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- ************
- Topic 6 Tue May 19, 1987
- JOEBROWN [Joe Brown] at 21:56 EDT
- Sub: C-128 and 1571 ROM Upgrade Chips
-
- Here is information on ordering the C-128 and C-1571 ROM Upgrade chips. I
- ordered both upgrades on April 26, and received them on May 18.
- 1 message(s) total.
- ************
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 6
- Message 1 Tue May 19, 1987
- JOEBROWN [Joe Brown] at 22:08 EDT
-
- =============================================================================
-
- To order the 1571 Disk Drive ROM Upgrade Chip, write a short note requesting
- Part # 310654-05, and send your check or money order for $9.65 to:
-
-
- Commodore Service Department 1200 Wilson Drive West Chester, PA 19380 Attn:
- 1571 Update ROM Order
-
- ============================================================================
-
- To order the C-128 ROM Upgrade Chip, write a short note requesting Part #
- 314972-01, and send your check or money order for $24.65 (note this is for 3
- chips), to:
-
-
- Commodore Service Department 1200 Wilson Drive West Chester, PA 19380 Attn: C-
- 128 Upgrade ROM Kit Order
-
- ============================================================================
-
-
- ------------
- ************
- Topic 8 Thu Jan 29, 1987
- D.MURRAY [OBTUSE ONE] at 22:55 EST
- Sub: C-128, 1571 Rom upgrade
-
- This topic hopefully will give us information on the status of the new upgrade
- rom chips for the 128 & 1571.
- 56 message(s) total.
- ************
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 1 Thu Jan 29, 1987
- D.MURRAY [OBTUSE ONE] at 23:11 EST
-
- I have spent the last two weeks trying to get in touch with CBM and find out
- the status of the new Rom chips. Every time I call, I am told to call back at
- a differant time and a differant number. I am hoping that someone will let me
- know if the new chips are available, and how to go about getting them.. I have
- called the (215) 431-9100, and been told to call (215) 431-9105. I have
- called that number and end up reaching the same lady I spoke to on the 9100 #
- with her telling me to call back at a differant hour. The run around that CBM
- has given me on their customer support line is begining to tick me off. Any
- current information from some of you in the know, would greatly be appreciatd.
-
-
- Thanks,
- Don
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 2 Fri Jan 30, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 00:50 EST
-
- Calling CBM can be pretty frustrating at times...especially if you don't have
- any NAMES to ask for. Here is my suggestion:
-
- Call Pete Baczor at 1-215-431-9264
-
- He won't know anything about the status of the ROMS, but he is the Customer
- Support manager (as well as a few other titles) and you can complain to him
- about your inability to reach anybody at CBM. Not that this will do you any
- good, but it might make you feel a little better.
-
- The best I can tell you is, they do exist..they have been sent off to MOS (at
- least twice) and engineering types keep telling me: "Soon, very soon" (take
- that to mean anywhere from six weeks to six months, although I think we are
- getting pretty close..really) again, I am trying to arrange to have Fred Bowen
- (software/firmware) engineering type on here very soon. (He has been very
- busy, and he has a family to attend to..but he has told me he would be
- willing to donate sometime to us, very soon!)
-
- And always, as soon as we know, we will let you know here on the FLAGSHIP!
-
- --Sparrow James (Managing Editor, Twin Cities 128)
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 3 Fri Jan 30, 1987
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 11:01 EST
-
- I can assure anyone trying to call CBM that you might as well save your
- money!! The ROMS are not ready yet, and as soon as they are, we'll let
- everyone know.
-
- Even when you DO know the name/extension number of the person in charge at
- CBM...its murder getting a hold of them. They are swamped with work and legit
- business...imagine how they feel being barraged with a lot of calls about
- something which isn't ready yet?
-
- **deb!*
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 4 Mon Feb 02, 1987
- GBARRETT [VISION100] at 19:17 CST
-
- Ditto to what Deb says...
- Pete right now is wearing at LEAST two hats (they keep adding them on a
- daily basis) and it would probably yield little to call him right now.
- -Best way to find out: stay tuned right here!
