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- **********
- Topic 2 Thu Aug 21, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 16:33 EDT
- SUB: SFD Handling Tips & Tricks
-
- The SFD 1001, a 1 MEG IEEE drive, can be used on both the 64 and the 128
- with appropriate interfaces. Please share what you've learned about
- living happily ever after with yours here...!
- **********
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 1 Wed Aug 20, 1986
- M.RUANO [Mike] (Forwarded)
-
- Anyone have info on the address that the SFD uses to store BLOCKS FREE??
- Mike
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 2 Thu Aug 21, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] (Forwarded)
-
- After hours of plain old fashioned 'hunt-and-peek' I found it.
- Just INITIALIZE the drive
- PRINT#15,"m-r"chr$(157)chr$(67)chr$(3)
- get#15,b1$,dy$,b2$
- BA=asc(b1$+chr$(0))+asc(d2$+chr$(0))*245
-
- BA is BLOCKS AVAILABLE!
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 5 Tue Sep 09, 1986
- SALEWIT at 22:06 PDT
-
- I have no tips or tricks YET, but believe it or not, I'm STILL looking for
- that memory location! I've talked to
- many people. Nobody knows where or how to even go about finding it. The only
- luck I've had was a phone call to the
- tech at Progresive Peripherals in Colorado, and she says that the only written
- indication of disk RAM for the SFD is located in a file on DELPHI.
- Anybody that belongs to DELPHI, PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE HELP ME OUT! I'll pay
- access time if thats what it takes to get my eyes on this top secret file.
-
- Impatiently
- Sam Lewit
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 8 Wed Sep 10, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 16:35 EDT
-
- Sam....
-
- As you might imagine, I know every nook and cranny where we hide
- information over on Delphi....and there is *nothing* there ANYWHERE
- like this!!!
-
- Fiddlesticks, maybe we should get PP&S in here for a day to answer
- some questions?
-
- **
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 9 Wed Sep 10, 1986
- GBARRETT [VISION100] at 22:23 CDT
-
- Anybody ever checked any of the Butterfield files on the SFD? I haven't
- looked here, but I believe he had one on QuandryLink...a text file with
- locations, etc...and I THOUGHT I had it...but I'm packing to move and
- things are kinda disorganized right now!
- Will look there tonight...and report back.
- -GaryB
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 10 Thu Sep 11, 1986
- SALEWIT at 21:22 PDT
-
- Well fiddlesticks indeed! Gee, I wonder what happened to that file then? Thanks
- so much for those that have looked for me. I DO appreciate it!
- I'll have to call PS&P again to see what the heck is going on.
- I shudder the thought of having to call Skyles. I told you this Mike, but others
- might be humored by it too.
- This is an excerp from Skyles' 'manual' on the SFD changing the device number.
- He has a little chart explaining which jumpers to cut for each device #.
- But he failed to show the jumpers for devices 12 to 15 (which an SFD is capable
- of), but instead has a little note that says, and I quote:
- "The jumpers to cut for 12 to 15 are left as an exercise for the reader"
- What the heck is that? I don't want to take a tutorial on jumper cutting! An
- exercise. HA! The only way I take that is that HE (Bob Skyles) did not know
- himself!
- What a joke. Anyway, I'll get back to you all on what PS&P has to say about this
- mysterious and only file on the SFD.
- Thanks again!
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 11 Fri Sep 12, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 01:29 EDT
-
- The other set of traces to cut for the higher device numbers include
- the one right NEXT to the two he did tell you about. On a 1541 there
- was a pair of half moon thingies, on an SFD, there is a trio.
-
- But that is a humourous way to tell your folks how to ruin their
- drives, I'll admit...!
-
- **
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 12 Sun Dec 21, 1986
- JIM.MAC [* SysOp *] at 13:43 EST
-
- One thing I do that might save SFD owners some headaches, especially if
- they are using them on a BBS is check each disk's integrity after it has
- been formatted.
- I run a program that writes to every sector and if an error, (bad sector),
- is encountered it locks it out. This is done by writing to the BAM.
- Of course if you validated the disk you have to run the program again.
- Once the program has been run all write operations to the disk will
- bypass the bad sector(s).
