 Mon Sep 02, 1991 M.MCCORMIC10 [Mike Mc-] (Forwarded) Howie- I started everything all over and now the drives are where they belong. But although I don't have Hard drive drivers on my disc,the Ramlink shows as a haed drive. I also get no response to commodore-c to close the disc.Do the discs close when you open another? I miss being unable to copy a select number of files.It is either 1,all or the full page. Mike Mc- ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 8 Wed Sep 04, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Mike, Happy to hear things are going well! :) You're a few steps ahead of me. Well, more than a few, but the way I understand things... To close a disk, you MUST click on the close icon. There is no shortcut command. A Comkey C is used to open drive C. In addition to selecting one file, a page, or all files, you can select specific groups. Holding the Comkey while you click on file names will batch together the selected files. Clicking on the slider should let you jump thru large directories to get to specific files quickly. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 9 Sat Sep 07, 1991 M.MCCORMIC10 [Mike Mc-] (Foraaded) Howie- When you click on the close icon just the directory dissappears.The disc appears open. According to the directions comkey C should close the disc.This is under shortcuts. Mike Mc- ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 10 Sun Sep 08, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Mike, The way I understand it, if you are in a RAMLink subdirectory, and click once on the close icon, it takes you back to the root. A second later click (as opposed to double clicking) will close the drive. (Altho... I wonder if a double click might do it too?) The Comkey A, B, and C are reserved for then selecting these three drives. Uh.. Oh... I just realized... This all applies to gateWay128. There may be a difference in 64 mode, not certain, however. Later this week, I'll finally be able to get gateWay up and running here. I've got to finish up a project I promised for JBEE, then a couple CP/M things, and then gateWay. So, I should then be able to give you a better reply. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 11 Wed Sep 11, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) I got my Gateway and should have my Ramlink very soon :) For anyone that doesnt have Gateway I would like to say it puts a whole new face on GEOS when used with a REU. I can't wait to try it with a Ramlink. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 12 Thu Sep 19, 1991 D.EEMSWILER [dave] (Forwarded) GateWay with RamDrive is great I use it for all my Geos work. It is an improvement on the standard desk top not enough to buy it to replace it except that now I can use the RD with GW. One comment which I have found on my sustem. When i have not used Geos for a day or two or when I have to unplug for incompatable software (I hear there is an upgrade for compatability problems) I have to erase and reload the RamDrive with the programs that i use. It is no problem because of how fast it copies the programs and data files. Does anyone have any similar problems and/or solutions? ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 13 Fri Sep 20, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Iam using mine right now without a REU so with GEOS I have my first partition setup as a FACC with 512k. This lets me use the Gateway switcher. Then I have (2) 1581 partitions, a 1541 partition, and then a native mode partition where I keep the Gateway tools. To make copying fast I keep the MCOPY as the first file so it runs with a SHIFT RUN/STOP. I set my default partition as the #2 partition (the first 1581) because I happen to use it the most. I just wish there was a way I could figure out how to run Gateway and use more than one partition at a time on Gateway under Geos. Especially converting graphic files. Can't complain too much though as I am really impressed with Ramlink. I think 2 megs is probably just about the right size for someone without an REU that likes to use Geos a lot and who only owns one disk drive. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 14 Fri Sep 20, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Dave, That's not supposed to happen... CMD continues to workout and modify inconsistancies in RL and RD, and in fact all their product line. I originally got a Release `D' RAMLink, and 3-4 months later was asked to return it back to CMD for modifications. 7 days later I got back a Release `G' RAMLink. So, a lot of revisions and modifications were going on. Quite honestly, I haven't followed as closely the upgrading going on with RAMDrive. However, I know that unlike RL, RD's sys is software driven. CMD can probably provide you with any upgrades by sending you new sys disk. Perhaps you may want to check with CMD to find out how up-to-date the Release version and serial number of your RD compares with the units CMD is now shipping. To CMD's credit, and to my surprise and delight, this after-sale upgrade support is provided by CMD at no cost. Something that's very rare in all of the computer market place today. The current release version of RAMLink that CMD is shipping is now rock solid reliable. The entire `look and feel' of my computer is different. Everything is so fast. :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 15 Fri Sep 20, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Well... Here I go again. Giving advise on gateWay, while still finding myself too busy to get it up and running for myself... Maybe I'm not sure exactly what it is you are trying to do, JBEE. However, gateWay offers two options that seem to do what you want: [1] Clicking `SPECIAL' gives you the open a new partition option. [Comkey shifted/P is the shortcut]. Lets you change from one like partition to another on the same drive. [2] QuickMove to copy files from one partition to another. How'm I do'in? :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 16 Sat Sep 21, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) I would like to open one partition and run Handy Import and load graphics to convert from that partition and then save them to another partition on Ramlink. Use both partitions as active drives, like (2) shadowed 1581s when using Configure2.1 with the 2 meg REUs. The reason for not using one big native mode partition is I like MCOPYing my database and WP files from the 1581s and then copying them back after the sessions. Having to repartition just for GEOS isn't worth the hassle. I mean it isn't "vital" tohave but it would be nice. I was just wondering if there was something I missed in the manual. Since they are 1581 partitions it would see logical to be able to use (2) 1581 ramlink partitions with one real 1581. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 17 Sun Sep 22, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, My approach with RL is somewhat different. I'm using a 1750 (with Tenex's extender cable) since a lot of software uses it, and loads like greased lightening direct from RAMLink. I've got two sets of back-up disks of RL content. One set contains everything, for re-constructing. Never touch these. The other, includes only data and other files that will change, and new data files added. No unchanging programs. I make a back-up daily, using cycling disks. The combination of the two sets has everything currently in RL. The one that gets run daily is done thru RL/DOS, and runs unattended, so I am never here when it runs, and it is painless. Everything I run on a regular basis is already on RL. The only copying done while I'm sitting at the 'puter is from RL into the 1750, and filling it up takes only a couple of seconds. Unless there is a disaster (and we almost had one a few weeks ago in New York when 4 ConEd feeder cables burned out), I'll never have to use the back-up sets of disks. But it is nice to know they are around, just in case. Even so, we would need a blackout of maybe 24-36 hours, since the battery would keep things alive for this length of time. The worst blackouts in New York, that I've heard about have never lasted more than 24 hours, and there were only two of these in 40 years. RL completely changed the `feel and look' of the computer. No more waiting! Everything available at a key press! It is like having an entirely different computer. Well, not entirely different. It runs the same. But it is now so fast. :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 18 Sun Sep 22, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) I am also one of those people that have (2) flat 128s that don't work with expander cables or Asprospands. I think having Ramlink (even better with a REU!) completely changes Geos. The task switcher is very nice! Though I have now experienced the problem with launching applications from Gateway and having your data on another disk it really isn't a big problem. What I did today really made Ramlink a 100% worthwhile investment I "reorganized" my DM128 disks and split up the database onto (4) 1581 disks. In doing this DM128 writes a new file to the disk and then fills it with the data it copied from the source(master) disk. Boy, this takes a long time even using a 1581. Especially with large files (over 700 blks). By copying from the 1581 to a ramlink 1581 partition and it was done in no time. Then I just MCOPYed the partition back to a newly formatted Sony 3.5 Even the 1581 runs faster now that the file isn't fragmented. BTW: from rough estimates, the ramlink handling REL files is almost twice as fast as the HD which is far faster than the 1581. Nice thing too is it doesn't kill your drives and ram disks tend to wear longer ;) ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 19 Mon Sep 23, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, That's interesting about the disk speed-up access after de-fragmenting. Makes perfect sense, but it's something I would never have thought about. But then again, there are a lot of things that I just don't think about. :) And, I quess since slower disk access time is something that builds up slowly, as opposed to appearing at once, makes it difficult to pinpoint WHEN to correct it. I agree with you about the speed-up with RAMLink. With REL files, and in fact all files. It really seems to make a big difference when running programs that are disk intensive, and keep going back for more of their parts, and data. . With RL I no longer even notice this. It is as tho everything is already loaded in ram, which in a sense it is. Sort of like having a machine with no-wait states. :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 20 Mon Sep 23, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Well tickle me pink! I tried FCOPY for the heck of it on the relative files from Datamanager 128 and it worked excellent. I am so used to file copiers (like Maverick) totally ignoring REL files that I didn't even bother trying it. Does take a while though, but sure beats using DM128 for transfering them! Just got my HD 40 back today. I guess with Ramlink and not having the HD for awhile I forgot about how "whinny" it is. I think a printer muffler with a fan might be in order :) I put mine on a thick cloth mouse pad and it seems to have cut the noise down a lot (it was sitting on a metal shelf). I set Paperclip III up today so it runs totally from the Ramlink. I can't see any difference between the REU and Ramlink (1581 partition) for the spell checker. If there is any difference, it isn't much at all or enough to notice it except it is fast (blinding). I also "tested" my ramlink today by completely shutting the power down for a couple of hours. Happy to say everything was still there when I got back :) Though I still back up my data everyday, it is nice knowing it is reliable. One thing I did like is that the battery backup connector "snaps" in and doesnt just hang in there like my modem. There is not much of a chance of it getting disconnected by accident. One other thing I did was put electric tape over the battery terminals and connectors on the battery. One to hold them in place (not really needed), two so nothing like a spare paperclip shorts anything out or a spare wire or RCA cable. Has anyone tried the SID Stereo Cartridge with Ramlink? I need a new monitor stand before I can try it or a REU with mine. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 21 Tue Sep 24, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, Oh, FCOPY is fast AND accurate with REL files. I coulda told you this, but you never asked. :) In the pre-FCOPY days, I was using FasTrac128 on REL's. It copied them fast, and they seemed to work okey. But, I was always troubled that the copy never seemed to come out the same block size as the original. CND certainly knows its CBM dos, or should I say JD/DOS, RL/DOS, etc. Before I forget to mention it, that mouse pad under the HD might make it quieter, but *BE SURE* to check that it doesn't block air flow, and allow it to get any warmer. I'd feel easier with a bit of noise, if having to choose between the two options. Or, you might try doing both, by using 4-one inch square rubber padding under the HD's feet, and then you'd get the sound isolation, and air flow. If there's a height shortage above RL on your desk, you *CAN* use the Tenex extender cable with the REU. I do. The nice thing about the Tenex cable is that you can customize its length. Either plug pulls apart, then the ribbon can be cut, and everything plugged together again. Mine got shortened to maybe six inches, just enough to let the REU lie (or is it lay) flat behind RL. Interesting info about Paperclip III. I might just have to convert. :) The Pocket dictionary *WANTS* to run from the REU. RL is fast, but REU faster. This is especially true of Pocket Filer databases. REU searches are much faster than RL's. So if I am going to be doing some work with a file, I'll copy it over. The copying over of a large base is amazingly fast. I quess once I get used to all this speed it won't be so amazing, but for now... :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 22 Tue Sep 24, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Well, I should have asked -lol- next time I will know better :-) As for FastTrak128, ever since it totally trashed my 1581s whenever it started copying to the third partition on the disk I never trusted it and returned it for my money back. I can't tell you how upset I was when it nuked my backup copies. Luckily I didn't need them. Now, even when I finish copying with Maverick I always do a disk directory of each partition and root directory to make sure everything is okay. Better safe and slow than fast and sorry :) What I have done now with my database is move it to a native mode partition on the HD and also split it up into (4)1581 partitions (my database is on 4 1581 disks which are almost maxed out). For regular database use I will just use the HD native partition and copy the files at least once a day to the 1581 partitions. Every other day or so I will back up the 1581 partitions to Sony disks. For the H.D. printing and sorting of the database when I am mailing it is Ramlink time :) (HD=heavy duty) Right now I have only (???) a 2 meg Ramlink, so with the 512K for Geos it only leaves me (2) 1581 partitions. One has Paperclip and one has Geos of course :) My only wish is a clean reset from Geos. My 1581 drive is getting hungry for disks lately. Hasn't been feed as well as usual :D re:mouse pad That was the first thing I thought of about using it. I also didn't want a melt down or fire from the foam going up in flames from the mouse pad. CMD "kinda" talked me into this HD mech. and I am glad they did. A bit noisy (though it seems a lot quieter now that it has been running) but it runs so cool. The last one could have fried eggs, this one has been on almost two days solid and it is cool as a cuke! I think I will try that cable from Tenex so I can start plugging in and trying all the different cartridges I have lying around like Pagefox and the SID cartridge. I am thinking about buying a new or used Partner 128 just to have access to the disk cmds from within prgs but I have so few programs that need it I don't know if it is worth the risk of buying it just to try it. Running Pocket Series on a Ramlink. Richard Curcio pointed out to me you can run programs from the 512k memory expansion (article in TC128 issue#31) and the second bank of 256K because of the way it is switched, then reset the computer which would default it to the first 256K and still have the last 256K intact! The only obstacle would be saving the last 256K and the program it contained to disk and being able to restart it later like a C64 mode snapshot program. Then it could run from Ramlink :) Well, if you grow jaded from all that speed maybe we can zip ya :D ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 23 Thu Sep 26, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, A clean reset from GEOS? I remember seeing a post about that. Someone did it by clicking on an application (think that is what it was) that when run, reset everything, and left the 128 ready to run a next selection. I'm not sure what all was in there. A few pokes I think, and some other things. But it did it. I used to have a Partner128, but gave mine away. Incompatable with too many things. You had to run it as it was. I don't think it had many (or any) parameters that users could set. But that is only my opinion. Others who use it love it. :/ You sort of lost me describing Curcio's RAM, and the Pockets. Are you saying that I could load the 3 Pockets into different banks, and once there, just software BANK to any of the three instantly? Gosh, I hope that is what you said... :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 24 Thu Sep 26, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) You can install a switch with the 512K to force the C128 to load Pocket into the last bank. Then switch and reset the computer. The bank you just exited would be there but now you would be in the "normal" banks of ram and you could save the program you just froze to disk. Just a possiblity we will be covering later. There is hope:) Because of the banking and such the very lower part of memory is shared by all banks in the 512K scheme so you can't task multiple programs. Though you could store each in it's own bank and call it when needed. The demo in TC128 for 256K shows loading the 1764 demo into memory and playing it back from the 256K vs REU. re:Partner 128 I decided to skip it. Not worth it. I made the decision to not use any of the software that doesn't work with Ramlink. Jeese, that was easy and it didn't cost me anything :D What I did with DM128 was shove all the files into a native mode and that was the software I was most concerned about having partition support. I can live without the other :) ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 25 Sat Sep 28, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, I'm convinced! :) When will we see the article on the 512k C128? Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 26 Sat Sep 28, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) If all goes well issue #31 this October. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 27 Tue Oct 01, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) How about tips on not what to do ? I was downloading files two days ago to my ramlink that I was going to test and release. In the middle of one xmodem download we lost all power here. So, I shut off my C128 first and then the surge protectors. Because they were working right outside on the street I thought it safer to lose my battery and ramlink configure with files than chance a surge protector and Ramlink. Well, after over 2 hours the power comes back on, no worry or problem because I have had the RL ps off much longer to test CMD's claims. Turn everything back on and no problems, everything is there except the last xmodem file, no splats or anything and the block count is correct. So, i go back to downloading. Now the problem I had occurred when testing a file in C64 mode. I loaded up Wizard and the new font file. For some reason the C64 locked up and I got no key response, so I reset the computer. (C= down -64 mode) Now, in C64 mode I had neither drive 8 and Ramlink was now drive 16 and I couldn't get a partition of any sort on ramlink. So, I shut off the computer! When I turned it back on Ramlink now had 7000+ bytes free, all my partitions, email, programs, and such *poof*. i couldn't believe it, it wasn't the battery, it had more than enough charge (i tested it). i still don't know what caused the problem, though looking back I would say if software locks up Ramlink and you lose the device number (mine was#10) don't shut off the computer. Especially if the green active light is lit on the Ramlink and while it is "swap"ped to device #8. Reset if possible and run the Ramtools program and try to recover it. One other problem I have noticed that may only happen with the Super Gold When you "swap" a drive and then do a directory of a drive that doesn't exist, the computer and <Control> D locks up. Reset the Super Gold interface or unplug it and plug it back in. Also, sometimes you might have to turn your number 8 drive off and on. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 28 Thu Oct 03, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, The one about the Super Gold is pretty easy to take care of.... But you really should be reading CMD's RAMLink Manual. It is full of nifty stuff, including describing how to take care of any probs with a Gold. Without checking, I seem to recall that the Gold does something to the serial line (which is what is used for swaps and default drive selection). CMD listed a short one line Basic command that if run when first powering on, and at any re-set is supposed to take care of it. Just insert that one liner into the programs that you've set up to autoboot in 64 and 128 modes, and any difficulty should go away. As to the other.... Arg!!!! A BLACKOUT right there during the middle of a download. Never had one of those... AND, hope I don't. But... That doesn't help you..... :) It's my quess that you could have avoided any probs if you did a COLLECT in the directory that was being writen to, at the time of the blackout, as the very first thing when powering on, and especially before any disk (RAMLink) access. I believe that while that file was being written, an entry was made to the directory, and certainly the FAT as sectors got written. You didn't see a file in the directory, because it never got completed. The FAT was all messed up. And, since a directory is a logical sectioning, all of the directories in that particular partition would stand a good chance of getting corrupted. However, partitions are physically sectored, and other partitions should have been okey. And, from your description it is apparent that the SYSTEM Ram partition got corrupted too. This shouldn't have happened. But since System Ram controls, and is affected by what goes on in other parts of RL's Ram, this probably triggered its (the sys) corruption. I suspect that writing to disk with an already corrupt FAT, is what started the chain reaction to a crash. So.... If there are any more blackouts. First thing should be a COLLECT. I'd like to think that this would have fixed things, and avoided the added probs. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 29 Thu Oct 03, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Ah! Here it is: A Super Gold is device #14, and you should NEVER send a JiffyDos (RL/DOS) command to it. Especially if using CONTROL D, when #14 will show up as a false drive, or you will lock up. CMD suggests inserting the following one liner which can be entered direct, or run at power up, and after every re-set as part of the autoboot files: OPEN15,4,15:print#15,"SL":CLOSE15 Hope that does it! Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 30 Thu Oct 03, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Actually, I have read most of the manual :) I guess the first thing should have been a file copy and then a collect. Still can't understand the total loss of all my partitions but I guess it is too late to figure out now. I was wondering, is there anyone that is using 16megs? I would be curious how long that would last on the battery and how the power supply and charger would hold up? ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 31 Thu Oct 03, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Interesting question JBEE! I've got one 4 Meg simm, and from what the Manual says get the impression that the battery would keep it powered up for around 36 hours. Just a quess tho... Prob with running a test, is you'd have to essentially not use a 128 for 36 hours, except for brief on/off sessions to see if RL is still brain alive. I don't know if I could stand 36 hours of doing without, and not having some sorta serious withdrawal symptoms kick in... :/ What do you mean by a file copy before the collect? Did you actually have that file listed in the directory, the one you were downloading when all the lights went out? I sure agree with you that it is hard to understand why all of the RL crashed. Doing the second write to the directory with the messed up FAT due to the blackout easilly explains destroying it, as well as all directories within that partition. But the other partitions, and especially the SYS partition should have been okey. Unless... The SYS partition Ram in trying to do the second write and confronted with a partiton that it no longer recognized did weird things like writing to other partitions? Itself? Or just died from confusion? Yeah! It is confusing... Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 32 Thu Oct 03, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) when ever you suspect a trashed disk you should either make a backup and work on that or file copy all the "good" files before doing a validate. My trouble was i didnt suspect anything. It might not have been that anyways as the whole Ramlink was wiped clean. re:ramlink withdrawal exactly why I didnt push mine to the limit, anyways, I didnt want to take the chance of junking the battery. Makes you wonder what a good sized motorcycle battery could power ;) Considering 16 megs would set you back ($200x4) $800 there probably aren't too many people with the setup. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 33 Fri Oct 04, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Well, if a motorcycle battery is anything like an auto battery, I'm not sure I'd want to have it indoors, and sitting nearby the 'puter. Unlike the one RL uses, which is a sealed gel, an auto battery isn't. It will, depending upon its state, discharge hydrogen, not to mention possible lead carcinogens. This can be explosively dangerous indoors, and harmful to ones health. I'll stay with the Pansonic battery that CMD sent along with the RL. :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 34 Sun Oct 06, 1991 M.MCCORMIC10 [Mike Mc-] (Forwarded) All- After saving new messages in this topic I realize I don't know if they are for 64's or 128's. Could you identify what computer you have when posting a question? Now to my question.I have a 64 with a 1541 and a RL w/1mg 6 1764 REU. What files and in what order should I have on my Gateway boot disc?my current boot is in the RL but the floppy boot must also be in the drive for it to completely boot. Mike Mc- ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 35 Sun Oct 06, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Howie, oh I wouldn't recommend putting any lead/acid batteries near my body, never mind my computer ;) It was just a rambling thought and flash backs of E.T. ;) Mike, Howie and I both own C-128s, though most of the posts could apply to both the C64 and C128. On your C64, 1541, 1764 reu setup I would setup Geos for a Ramlink 1581 partition ramdisk 41 or 71 1541 Remember when swapping positions of drivers hold down the C= and click on the left side of the file where the icon is placed and then drag it to where you want it and click over the file it is swapping. This is the order I would set up my Gateway drivers. I would also set the default device # to 9 on Ramlink so I could boot Geos without having to press the Swap button all the time. I think I would make the default partition the 1541-71 REU partition. I believe that setup would let you use the REU with other software that works with the REU without trashing your ram backed Geos 1581. I had one more thing to add but I got interuppted by a telephone call and now it escapes me ... ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 36 Mon Oct 07, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, This is the `Week of GEOS' for me. Going to install it onto RL, and finally get running with it. So, you might be getting a few hundred questions from me about this... :/ I just put CS/DOS into RL, and things certainly fly. Still have a bit of tweaking to do, especially cutting back the size of its ramdisk, which I allowed to grow to over 600 blocks. A lot of the things in there will do just as nicely direct from RL's ram. And especially since there is no compression advantage using the dos ramdisk. Hmmm... Wondering if anyone has tried stuffing all these things into an LHX, and then using a batch file to call things? It would certainly compress very well. Be pretty easy to run any of the programs. And then only a tiny ramdisk with essential dos commands would be needed. Mine all goes into top memory of the REU, so mid memory is available for work areas, and this leaves low memory for use with the three Pocket programs. They all seem to get along pretty well together, so long as I remember they are all there. Once I start using Filer's big data bases, all the CS/DOS stuff gets over-written. As soon as I get done setting up GEOS, I'll have to look into putting all these things into an LHX. Might not be the best way of doing things, but it certinly sounds like it will be fun. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 37 Mon Oct 07, 1991 D.BURR8 (Forwarded) Maybe I misunderstood your post Howie, but are you proposing LHA'ing an entire CS-DOS ramdisk, and then unpacking the cammands as needed, on the fly? I am not sure, but I don't think that can work. You would have to have a batch file that called lhx to 1: Scan the archive for the desired command , 2: Unpack the command, which would require writing it to disk, then 3: Calling the command, followed by 4: erasing the command from the disk. Seems like it would start to eat up a lot of time to unpack even the small commands. The only 'on-the-fly' compression scheme of this nature that would work is CruelCrunch/Sledgehammer, and that is only in 64 mode. LHA won't cut it speed wise, and cannot unpack commands directly to memory, only to the specified disk or ram device. Dan ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 38 Tue Oct 08, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Howie, I have found the best way to work with Geos on the Ramlink is get it to run from the Ramlink (install Ramlink patches) and then save a mirror copy to disk (1581?). I think a 1581 partition on Ramlink is more than big enough for using with Geos (your setup includes the HD). If you use native partitions it makes it tough backing up. Mcopy works much faster than Fcopy or file copying under Geos. Also, when you fritz your Ramlink partition you can easily Mcopy it to the Ramlink in under 2 minutes vs doing the whole install routine again and then having to power down afterwards. BTW: stuffing everything into a LHX does sound like fun if it works okay. I think the time waiting for it to extract a file wouldn'tbe worth the savings. I keep a very small ramdisk for CS-DOS with only the things like Date, Dir, Arc128, and I load LHA in when I need it. I rarely use the other commands since JiffyDos replaces a great deal of them. I also agree with D.Burr about everything else he mentioned, though nothing is impossible. The question is if it is worth doing ona regular basis. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 39 Tue Oct 08, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) ---- > RAMLINK DISASTER < ---- The receipe ... C128 Ramlink setup DACC 512k 1581 part 1581 part native part Wizard 64 reset your C128 while Wizard 64 is running and you completely wipe your ramlink. I thought that maybe this was the fault the first time of the font files I downloaded to test Wizard 64, and this time a menu program I have been testing (not released yet ... soon). It is not and it is no chance happening. Using the above setup after using Wizard 64 guarantees a complete reset and wipe of Ramlink. After losing it again and rerunning Wizard 64 after resetting my Ramlink to #10 and saving test files to it they were completely wiped after resetting and Ramlink was reset to #16. I doubt there will be many C128 owners using Ramlink and Wizard 64 at the same time but this problem does exist. The reason why? Beats me. But it is a problem and does exist. I guess I am not too upset this time because all I really lost was my updated PCiii dictionary files (maybe 10 new words). But it sure was frustrating to see it zapped again. Oh the trials and tribulations of being a ramlink covered wagoon pioneer ;) Of course if someone else would help test this (I suggest backing up ramlink first ;) I would appreciate it. I know my flat C-128 is in okay-dokey shape. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 40 Thu Oct 10, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Dan, You are sure right! I WAS thinking of LHX'ing thru a batch file, but reviewed this, and it looks just about impossible. I quess what threw me off is I remember reading a post about someone LHA'ing all the txt files, and using a batch to TYPE them, as help on any specific command was needed. It seems typing something to screen is a bit different than getting something to run.... I still want to thin out the ramdisk tho.. A lot of things in there that I may need only infrequently. What I think I'll do is keep them on RL's disk, and then for those things that have to run from ramdisk, just write a short batch to do a quickie install, and be up and running. Altho, even this may not be necessary, since install is so easy to use as is. With a small ramdisk, CS can be up and running a lot quicker. I don't know why I ever thought it would be a good idea to put everything into the ramdisk. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 41 Thu Oct 10, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, I was figuring on setting up GEOS on a 1581 real disk. Then once there, FCOPY the files to a native partition. Are you saying this won't work? I thought that once the install was done, on the 1581, then FCOPY only had to copy things over for everything to run right from RL. That INSTALL was needed just the one time? As to CS/DOS ramdrive, well see my reply to Dan, above! Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 42 Thu Oct 10, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, Yet *ANOTHER* disaster??? What is going on in New England? First the electricity goes poof.... Now, Wiz64 makes RL go poof???? EGADS!! :( Wiz128 doesn't do that. When IT exits, RL runs its autoboot file, as it is supposed to. Did you exit from Wiz64 properly? OR?? Did you re-set during RL access? I hate to keep doing this to ya, but the MANUAL is very clear about not doing a re-set while RL activity is going on. In fact, it isn't too healthy for any disk, if there is a re-set while a disk is being written. On the other hand if you exited Wiz64, then did a re-set, you shouldn't have a disaster. It's not supposed to happen. If you'd like I'll gladly run Wiz64 from my RL to see what happens. But, I won't do a re-set while it is accessing RL. Howie P.S. Just thought! Do you have the upgraded RL? Mine is a Rev G, with RL/DOS ver 1.40. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 43 Fri Oct 11, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) I believe I have the latest and greates version from CMD. I will know today what version it actually is when I open it up to add another meg (blush). BTW:the hex key you need for the CMD HD and Ramlinkscrews can be found at most plumbing stores. They usually come on a ring with a wide selection to use on facuets. The nice thing is if you get the ring of hex drivers you will find them useful for removing torx screws in your C128 since the hex drivers can reach down into the access holes were a regular torx driver can't! I am resetting it while there is no activity (no lights on). If there is no disk access you should be able to exit with a reset. I guess I could be brave and try it by exiting Wizard through the menu. I also doubt there will be anyone using Ramlink, a C128, AND Wizard 64 together so I can't see it as a big problem, unless of course you do use it. Then it can be a bummer! No problems with Wizard 128 though, really happy with that! I don't believe you can FCOPY files from a Geos disk and have them work in a native partition. I believe you have to file copy them under Geos once you have your disk drivers in place. Install is needed to install the patches only once onto the disk you are using to boot Geos from within Ramlink. I just keep a "installed" copy on my HD so I can easily Mcopy it to the ramlink whenever needed. (hate looking for floppies) ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 44 Fri Oct 11, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Hot off the presses... I was talking with CMD about Gateway and Ramlink and some bugs that have popped up. One that I experienced and I know some others have is the problem of launching a application from one disk (say Ramlink) and accessing a file from another drive. Sometimes you get a complete lockup. (BTW: After Doug configured his system like mine he called me back to test the problem...that's what I call responsive) How to get rid of that nasty bug (works okay for me now). After backing up all your data to disk Delete all your partitions Now, pick #4, create a partition This first partition you create make it #31 (not #1 like you would normally). I don't have a REU hooked up so I make it a DACC (direct access) partition of 512 blocks. Then I created (2) 1581 partitions #1 and #2 and made the default partition #1. So, the trick here is making the very first partition (in my case a DACC) partition #31 and then making one of your other partitions you create the default partition. For some reason this works and my previous setup doesn't. Doug said something about being sure Ramlink grabs the bottom part of the memory first and then making that first partition #31 so it doesn't get in the way? ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 45 Fri Oct 11, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Installing extra SIMMs This can be real frustrating for the novice and I found it kind of a job myself. I was used to plugging SIMMs in by simply lifting a latch and clamping it down again. The easiest way with Ramlink (for me) was removing Ramcard, placing it on the edge of the table over a rubber placemat so the connector hangs over the edge. That way the "downward" force is square on the PC board and doesn't bend or put stress on the ramcard connector. Slant the SIMM at an angle, once they are almost in there wiggle it side to side while pushing down slightly. Then once it is setted push it up until it clicks into place. You can also move the posts on the side to the right or left to make it easier. Works for me! ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 46 Sat Oct 12, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, There seems to be a definite trend developing here. Especially among those of us fortunate enough to have ram attached (or cabled) to our machines. There just isn't enough to satisfy us. No sooner than adding multi-fold amounts of ram, infinitely expanding instant access to all sorts of good things, than we want more. And, very soon after that more again. And so it goes... It is sorta like a winter's cold. Easy to catch, and hard to cure. I got bitten. And, I see no cure in sight. I've tried all sorts of home brew remedies, but none of them work. I can't remember now how many times I've increased ram. My machine always seems to need more. My resistance is low because this bug has been around for such a very long time. I no longer have the strength to refuse my machine's request for more. Give me more. That's what it keeps saying. I gave it its last `more' only 60 days ago, and now it wants more again... What am I to do? :/ Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 47 Sat Oct 12, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, Well, as you've noticed Wizard 128 works just fine from RAMLink. In fact, I've been trying to find out why it works so well. Well, sorta, anyway... Wizard does everything my mouse tells it to do. Never a prob. And that's the prob... Over in the Wizard Bulletin Board I'm trying to figure out why some Wizards aren't do their auto loggon as they should. I didn't do anything special to mine for it to work right. Actually, it is very vanilla, which makes it harder to find things that may make Wizard not work right. Anyway, I won't bore you with all this, but I'm now trying to duplicate the prob that others have, on my Wizard to compare the difference. With Wizard 64, after a lot of introspection (is that the right word) and what you said, I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't try running it on a 128 with RL after all. :/ I may have to re-configure RL's last partition. I like your ideas about GEOS and using MCOPY to get everything over in one key click. I had set aside 2496 blocks for GEOS, but with a 1581 emulation, this may be wasting too much space. Hmmm... I'll have to check on the capacity of 1581's. Never ran across that bug. (patting self on back...) When setting up RL's partitions, I just didn't feel comfortable with ram address in the REU running right into RL's ram. So, partition one is the reu. Partition 16 which I call `buffer', then number two and so forth... I never thought to use #31. I picked #16 because it is over on screen two, and tucked away out of sight. I also used the same 256 block size. As The Church Lady says, "Now.... Wasn't that clever???" :) Congratulations and WELCOME to your additional ram. Glad to hear the surgery went well. That new infusion should keep your machine happy for at least the next month, when it will ask you for more... :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 48 Sat Oct 12, 1991 M.MCCORMIC10 [Mike Mc-] (Forwarded) I am going to order a new repairable power supply for my 64.Do I still need the added power now that my 1764 REU is in the self-powered RL ? Mike Mc- ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 49 Sat Oct 12, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Howie, I think one of the beautiful things about Ramlink is the basis of the C64 and C128's success. You don't have to go whole hog on Ramlink to start out. If you only get Ramlink for the JiffyDos (thereby saving $60 on a future purchase) you can add to it as you go. Plus, it enhances the equipment you are using at the moment. It is true the expansion bug is a sickness that can strike our wallets down in the middle of their prime ;) Though, to be truthful my purchase was made almost 100% for the return on investment. By having all my software on 1581 partitions saves me a great deal of time. After all I use my C128 about 6-12 hours on a normal day. Also, I am going to be doing Oct's mass mailing of TC128 and I really need the speed for the sorting and printing of the database. It is really fast on the HD but on the Ramdisk it blows you away :) I figure if it saves me only two hours of work the SIMM paid for itself (btw: I got my 1x9 meg SIMM for $41) Mike I really don't know the answer to that. Either way though, for the $14 extra dollars for a HD power supply, I would buy one. You never know what your needs might be a year from now and it is better to have a power supply that is more then enough then just passable. Also, the one Grapevine sells for $39 is really a HD C-128 (4.3 amp) power supply that will last forever. I have never heard of a C-128 power supply going unless it was nuked with a power surge. Even then all you have to do is usually change the fuse. ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 50 Sun Oct 13, 1991 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Just wanted all interested to know that Wizard64V1.5 works like a charm from within a Ramdrive or a RamLink,(tried them both today)....This is with a 64C,two 1541 II drives and RamDrive 1581 emulation partition. It doesn't seem to work with the earlier version of wizard64, so get the latest version. Thanks to JBEE and H.HERMAN1 for their help. @l ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 51 Sun Oct 13, 1991 M.MCCORMIC10 [Mike Mc-] (Forwarded) JBEE- I intend to purchase the HD from Grapevine.What I meant was,if necessary,can I use any of the original 64 power supplies?Not the one from the REU. Just to know if they have any value to me. Mike Mc- ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 52 Mon Oct 14, 1991 M.DULSKI1 [Mark] (Forwarded) After reading this message thread, I am definately going to get myself a Ramlink. Think I'll put it on my christmas list. :) Its good to see a company that gives product support like CMD seems to have, as JBEE just found out. JBEE, all these problems with your Ramlink just to test a character set for Wiz64? ;D What a bummer! ~~Mark~~ ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 53 Mon Oct 14, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, WOW! One Meg of RAM for $41. Goes a long way to explain the increased productivity we are now seeing from the 64's and 128's. While it would be breaking with the tradition of tight program code, it might be interesting to see a program or two written especially to run from a RAMLink/RAMDrive/HD, etc. There would be no limit on how large the program could be. A 500K program maybe? Simply swap in and out the parts as needed. From RAM it would never be noticed by the user. Hmmm.. Come to think of it, Digital Solutions does this now with its Pocket Writer3. It comes with 3 overlay files, that when placed into the REU get accessed in a flash. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 54 Mon Oct 14, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Mark, better for me to find any problems then 300 downloaders ;) J.Robbins pointed out something in a earlier email that I have NOT been doing. When I reset my C128 I reset with the C128 button vs the one on the Ramlink, which seems to be a popular way for others. It simply is not easy to access with my flat 128 and monitor platform. Swap 8 is tough enough :D Mike, while using your REU on your C64, your old C64 power supply is of no use to you and if you can sell it for a couple of bucks or want to use if for something else than go for it. cheap dram I got a 1x9 meg SIMM (which Doug says will work with my 1x8 with no problem, I knew that anyways but it makes me feel safer hearing it from someone else;) in case I want to sell or use them later. Many computers (especially clones) need the extra bit for parity checking or what have you. For the small extra cost it seems like a good investment down the road when/if I want to sell or use the dram in something else. This source I bought from was the "cheapest" overall for "delivered" cost nd their price quoted over the phone was the cheapest. Others maybe less, more, or the same. You can always call and rip out all the dram ads in Computer Shopper and the other ad mags like I did and call them all. Though $41 is about the lowest you can get right now. Memory Plus 43 Hopkinton Rd Westboro, MA 01581 1-800-388-7587 1-508-366-2240 1-508-366-7344 fax The overlay files for Paperclip III work fine from Ramlink or the REU. Spell checker works fine from Ramlink too though I think I mentioned that about 20+ messages ago. Where the potential of Ramlink lies is in the fact it is transparent to the system. I am just curious, and I will test it later, is how the Power C complier runs with Ramlink. (which is what I believe is used for Wizard 64 and Wizard 128) ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 55 Mon Oct 14, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, Using the 128, instead of RL re-set could easilly explain that prob, especialy when returning from 64 mode. Only a quess however. As to accessing any of the other controls on RL, you really shouldn't have any need to. I don't. :) All swapping is thru software as a part of a program's starter, only when required. Most things run fine from drive #16, and there's no need for a swap. I know that you run a lot more different programs, and many may require a drive #8. So, why don't you consider having a one-line program in your root directory, that will do the swap, and anything else you may want done. You could use something like: 10 @"cd2:temp",16:rem - set up the directory temp 20 open15,16,15:print#15,"s-8":fori=1to750:next:close15 30 :rem - enter anything else you want to do And, you could have another on there to swap back to the default. It'll save a lot of wear and tear on the swap button.. :) I'll even give you suggestions for names: go8 and go16. :) And, I thought I mentioned this before, but maybe not. Instead of plugging anything direct into RL, I use the Tenex Extender Cables instead. One goes to the 1750, which sits behind RL, and flat on the desk, and the other for easilly ataching any cartridge to the pass-thru port. If you decide to have this set-up, you should only use the Tenex cables. They are the only ones that will unplug, letting you make shorter cable lengths, and then snap the plug back on. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 56 Tue Oct 15, 1991 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] (Forwarded) Is it me or did we lose messages 55 and 56 ? I have been holding off the cables until I get that REU fixed, though I do have a reservation about buying them because of the Asprospand cables (tried twice) never working properly on my flat C-128. Though I think I will go for it soon because I am getting sick of unplugging everything to use my Pagefox everytime I want to scan something. Yea, my swap buttons are going to die an earlier death. The last HD had pronounced reversed dimples from all the pressing. JBEE (: ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 57 Tue Oct 15, 1991 C128-BILL [Bill] (Forwarded) Messages 55 and 56 were deleted by the author. The Topic Cop (and no, it wasn't me!) ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 58 Wed Oct 16, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) Mark, What a terrific idea! And... I think it IS just about time to start MY Christmas wish list, too. :) Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 59 Wed Oct 16, 1991 H.HERMAN1 (Forwarded) JBEE, Have you tried using Pagefox thru RAMLink's pass-thru port? Because of possible addressing conflict, you might try it with the REU port enabled, and also in normal. Without checking, I seem to recall that switching over to normal adds two more in (?) or out lines. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 12 Message 60 Wed Oct 16, 1991 M.DULSKI1 [Mark] (Forwarded) JBEE My comment was meant as a gentle nudge in the ribs since I believe the file you were testing, just before your Ramlink contents went poof, was one I uploaded. I agree with and appreciate the testing of all files before releasing to the libraries! :) *********** I was wondering, is GEOS bootable directly off Ramlink or do you still have to boot the GEOS system from a disk? ~~Mark~~ ------------ 12 ?