-
- -GaryB
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 5 Tue Feb 03, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 06:53 EST
-
- I agree, it would not do much good to call him, (at least for information on
- the ROM upgrades) but he has always impressed me was someone who could sooth
- the spirits of angry souls and help explain some of the difficulties of
- running a computer company etc. For that reason I did not think it was bad
- advice to suggest giving Pete a call. After all as "Customer Support Manager"
- (I think one of his hats say that) it is part of his job to field questions
- and complaints from the masses.
-
- --Sparrow James
-
- (I bet he'd be cussing me out right now if he read this...snicker..or maybe
- he'd laugh...who knows?)
-
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 6 Tue Feb 03, 1987
- MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 20:05 EST
-
- Interesting to note that Tom Brown has already come up with a fix for the weak
- 1571 ROMS and has released programs which allow the 'fix'. All you need is an
- EPROM burner and away you go. Second-side disaster is a thing of the past.
- Now, all *I* need to know is...howintheheck do you use an Eprom burner?
- [smile]------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 9 Sun Mar 01, 1987
- S.LEWIS at 05:41 MST
-
- Get me the source and I'll burn you a chip... er, maybe not source (comments
- are wunnnnderful, tho) but the actual 8 or 16K worth of code...
-
- Steve
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 10 Sat Mar 28, 1987
- T.MENEGATOS [Tom] at 01:16 EST
-
- Well, IT'S HERE!! I just saw a message from Fred Bowen on USENET, and the C-
- 128 ROM's are available from CBM NOW! And, the price has been reduced to
- $21.65 + $3.00 shipping. So, send your $24.65 to: Service Dpartment CBM 1200
- Wilson Drive. West Chester, PA. 19380
-
- The way I figure it, if you send the money in NOW, you'll get the ROM's just
- as a hot new program comes out that expects the old ROM's! If interested, the
- text of the USENET message will be in the next message.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 11 Sat Mar 28, 1987
- T.MENEGATOS [Tom] at 01:17 EST
-
- Article 298 in comp.sys.cbm: From: fred@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Fred Bowen) Subject:
- C128 upgrade ROMs Message-ID: <1588@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP> Date: 26 Mar 87
- 20:30:27 GMT Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA Lines: 24 --
- MORE--(24%) The upgrade ROMs are finally available. Dealers and service
- centers can perform the simple upgrade for you, or you can order parts
- directly from Commodore and Do It Yourself (and kiss your warranty farewell).
- For the DIYers, the ROMs are socketed; I suspect the most trouble you will
- have is assulting the RF shield. Good luck. The wait was worth it, though-
- we got the customer price down to $21.65 (plus $3.00 shipping) for the 3-ROM
- set. Send a check in the amount of $24.65 and made out to Commodore Business
- Machines to:
- Service Department
- CBM
- 1200 Wilson Drive
- West Chester, PA 19380 Ask for the "C128 upgrade ROM kit" and include
- your name and address. - - -- Fred Bowen uucp:
- {ihnp4|seismo|caip}!cbmvax!fred
- arpa: cbmvax!fred@seismo.css.GOV
- tele: 215 431-9100 --MORE--(93%) Commodore
- Electronics, Ltd., 1200 Wilson Drive, West Chester, PA, 19380 End of
- article 298 (of 298)--what next? [npq]
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 13 Wed Apr 08, 1987
- ALLEN.II at 23:57 EDT
-
- Has anyone seen these little jewels yet? And if you have do they work! Since
- Commodore has seen fit to supply these as a three chip set... ??? 2 for the
- 128... 1 for the 1571 ??? what to do if ya have 2 1571's.... And!!! If a
- person is out to buy another machine... how can you tell if the unit on a
- dealers shelf has new or old ROM's... same with the drives. Another
- question... What happens if you use a 128 with new upgrade ROM's with a drive
- that does not... and visa vis... Will it work... or DIE! Seems like this story
- is only now unfolding. Looks like yet another debacle to unravel.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 15 Thu Apr 09, 1987
- MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 01:32 EDT
-
- Seems like you're right, Allen! I havent recieved my ROM's yet, but if Loren
- doesnt fess-up and give us the details, I'll give Bowen a call and find out.