- it. If I get enough requests I will polish this program up so is menu
- driven and upload it. -Jim
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 13 Sun Dec 21, 1986
- MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] at 21:43 EST
-
- In conjunction with Jim's idea, the use of a good-quality disk *does*
- make a difference on a finicky SFD. Maxells have never let me down.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 14 Mon Dec 22, 1986
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 03:08 EST
-
- ...and I use a High Density Diskette on my SFD for the BBS. We're talking
- 96 TPI, $35-40 per box. It only takes one trashed disk, and you'll KNOW
- the $4.00 per diskette is WORTH it! <<smile>>
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 15 Mon Dec 22, 1986
- KEVIN-S. [KeS] at 01:40 PST
-
- Gosh, deb, and I only paid $1.00 apiece for 96 tpi Dysans this
- weekend! (For an AT user) Guess it is all in that keen shopping eye!
- . KeS
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 16 Mon Dec 22, 1986
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 04:51 EST
-
- Well, smirk away, Kevin...As you know, tho, AT style disks are NOT normal
- diskies...
-
- <<As I watched a friend find out the hard way with his SFD!>>
-
- If you go out in search of 96 TPI disks, do NOT get the disks for the AT
- IBM computer!! Get what is called 'HD' 96 TPI. The AT style disks are not
- called 'HD', but 'Quad Density'. They have a stronger something technical
- sounding sZ{gnal required to format/read/write on them...and your SFD won't
- even begin to format! <<I forgot what you call the signal thingie that
- they made stronger just for AT's...>>
-
- Thanks for the reminder about posting *this* info Kevin! <1 dollar, indeed!>
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 17 Mon Dec 22, 1986
- KEVIN-S. [KeS] at 18:26 PST
-
- Oh, sorry, deb! Yes, but they had BOTH types available! Take
- your pick, mix and match boxes of ten... of course, I don't
- HAVE an SFD, so what am I smirking about!?
- KeS
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 18 Mon Dec 22, 1986
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 22:26 EST
-
- So, can ya get me any more of those disks at THAT price...? <<grin>>
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 19 Mon Dec 22, 1986
- GARYW at 22:29 CST
-
- Deb: I am going to bring you some disks. Ihave been using these on my Radio
- Shack TRS-80 model 3 which used Quad drives and I have never had any problems.
- Speaking of disks, don't you still owe me $14.00???
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 21 Tue Dec 23, 1986
- JIM.MAC [* SysOp *] at 00:43 EST
-
- The SFD's are indeed finicky about what disks you put in them. As Deb
- mentioned, if you are running a BBS as both she and I are with SFD's get
- yourself 'HD' disks. The $$ might hurt you at first, but does not compare
- to the headache you will have in time if you use 'cheapies'.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 22 Tue Dec 23, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 08:04 EST
-
- Jim-
- *I'd* LOVE that little utility! I've got an SFD that is a bit flakey
- at times and it won't deal with *some* tracks at all. I use the SFD as
- a drive for LIBRARY text files and never have users writing to it. That
- utility would sure help when setting up a new disk for the system (till
- I can find someone to FIX the little bugger!)
- \\GFX//
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 23 Wed Dec 24, 1986
- JIM.MAC [* SysOp *] at 01:21 EST
-
- GFX-
-
- I will polish up the program that reads checks each sector and locks out
- any bad ones it encounters. It is very handy. It is also fast when you
- consider that it has to read and write to 154 sectors.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 24 Sun Dec 28, 1986
- S.LEWIS at 22:08 MST
-
- Gee, I'm surprised nobody ever mentioned getting a "format speed error" on
- his/her SFD... what a common thing around here (and one, I might add, that
- has brought me a buck or two).
-
- Another common problem is the guy that goes in to change device numbers with
- a razor knife and hacks through a few too many traces. Drive will sit there
- and flash 4 or 5 times, stop, then repeat the flashing forever. Sound familiar?
-
- Steve
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 25 Mon Dec 29, 1986
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 17:50 EST
-
- Steve...hahaha, I knew someone that cut too many traces on *2* SFD's, and
- he had no idea what to do with them...decided they would cost too much to
- repair.
-
- So...what *do* you do with an SFD on which your scalpel has slipped?!
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 26 Mon Dec 29, 1986
- GARYW at 19:41 CST
-
- YOu bring it with you to CEs and I will fix it for FREE.
-
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 27 Mon Dec 29, 1986
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 21:36 EST
-
- Nonono, Gary, twasn't *mine*...*I* know how to cut traces *right*
- <<grin>>
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 28 Mon Dec 29, 1986
- S.LEWIS at 21:44 MST
-
- So how much would this guy like to sell em for? Leave me a *private*
- message, eh?
-
- For that matter... if *anybody* has an SFD or the GOOD OLD Quicksilver
- for the 64 that they'd like to part with, please leave me a line or two
- along with a price. If I'm not interested I can probably put you in
- touch with somebody who is.
-
- 8050's, 8250's, 9060's, and 9090 inquiries also welcome!
-
- By the way, anybody experience any 22 errors on their 9060 yet???
-
- Steve
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 29 Tue Dec 30, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 18:22 EST
-
- Steve-
- I haven't got the DOS manual handy, and don't recall what a 22 error is,
- but I've had the drive scramble the directory and BAM twice now. First
- time I attributed it to my learning the ins and outs of the D9090. It
- was no great loss, since I had current backups of the few files I had on
- it. The second time was a disaster! Close to 6 Meg on it and many items
- not backed up. I've looked at it with a sector editor and all the files
- are there, but several blocks of directory are duplicated and the track/
- sector path is scrambled in a few places. A couple of links are now
- recursive! ::ACK:: I've about given up on it (sigh).
- \\GFX//
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 30 Wed Dec 31, 1986
- S.LEWIS at 03:01 MST
-
- You didn't "collect" or validate it, did you? A nasy no-no for 9060 and
- 9090 drives! For the fun of it, before I reformat mine over the weekend
- I intend to do a collect on it and see how much damage it does *this time*
- (I did it to a different drive a couple of years back and the directory
- became as scrambled as all he**). If you want to part with it, please let
- me know.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 31 Thu Jan 01, 1987
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 16:35 EST
-
- Yep, validating did it both times (you'd think I'd learn from the FIRST time)!
- OK. So validating a 9060 & 9090 is a no-no....so what do you do with
- an open file?
- \\GFX//
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 32 Thu Jan 01, 1987
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 17:53 EST
-
- CLOSE it!
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 33 Fri Jan 02, 1987
- S.LEWIS at 00:45 MST
-
- Don't validate it!!! Rename it to something that will stay out of your
- way... like "SPLAT X" where X is a number or letter. You can then check on
- the demon's progress with a selective directory of SPLAT*... Not a good
- solution, but one that will keep everything in order.
-
- Steve
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 34 Fri Jan 02, 1987
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 03:22 EST
-
- Isn't there a quick trick to opening a SPLAT file and closing it back up?
- <<Thinking REAL hard>>
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 35 Sun Jan 04, 1987
- S.LEWIS at 19:10 MST
-
- I don't think so (or that information has never dribbled down to me thru
- local info, national net tricks or Butterfield magazine articles. There IS,
- however, a way to access the information in a splat file...
-
- OPEN8,8,8,"filename,p,m"
-
- Substitute the proper file type for the p and use M instead of R.
-
- I've never actually tried that to the end of a file, but as I recall you
- have to manually tell it when to stop as the pointers in the last block
- of the actual file are pointed at the expected next block or some such
- thing, and you'll keep on reading whatever that expected next block links
- to... I should try that tonight before I reformat the ol' 9090...
-
- Steve
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 36 Thu Jan 08, 1987
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 15:47 EST
-
- Are there any other "suprizes" waiting for me if I use any other of the
- common DOS commands with the 9090?
- \\GFX//
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 2
- Message 37 Sun Jan 11, 1987
- S.LEWIS at 23:25 MST
-
- Don't try putting a 128 autoboot sector on it! You'll wipe out an important
- pointer!