- (Another good question needing an answer: How much will the Service Centers
- charge to do the upgrade for those not electronically-inclined?)
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 16 Fri Apr 10, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 02:28 EDT
-
- Okay, I'll fess up!
-
- I've had my ROM upgrades for a week now, and I am very pleased.
-
- CBM is selling the C-128 set, (3 ROMS, 318020-05, 318019-04, 318018-04) for
- $21.65 plus $3.00 shipping.
-
- CBM is selling the 1571 set, (1 ROM, 310654-05) for $6.65 plus $3.00 shipping.
-
- The 1571 ROM is in my mind A MUST! This upgrade is cheap and makes the 1571
- into the drive you always thought it was! The drive now does not hiss and
- cough in confusion when reading single sided or flippy disks nor does it barf
- up on relative files which span the front/back border and the writing of
- sequential files on the backside of the disk has been speeded up by awesome
- amount.
-
- The C-128 ROM upgrades make more subtle changes to the machine that may not be
- as important to most people. However one comforting discovery has been that I
- have yet to find a piece of commercial or public domain software which was
- incompatible with the upgrade. I have tested over one hundred programs and
- none have any problems with either the C-128 or the 1571 upgrades. (THANKS
- FRED!!!!!)
-
- Installation of these ROMS is fairly easy. It took me about 20 minutes to do
- the 1571 upgrade and about 40 minutes to do the C-128. All ROMS covered in
- this upgrade are socketed. Complete instructions and insights (including
- diagrams) will be in ISSUE #15 of Twin Cities 128.
-
- Fred told me that CBM is taking orders in WRITING only now. So don't call.
- Two weeks ago CBM sent flyers out to all certified Commodore repair sites on
- the upgrades and many service centers have the ROMS on order.
-
- As for current production C-128s, only the C-128D has the ROM upgrade in it as
- factory standard. The next batch of flat C-128s (the cost reduced board
- units) will have the upgrade ROMs as standard equipment. As of this writing,
- CBM has flat C-128s in warehouses and it is not known when/if another run of
- "flat" C-128s will take place in the near future. It is really easy to tell
- the difference between an upgraded C-128 and a non-upgraded C-128. A non-
- upgraded C-128's power-up message features a 1985 copyright message, while an
- upgraded C-128 features a 1986 copyright message. (Also the CAPS Q bug is
- fixed on the upgrades as well) As for the 1571 ROM, I don't know of any
- external way of telling, but all you have to do is put in a "flippy" and you
- will know the difference immediately.
-
- CBM claims that the ROMS are shipping now, though I am the only person I know
- that has them outside of software developers and folks who work at West
- Chester.
-
- Well...if you have any other questions..just ask away and I'll try my best to
- give you the scoop!
-
- --Sparrow James
- (sorry about the length of this message)
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 17 Tue Apr 14, 1987
- MAYSMITCHELL [SounDesign] at 06:24 EDT
-
- as far as loren has mentioned, yes the 1571 is perfectico! it took about 5
- minutes to change the roms. while i was doing it i noticed the wd1770 sitting
- in one of the ports and also the gigantic 6526 (and 6502b-a 2mhz cpu) but
- while i was pondeirng this i noticed both the 6526 and the 1571 chip(rom) was
- socketed! hmm..any upgrades to the 6526? (heh-heh) anyhow, i didn't have
- another chip for my second drive but i hardly use
- anyhow so could care less.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 18 Wed Apr 15, 1987
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 08:26 EDT
-
- Hit a bump, gang...those of us with QuickSilver 128's won't be ABLE to use the
- 128 roms! I'm assuming it would be a real dumb move to change 2 out of the 3
- things that need switching...?!