-
- Steve
-
-
-
- Topic 3 Sun May 18, 1986
- P.L.MADDEN (Forwarded)
- SUB: SFD-1001 Fast Backup
-
- Is there such a thing as a fast
- Backup program for a SDF-1001, a
- One Meg Drive for the C64?
- 5 message(s) total
- **********
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 3
- Message 1 Mon May 19, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] (Forwarded)
-
- Well, its not a 60 second special from Mike Henry, but there are programs
- that back them up...and as soon as I get it uploaded, Bill Brier recently
- made public the hints for speeding up the SFD.
-
- heck, maybe we _should_ call Mike Henry and ask him!!
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 3
- Message 2 Sat May 24, 1986
- P.L.MADDEN (Forwarded)
-
- Sounds good deb! Let me know when and
- where the info on speeding the SFD
- is when you get it up here...
- --Perry--
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 3
- Message 3 Sun May 25, 1986
- KARE (Forwarded)
-
- Perry, the info on speeding up the SFD is posted in the
- database catagory Information Exchange, file #967.
- Enjoy!!
- -kare-
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 3
- Message 5 Sun Jun 08, 1986
- HAUTZENROEDE (Forwarded)
-
- There is a fast filecopier for the SFD-1001. DI-SECTOR v3.0b supports the SFD
- and will copy all files.
- HAUTZENROEDER
- ----------
-
-
- Topic 5 Tue Jul 22, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] (Forwarded)
- SUB: New SFD-1001 Alignment disk due soon
-
- Cardinal Software is releasing a new utility to align your SFD!
- 17 message(s) total
- **********
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 1 Tue Jul 22, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] (Forwarded)
-
- The SFD Physical Exam will also include 8250 on the same disk and docs for
- both. They claim it will be as easy to use as the 1541 Physical Exam!
- Price will be $39.95 and will be released in late Aug. or Sept.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 2 Wed Jul 23, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] (Forwarded)
-
- HOORAY! Thanks for the good news, Mike!
- ((already 1 SFD that won't format a disk....))
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 3 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- B.DOHERTY [Bob] at 00:20 EDT
-
- Tonight I tried to format a disk on my SFD 1001 and no matter how I
- Attempted to do it I got a
- Error 75,FORMAT SPEED,1,00,0
- Could this be a simple alignment problem or something more serious?
- Also, how much should I expect to pay to have the SFD aligned?
- Thanks,
- Bob
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 4 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- SURVIVOR [S. Gutknecht] at 15:58 EDT
-
-
- If the problem is simply the speed... it is usualy easy to alter
- that yourself... ask DEB if she can help...
-
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 5 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 17:43 EDT
-
- DEB doesn't do hardware, remember...?!
-
- Bob, I have *2* drives that will not format. Yup, its due to alignment.
- Remember them 1541's that would go out of alignment and then format a disk
- just fine, except that the disk could not be read by any other drive???
-
- I believe that this speed check is a way of preventing this from happening.
-
- NOW...how to align it? I dunno. Does the disk drive self-check kit do
- this? Yea, I know its got a name, just forgot it!! Mike said they were
- about to release an SFD version.
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 6 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 19:11 EDT
-
- In talking with Cardinal, they tell me the utility will have lots of
- photographs,
- and utilities to make the job easier. It also includes a speed check and
- instructions on how to adjust it. I'll give 'em a call Tuesday and see if
- they have a release date yet.
- --GFX
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 7 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- B.DOHERTY [Bob] at 19:36 EDT
-
- Yes Deb the SFD performance test results in the same error message plus
- A system failing message.
- Well, if its got to be aligned, its got to be aligned!
- I've located a place locally with same day service. What more could I ask for?
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 8 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 21:29 EDT
-
- Gee, how much do they charge and do they do mail order??
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 9 Tue Sep 02, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 02:46 EDT
-
- Wow, with 2 drives out to lunch, I'm dying for a solution, too!!!
-
- They are reading and writing PERFECTLY tho...!!
-
- **
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 10 Tue Sep 02, 1986
- B.DOHERTY [Bob] at 02:47 EDT
-
- Naw Gary, ITis just a little hole in the wall...
- I doubt very much UPS could find them! (grin).
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 11 Wed Sep 03, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 13:26 EDT
-
- I talked with Cardinal Software, RE: the status of the SFD alignment disk.
- They say, "....manual is at the printers and they will have it ready to go
- in 2-3 weeks." They also said you can place orders with them. Phone and
- address is in this TOPic.
- --GFX
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 12 Wed Sep 03, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 17:57 EDT
-
- Mike....
-
- Wanna bet that the address/phone is in this topic...??? Also, did
- anyone mention price?
-
- Now...the real dumb question of the hour. Does this 'Physical Exam'
- work with more than 1 drive? How does it work? Do I have to take the
- drive apart or mess with something I don't know anything about??
-
- Remember, I couldn't tell a resistor from a capacitor, and I'm kinda
- surprised that I can spell them!!
-
- **
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 13 Sat Sep 06, 1986
- J.MACCRAW [Apprentice] at 10:05 CDT
-
- As I've said, I'm a Color64 BBS SysOp, running it on three SFDs and a '41
- (300/1200- 24 hrs). Over the course of almost a year, I've picked up a
- bit of 1001 "lore", and it's hard to sp separate the fact from myth...but
- there does seem to be a ghost or two in the machine. (And it seems that the
- older ones- like that big batch that Protecto moved- are the worst). At any
- rate, a goodly number of them fall prey to that loony format speed error. I'm
- no techie, and I can't tell you exactly what the problem is. What happened
- with me is that I found a local shop run by one guy who is a PET wizard. Once
- he alligns the beasts, and gets the speed set PROPERLY, they work fine with no
- problems. I think the best advice I could give you is to look around your area
- for a shop that works on PET stuff (assuming that there is no one advertising
- that they work on SFDS) the similarity is such that - if the tech is any good,
- he/she should have no real probs. HOWEVER- the guy that works on mine is
- highly reccomended, and if you can't fine anyone locally in your area and
- decide to ship- I would use this guy. His place is called ECS, is in
- Minneapolis, and is highly respected by local '41 owners for his work I on that
- drive. I can post the phone # and address, but LD information in area code 612
- will get it for you just as quickly. ECS. BTW- anybody else actually TRIED
- that SFD speedup from Transactor that I've been hearing about? Does it
- really work?
- peace. jm
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 14 Fri Oct 17, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 17:02 EDT
-
- Cardinal informs me they are SHIPPING!
-
- The SFD-1001 & 8250 Physical Exam is $39.95 and can be ordered from:
- Cardinal Software
- 14840 Build America
- Woodbridge, WV 22191
- 703-491-6494
-
- They have told me they will ship detailed info on it and I'll post as soon
- as it gets here.
- \\GFX//
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 15 Sun Dec 21, 1986
- JIM.MAC [* SysOp *] at 13:34 EST
-
- Jumping in on the format/speed issue this is what I have found...
- Running SFD's 24 hours a day on a BBS gives the drive the time to get
- mighty hot! Once the drives reach a certain temperature they will not
- format. If you dig out the error code you find that it is as mentioned
- a speed problem. I just turn the drive(s) off and let them cool down and
- in time they once again will oblige when you issue a format command.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 16 Tue Dec 23, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 08:06 EST
-
- hummm....mine did just that, and after the cooling off period, she would
- format fine.....for a while. Now she won't EVER format, tho it will
- read and write to my original disks just fine.
- \\GFX//
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 5
- Message 17 Tue Dec 23, 1986
- DEB [*SysOp*] at 11:15 EST
-
- Mike...it needs to be aligned. The SFD's alignment is VERY VERY critical
- and instead of formatting when its off, like the 1541 did, it just
- refuses to format. Considering the high density involved, I'd say
- that was a good idea!!
-
- *deb!*
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 1 Tue Feb 04, 1986
- B.DOHERTY (Forwarded)SUB: IEEE Quicksilver for the SFD
-
-
- Well, Skyles has announced a new interface for the 128 (IEEE) called the
- QuickSilver-128. I really would like to hear from ANY user who is familiar
- with it. Especially in regards to its performance With the SFD-1001.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 2 Tue Feb 04, 1986
- DEB [*Sysop* DEB] (Forwarded)
-
- It has not been shipped yet, Bob. I will be speaking with Bob Skyles
- next weekend in San Francisco and hope to be able to find out just exactly
- this same thing!!!