-
- **
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 19 Wed Apr 15, 1987
- MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 20:36 EDT
-
- Let's see here. Wonder if Skyles will now offer 'upgrade' QuickSilvers for
- use with the new ROM's, for a nominal fee? Say, $80? <shudder>
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 20 Thu Apr 16, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 01:20 EDT
-
- Well the Quicksilver should not preclude you from doing the 1571 upgrade which
- is the most important anyway. As I have said, the 1571 upgrade is an
- absolute must if yo u want drive you trust! (nice pun eh?)
-
- --Sparrow James
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 21 Wed Apr 22, 1987
- LYLEG at 21:37 CDT
-
- I just received my 1571 upgrade roms yesterday. I am in agreement with Sparrow
- , this upgrade is a mus MS UST!! It really makes a difference. The side 2
- slow down is gone! It does not cough up at fi lippies! I am impressed! However
- then y BackOrdered the C-128 upgrades. Rats! Lyle
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 25 Sat Apr 25, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 01:47 EDT
-
- Actually I have been quite impressed with CBM on this one. From a random (and
- totally unscientific) sampling of owners of C-128s and 1571s who ordered and
- have received their ROMs from CBM it seems the typical turn around is 2 1/2 to
- 3 weeks which pretty good considering they are waiting for the checks to clear
- before they ship your order.
-
- Let's hope this update program from CBM is a trend that continues!
-
- --Sparrow James
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 26 Fri May 15, 1987
- LYLEG at 21:49 CDT
-
- Michael, I have not been on-line here for a couple of days(weeks??). I don't
- have ANY 1571 ROMs! I have more on order, but don't expect them for a couple
- of days to a week or two yet. Sorry!
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 27 Sun May 17, 1987
- GARYW at 20:37 CDT
-
- Lyle. Who are you ordering them from and what price are you paying. Ihave
- been getting them from EWC but would like to know more sources.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 28 Tue May 19, 1987
- JOEBROWN [Joe Brown] at 20:30 EDT
-
- I have sent for and RECEIVE both the upgrade chips for the C-128, and the 1571
- disk drive. It took about two weeks. I will place in a separate message
- information for ordering them direct from Commodore. I would have though that
- someone here had this information already, since I got it off of CI$ CBM-2000
- two weeks ago.
-
- There are three chips for the C-128 labeled BASIC LO - BASIC HI and KERNAL.
- They fixed the caps Q problem, as well as some other stuff.
-
- The ROM chip for the 1571 (one chip), fixes a number of things, the slow
- writing to the other side, the long search when you place a single sided disk
- in the drive after previously using a double sided one, it also is supposed
- to fix the problem of trashing the BAM with you write to the second side. One
- strange thing though, none of my nibbler copy programs work anymore with the
- new ROM, Fast Hack 'em and a few others I tried. Well, you can't have
- everything I guess.
-
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 30 Tue May 19, 1987
- MAYSMITCHELL [SounDesign] (Forwarded)
-
- Ops- I decided to write this in the wrong topic area but anyhow I just had a
- tip that if you have the new 1571 ROMs then what I have done is put the new
- ROM in drive 8 and leave Drive 9 with the old ROM. That way, certain program
- that work only with the old drive I use with Drive 9 and all new
- software/hardware for the New ROMs I use for Drive 8. Makes life a bit easier
- (serious users usually get that -SECOND- drive!)
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 31 Wed May 20, 1987
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 01:58 EDT
-
- Joe: I have CLOSED the topic with the specific ordering info in it. I'm sure
- it has already been here, but was in a LIBRARY file.
-
- Thanks for including it here too!
-
- Anyone wanting to reference it from here, its category 14, topic 6.
-
- *deb!*
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 32 Wed May 20, 1987
- KEVIN.S at 17:04 EDT
-
- And, the information is also listed in this topic, messages #10 and 11. Are
- we confused yet? I just received my 1571 ROM today, and for those of you a bit
- trepidant about leaping for the innards of your drive, I am uploading a text
- file describing the procedure. It IS very easy, never fear.
- KeS
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 43 Sat Jun 20, 1987
- MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 16:27 EDT
-
- Note that some of you may have newer/different C-128's. These may have 'star'
- type screws holding the case together, instead of the standard Phillips head.