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 3 Thu Feb 13, 1986
- B.DOHERTY [Bob] (Forwarded)
-
- Well Deb!, How did we make out?
- Did you have a chance to talk with Robert Skyles
- about the new QuickSilver-128?
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 4 Fri Feb 14, 1986
- DEB [*Sysop* DEB] (Forwarded)
-
- The QuickSilver-128 is being shipped....!
-
- Right now, its certainly the most transparent IEEE for the 128....the
- E-link from Progressive Peripherals will not be nearly as transparent...
-
- **
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 5 Fri Apr 25, 1986
- MIKEM [Pax Regal] (Forwarded)
-
- Welp, here I am again using a term that cant change duplex easily <dont ask me
- why i use it!?>
- And, again I am responding to an old string here, but thats the story of my
- life <better late...etc>
- I run a Color/Graphix BBS <Color-64 by Greg Pfountz>, and have had the
- unfortunate pleasure of
- dealing with Skyles <sorry Bob!>. Hooked up to my BBS are three 1541's and an
- SFD-1001. Naturally with a setup such as this, a tre ansparent intertface is
- a MUST. Well, Upon I waited months for Skyles new IEEE-Flash to come out for
- the C-64, and when it did I almost screamed.
- The thing had such a terrible time reading sequential files it ridiculous.
- That, coupled with the fact that it isnt compatible with Skyles' 1541-Flash,
- prompted me to send IEEE back for a refund. I had other problems too numerous
- to mention, , , but that was the gist of it. I had borrowed the 128 version
- to try my luck with it hooked to the board, and still no better. I have heard
- many reasons for Skyles to do away with the old Quicksilver, but for the life
- of me cannot understand why one would discard an excellent product and replace
- it with with IEEE-Flash. I am now using E-LINK from Progressive Periph. and it
- is EXTREMELY transparent, both the 64 and the 128 have no problems at all. I
- can actually sleep nights now, knowing the BBS wont decide to crash on me.
- (The folks at Progree ssive have an excellent attitude about helping
- support....Thanx Jim!>
- Next time ill log on with a half duplex so i can read what I write...sheesh.
- Mike
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 6 Sat Apr 26, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] (Forwarded)
-
- Mike ....
-
- I understand there have been several revisions to the Quicksilver
- interface, and even the last one did not properly work under 64 mode on the
- 128. I am, however, surprised to find that the E Link from Progressive is
- this transparent!
-
- As a side note, Mike, if you forget to boot up your program at half duplex,
- you CAN get GEnie to go into full duplex! After you enter the HHH and get
- the U#= prompt:
-
- Press CTRL R and then enter your ID and password!
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 7 Wed Apr 30, 1986
- MIKEM [Pax Regal] (Forwarded)
-
- Ahhh! Thanx fror the CNTRL-R, deb! !
-
- From what I understand <and I have talked at length with Bob and others at
- Skyles> is that there is no longer a Quicksilver, per se.
- They are now using an IEEE-Flash, sans Bryce Nesbitt's genius. <I.E.: It is a
- Bobexclusively a Bob Skyles Production> <ugh>
- E-Link is <in its present state> marvelous, as is Progressive Peripherals
- service department.
- (All of this drivvel is my own personal opinion. Your mileage may vary)
- -Mike
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 8 Thu Dec 04, 1986
- FRANKIE.HLWD at 23:08 EST
-
- I have been using the 128 quicksilver for about 2 months now an I find it
- great!!
- I also connected a switch to go to and from the Rom chip that was required
- to replace when inserting the interface mainly because some programs require
- the original ROM chip that comes with the computer!!
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 7
- Message 9 Sat Dec 06, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 04:41 EST
-
- My SFD's and (2) QuickSilvers are still living happily ever after here
- at my desk...and I'm pleased as can be, even after this long. 64-mode
- does NOT give you the complete transparency that 128 mode does, but
- it works most of the time...
-
- *deb!*
- -----------
- Topic 22 Sun Aug 31, 1986
- SALEWIT at 20:49 PDT
- SUB: SFD-1001 Memory location
-
- I am looking for the memory location for the SFD-1001 to read the current
- track and sector. Can't seem to find any info on this.
- Can anybody help??
- 14 message(s) total
- **********
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 1 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- SALEWIT at 13:15 PDT
-
- OK, if nobody knows the answer, then how bout some ideas on WHERE or HOW I can
- get this info. Help! I'm desperate!
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 2 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 17:49 EDT
-
- Sam....
-
- Are you trying to locate the code to EXECUTE a read from a specific block
- or are you trying to find out how to tell from a MEMORY READ where the
- drive is located at at the moment??
-
- ....and what are you doing with it? Perhaps there is another way to
- approach the problem?
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 3 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- SALEWIT at 16:15 PDT
-
- Yes Deb, I need to do a MEMORY READ (m-r) to find out what track and sector the
- disk is on.
- I'm currently running a BBS that has file descriptions in it, with the NUMBER OF
- ACCESSES in the file.
- Well until recently all I had were 1541's, and I did a m-r to find the T & S,
- then did a u1 to increment and u2 to write it back. Very fast,
- and eliminates the need to read in the seq description them n write it back with
- the new access number.
- I'm kinda convinced that this is the only way ta go right now. It'S been working
- so well with the 1541's, that I'd hate to devise a new system
- of course unless it's better!
- Thanks a bunch!
- P.S. Meanwhile, that line of code in my BBS is STILL doing it with the SFD, and
- lord p only knows WHAT it's doing, so that's why I'm so eager to find this
- answer as quick as possible.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 4 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 19:22 EDT
-
- There is a book available from THE TRANSACTOR (also at many local bookstores)
- called "The Complete Commodore Inner Space Anthology". Not only does it contain
- a heap of memory location descriptions on the entire line of CBM computers, it
- also has a list of important memory locations for the 8250 (which uses the same
- DOS as the SFD). After my trials in finding the Blocks Free loactions, I ran
- across the book and sure enough, there it was in black & white!
-
- TRANSACTOR
- 277 Linwood Ave
- Buffalo, NY 14209-9990
- 416-878-8438 (dunno if this is for orders tho)
-
- Price $14.95 US dollars
-
- --GFX
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 5 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- SALEWIT at 20:19 PDT
-
- GFX- Do you happen to have that book? I don't mean to sound cheap, but I doubt
- I'll ever need anything else again after finding this location.
- Thanks!
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 6 Mon Sep 01, 1986
- MIKEM [Pax Regal] at 20:47 PDT
-
- Sam: I have the Transactor manual Mike spoke about also. It does
- not contain any more information than does the SEQ file I upped to
- your board. Like Mike said, its actually half of a 8250, and the
- info in the book duplicates that of the file you have. However,
- thsi manual does have complete memory maps of the 4040, 1541, and
- *8050* disk drives. I'm not at all familiar with the 8050, but if
- its similar to the 8250, then this map should have what you need.
- -Mike
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 7 Tue Sep 02, 1986
- GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper] at 00:38 EDT
-
- Hummm....version I saw had 8250 loacations too. Maybe there is a revised
- edition?
-
- Anyway, no, I don't have the book. I browsed at a local software store. I'd
- love to be able to find a truly complete refrence for DOS 2.7 and DOS 3.0.
- But sadly, these are still farily rare.
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 8 Tue Sep 02, 1986
- DEB [*deb!*] at 02:50 EDT
-
- the 8050 does _not_ use DOS 2.7, tho, which is what the SFD uses.
- The double-sided SFD and 8250 would require additional coding and
- overhead...especially for the T & S pointers....
-
- *deb!*
- ----------
- Category 11, Topic 22
- Message 13 Thu Sep 04, 1986
- SALEWIT at 02:10 PDT
-
- OK, so if nobody could help me with this one, how about the start of RAM in
- these tings?
- Anyone know where that might be?
- Looks like I( 'll have to make a disk monitor, and just poke around till I
- find two numbers than t match the heAd
- position I'm at.
-
- hanks
- (Darned delete....how do you fix that anyway?!?!)