- If you plan to do the ROM upgrade yourselves, be sure to check the screws and
- acquire the correct screwdriver.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 44 Sun Jul 26, 1987
- K.PALMER (Forwarded)
-
- does anyone know the numbers of the rom chips that update the 1571 and the 128
- - (to elimiate the bugs inherent in each!)? -- I have tried to find the
- numbers locally but to no avail. Reply to K.Palmer. Thanx!!
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 45 Sun Jul 26, 1987
- MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 21:26 EDT
-
- K.Palmer -
- The chip numbers are the same, but the version numbers are different. Here
- is the list:
- OLD NEW
- --- --- 1571 310654-03 310654-04 C-128 318018-02
- 318018-04
- 318019-02 318018-04
- 318018-03 318018-05
-
- (ONE replacement ROM for the 1571, and THREE replacement ROMS for
- the C-128)
-
- For more info on the ROMS, see file numbers 4101 and 4126 in software library
- #1.
- - Mike
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 46 Sat Sep 12, 1987
- DWIGHTS at 09:24 CDT
-
- I've finally acquired my 1571 ROM upgrades.... had a service center install
- one in one of my drives, and I put the other one in myself. Both chips were
- stamped with the correct upgrade number, but when I check the error channel
- upon power-up, I get a message that this is still CBM DOS v.3, not v.5. Did I
- get ripped off, or did Commodore not change the message.....?
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 47 Sat Sep 12, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 13:09 EDT
-
- No you are just fine. The DOS version number is still 3, but the ROM version
- number is 5. You can tell by looking at the serial number on the chip. The
- version number is denoted by as follows: xxxxxxxx-xx ^^^^^^^^ ^^ Part no. ^^
- ^^
- version number
-
- I believe the correct version number on all 1571 upgrade ROMs is either 04 or
- 05 (I forgot whether they begin numbering at 00 or 01). But anyway, this does
- not matter much anyway, as the real determining factor as to whether or not
- your 1571 has the upgrade ROM is drive performance anyway.
-
- --Sparrow James
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 48 Sat Sep 12, 1987
- KEVIN.S [-Sysop-] at 14:57 EDT
-
- As a matter of curiosity, how much did the service center nick you for the
- chip installation?
- KeS
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 49 Mon Sep 14, 1987
- DWIGHTS at 07:42 CDT
-
- I think this is indeed the upgrade.... my drives are running much smoother,
- particularly with GEOS 128! By the way, I got "nicked" $15 by the service
- center for each chip... they know me over there, so they did not charge for
- installation. That's how much they sell their chips. (I installed one myself.)
-
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 50 Sat Sep 26, 1987
- DAN.DAVIDSON at 11:28 EDT
-
- Is RETURN one of the commands the "upgrade" I ordered for my C128 supposed
- to fix?
- In one of my basic programs I added another subroutine. It GOES SUB alright,
- but on RETURN I keep getting a "return without gosub" error. Of course there's
- a GOSUB (I'm not a novice, and this is this is the first time I've had any
- trouble with a subroutine)
- s *s
-
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 51 Sun Sep 27, 1987
- C.LAVIN at 06:26 EDT
-
- Are you SURE of the subroutine logic? I don't know of any GOSUB/RETURN
- problems with the C-128. I have run into that pesky problem before with my 64,
- though. It can always be traced to a gprogram flaw. Check again. Maybe there's
- a GOSUB inside that subroutine that isn't returning correctly, or sometihing
- is messing up the stack.
-
- Sorry I can't be of more help, CL
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 52 Sun Sep 27, 1987
- LEROSENMAN [Larry R.] at 21:35 EDT
-
- Or Mayhaps you are falling through into the subroutine and hitting the return
- without being under the control of a GOSUB?
-
- Larry
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 53 Mon Sep 28, 1987
- DAN.DAVIDSON at 19:28 EDT
-
- There're only 2 gosubs in that short pgm. I added the first days ago to
- shorten the routine, and it's been working fine. Then I added a second
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 55 Mon Sep 28, 1987
- KEVINHISEL at 19:20 CDT
-
- Are you using any FOR/NEXT loops? Please post your program and I'm sure
- someone here will spot the problem. It almost must be in the logic.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 8
- Message 56 Sat Oct 03, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 09:08 EDT
-
- Yes please post your SHORT program..it is very likely it is your logic. Please
- don't take it personally, we all make programming mistakes and we are most
- happy to help you.
-
- --Sparrow James
- ************
- Topic 9 Fri Jun 05, 1987
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 18:55 EDT
- Sub: Software incompatible with new ROMS
-
- In search of programs that are NOT working with the new roms....
- 27 message(s) total.
- ************
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 1 Mon Jun 01, 1987
- GARYW (Forwarded)
-
- Well, I just found another jprogram that will not work with the new ROMS.
-
- <RETURN>, <S>croll, <Q>uit ?s
- It seems ARC128 will not work right. I keep comming up with an error 70, NO
- CHANNEL. I just wish I knew why. Oh well, back to the old ROM for now.
-
- Maybe Chris can fix this by the end of the week. (The ROM is in the mail
- Chris.)
-
- I am getting pretty good at changing them out. I am down to less than 15
- minutes for 1 C128 with 1 1571.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 2 Mon Jun 01, 1987
- SPARROW.J (Forwarded)
-
- Chris should not have any problems provided he uses the jump tables in the
- 1571 manual, and adheres to the rules about open channels.
-
- The jump table caveat is where Mike Henry blows it with Fast hackem 4.1.
-
- So far his is the only commercial program I know of that will not function
- with the new ROMs.
-
- --Sparrow James
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 3 Mon Jun 01, 1987
- GARYW (Forwarded)
-
- Well, I talked to Chris today and he is just as confused as I am. He does not
- know why it does not work. I sent him a new ROM, so maybe by this week-end he
- can tell us what is wrong. Has anyone else had this problem?
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 4 Mon Jun 01, 1987
- RA.86NAV [Richard] (Forwarded)
-
- I haven't had any probs worth mentioning with ARC128 but then my new ROMS
- haven't arrived yet. I do know of two other people who are having troubles
- using ARC128 with the new 1571 ROM's.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 6 Tue Jun 02, 1987
- GARYW (Forwarded)
-
- I think I found another one. Has anyone used Big Blue reader-CP/M? It seems
- this version does not like the new C128 ROMS. I would like input on this.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 7 Wed Jun 03, 1987
- SPARROW.J (Forwarded)
-
- Yes, Gary BBR CP/M does not work with the new C-128 ROMS because the author
- decided to take upon himself fixing some of the DMA routines that were
- originally flawed...his fixes it seems are not compatible with Fred Bowen's
- fixes and thus we have the problem.
-
- If the author had confined his/her programming efforts to the use of
- documented kernal routines a problem would not have occurred but there are
- those folks that just *have* to use ROM routines that occasionally get
- changed.
-
- Mike J, Henry is learning this lesson the hard way as well.
-
- --Sparrow James .s
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 8 Wed Jun 03, 1987
- DEB [*SysOp*] (Forwarded)
-
- Yo...."lesson"?!
-
- I don't believe that either Mike Henry nor the BBR folks should be chastised
- for making their products available and USABLE to the 128 community long
- before CBM bothered to make the fixed ROMs available!
-
- When these products were being written, there was precious little hope that
- CBM would fix the roms.
-
- With NO developer support team at CBM, its rather odd that now specific little
- "rules" are being tossed out as being "broken" because some software hasn't
- worked. New versions of the ROMs should have been tested by ALL the software
- companies, not just Berkeley Softworks and Precision, or whomever else was the
- major guys.
-
- Then again, with no developer support team at work at CBM for our guys writing
- software on a much smaller scale than the biggies, I guess CBM never knew they
- had been supporting the 128?!
-
- No, Loren, I beg to differ on this one...its NOT the software authors' fault.
- Its not CBM's fault either...except in their lack of trying to ascertain and
- inform the people that DO support the 128 in advance...!
-
- *deb!*
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 9 Fri Jun 05, 1987
- MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 22:36 EDT
-
- Apparently, there is yet another program that coughs up due to the new ROMs.
- World Tour Golf (Electronic Arts) was tested on a non-upgraded 128 and 1571 in
- C-64 mode, and it loaded fine in 64-mode as well as autobooted from 128-mode.
- It hangs up every time on my upgraded machine. Anyone else have the same
- problem? Electronic Arts programs have always been finicky, and with the
- addition of their new fastload installation you cannot even have a cartridge
- plugged *in* much less *on*.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 10 Fri Jun 05, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 23:18 EDT
-
- I asked Fred about this a few weeks ago, and his reply is that they have told
- professional software developers all along to stick to the documented kernal
- routines and proper jump tables, period. He also stated that he has been and
- always will be willing to help those developers out that have a question about
- internal stuff. He is just a phone call away, and he unlike others at CBM
- always answers his phone.
-
- It even states in the Programmer's Reference manual (public) as well as the C-
- 128 Technical Notes (not so public) that users and developers are advised not
- to rely upon unofficially documented ROM routines because they are subject to
- change at a later date, and that CBM shall be in no way liable or responsible
- for problems that arise as a result of not heeding this warning.
-
- Frankly I don't know how much more plain it has to be stated. I'm sorry, Deb,
- but the way I see it developers who failed to heed this kind of warning are
- asking for trouble, especially since this whole thing has happened
- before...remember how many ROM revisions there have been in the C-64?
-
- But anyway...this too shall pass, Henry will figure out a clever way around
- his problems, the folks from BBR already have the fixes in the can, and I am
- sure that Chris too will be able to solve his problems.
-
- I guess the bottom line is that I believe this in no way should be construed
- as discouraging people from getting the ROM upgrades since especially on the
- 1571 side the improvements are well worth it, and 99% or more of the available
- C-128 software functions perfectly with them.
-
- --Sparrow James
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 11 Mon Jun 08, 1987
- RA.86NAV [Richard] at 18:20 PDT
-
- Got a note from Chris Smeets yesterday. The problem with ARC128 appears to be
- with the BURST read routine (1571 manual p.109). Sometimes the following
- works and sometimes not:
- bit serial ;$0a1c - check drive speed
- bvc noburst ;fast serial not allowed He suggests changing the bvc to
- bpl. Says that might be the problem with other software too. He also says
- that he has used only the standard routines outlined in the 1571 manual.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 12 Tue Jun 09, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 01:22 EDT
-
- Hmm...I don't have a copy of ARC 128, so I can't speak for that problem but
- the two products mentioned above fail because of non-standard routines.
-
- ARC 128 users out there, please let me know what you find. I will forward
- this info to both users via Twin Cities 128, as well as Fred at CBM.
-
- --Sparrow James
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 13 Wed Jun 10, 1987
- GARYW at 01:54 CDT
-
- Well, ARC 128 is fixed and works just fine. It seems CBM did change some
- things that they SAID would work.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 14 Thu Jun 11, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 00:42 EDT
-
- Gary, or anybody privy to this ARC128 development, care to let me know what
- the problem and the fix was..I will relay it to Fred and Hedley in an effort
- to get the straight scoop.
-
- --Sparrow James
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 15 Fri Jun 12, 1987
- GARYW at 00:15 CDT
-
- Something to do with the fast serial flag. The code was 2C 1C 0A 50 and Chris
- changed it to 2C 1C 0A 10. He took the first part right from the 1571 manual
- routines on page 91, 92.
-
- I hope this helps.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 16 Wed Jul 01, 1987
- GARYW at 19:17 CDT
-
- I talked to Mike at SOGWAP today and he had some good news for me. He has
- installed the new ROMs I sent him and fixed BBR to work with them. It seems
- Commodore changed some things in the Banking of the Ram Expansin so when you
- used the REM, BBR would not work.
-
- So, the bottom line is... even when you do what Commodore says, there is no
- guarentee that software will work when they change the ROMs. And I was ready
- to yell at Mike for doing a No-No.
-
- Look for a patch to be posted here in the next couple of days to make BBR work
- with the new ROMs.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 17 Thu Jul 02, 1987
- J.FOLSOM [PRIDES XING] at 23:02 PDT
-
- I've found that Copy II 64/128 doesn't work with the new 1571 ROM either. I
- understand, though, that 128 Cannon does without problems. Since a fast whole-
- disk back-up copier is essential to maintaining a BBS, I'd appreciate hearing
- about any others that have been found to work.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 18 Sun Oct 04, 1987
- JDCLARK at 23:59 EDT
-
- It appears that Crosslink will not work with the new ROMs. Does anyone know
- whether Mr. Garamszeghy has a new version that will?
- JDCLARK
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 19 Mon Oct 05, 1987
- SPARROW.J at 02:28 EDT
-
- Hold on a sec JD... Let's not get the new upgrade ROMs confused with the new
- cost reduced versions of the 1571. THEY ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT. Crosslink
- does function with the upgrade ROMs (those you purchase from Commodore to fix
- the nasty bugs in your old 1571 & C-128). The jury is still out as to whether
- it functions with built in drive in the 128D and the soon to be available
- "cost reduced" 1571 units that do not have the WD 1770 controller. It is
- important that we don't mislead people into believing they should not get the
- 1571 upgrade ROM, because of what won't work with the cost-reduced versions of
- the 1571 that have only appeared so far as I know in the C-128D.
-
- --Sparrow James
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 20 Mon Oct 05, 1987
- J.ADAMS at 22:40 EDT
-
- Well fellow computerists, here's another one...
-
- SuperKit 1541 doesnt seem to like the roms when running in C64 mode. Sure
- looks like calls to *other* (read "floating") entry points inside the Kernal.
-
-
- I'm using the 1571 upgrade ROM only.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 21 Tue Oct 06, 1987
- JDCLARK at 23:43 EDT
-
- Sparrow, You're right. In my stand-alone 1571 I had the new ROMs
- (wouldn't have it any other way). However, with the new built in 1571 in the
- 128D, Crosslink seems to lock up when it trys to read the FAT of the MS-DOS
- format.
- JDCLARK
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 22 Wed Oct 14, 1987
- JDCLARK at 01:04 EDT
-
- Oops! Was wrong about Crosslink! When the MS-DOS disk has a lot of files on
- it the program says "Reading FAT...", the drive light goes out, and there is a
- long pause--it is easy to think that the program has locked up. Anyway, works
- fine!
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 23 Sat Feb 06, 1988
- F.FAGAN at 15:36 EST
-
- There is a patch for Fast Hackum which makes it compatible with the new 1571
- roms. It is currently in public domain on Q-link. I quit Q-link without
- downloading this patch. If anyone else has access to Q-link it would help me
- and others if you downloaded the patch and uploaded it here. Thanks.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 25 Sun Feb 07, 1988
- F.FAGAN at 18:22 EST
-
- F.Morris just sent me a sequential file that has the
- fix for Fast Hackum. He downloaded from Q-Link but was unable to get the self-
- running patch that is to be release on Q-Link shortly. C128 Toolkit Library,
- file #5546. Before it is available it must be reviewed and approved. To
- follow this tutorial you must be able to use a machine language monitor and
- sector editor. If you cann't then wait for the self-running patch to be
- uploaded to Genie. (I'm sure F.Morris or some other kind sole will get it and
- upload it). A special thanks to F.Morris for the trouble he went to in
- getting the file and sending it to me.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 26 Sun Feb 07, 1988
- F.FAGAN at 18:47 EST
-
- Sorry for my partially jumbled message. The jist of the message is there
- except that I uploaded the patch to the C128 Toolkit Library, File # 5546.
- This should be available after review/approval.
- ------------
- Category 14, Topic 9
- Message 27 Mon Feb 08, 1988
- F.FAGAN at 18:27 EST
-
- I've gotten a copy of the self-running patch and will upload it to the C128
- Toolkit Library today. It seems to work great. Its filename will be "fh auto
- patch". Use it only on a backup, just in case.
- ------------ =END=