<<<>>>› RAMTEST v. 1.1› by John Picken›› RAMTEST.COM and RAMTEST.DSK will be› found on the OL' HACKERS MAR/APR 1996› NEWSLETTER!›› (RAMTEST.DSK› I added this file for those who don't› use Sparta but do want a "boot" disk.› UnDISKCOMM it and you can boot RAMTEST› without waiting for DOS to load.› jkp)›› RAMTEST.COM - NOTE:›› This program will only work with XL/XE› computers and an XL must have 64k main› RAM. Extra memory can only be tested› if it is 130XE compatible. On large› upgrades (576k+), extra RAM is only› tested if the case-mounted BASIC› switch is off.›› A SMART RAMTEST!›› RAMTEST does not care whether BASIC is› on or an OSS cartridge is present--it› just turns either or both off› temporarily. Similarly, a custom› keyboard handler is temporarily› replaced and the TD display doesn't› matter. But, if you're using SpartaDOS› X, you must use X.COM to run RAMTEST› if you want to test main memory--try› it (harmlessly) without X and you'll› see what a bad RAM display looks› like.›› NON DESTRUCTIVE-WATCH OUT FOR 'RESET'›› The test is non-destructive so you can› run it anytime without harming RAM› content (main or extra), but if you› hit Reset during a test, all bets are› off and you can expect anything from a› crash to a trashed RAMdisk. Also, if› an OSS cartridge is present and on› when you run RAMTEST, Reset will cause› a reboot.›› THE REPORT›› When RAMTEST checks main memory, it› does not give you pretty colored› blocks to watch but it does give you a› useful report of RAM status and it› does check the OS RAM (which Atari› obviously thought was unimportant).›› IDENTIFIES & REPORTS ON UPGRADE, etc.›› When you run RAMTEST, it will tell you› what type of upgrade it has› identified. When testing memory, it› reports size and identification of the› bank being tested. Here are the three› types of lines you can see (one or the› other of the second pair depending on› upgrade size where "n" represents the› bank number from 0 to maximum of 3 on› a 1088XE):›› Testing 62k main RAM› Testing 256k bank: n› Testing 64k bank: n›› On completion of each bank, it gives› you a report as follows:› Bits 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0›› Any faulty bits will be indicated in› inverse video. Hopefully, this should› make tracking down a bad chip fairly› easy. Unfortunately for the program,› fortunately for me, I don't have a bad› chip to test it with. But, when I was› developing it, I initially forgot› about the cartridge and the test› correctly reported bad bits in all› main RAM chips as it still will with› SDX as noted above.› Testing main RAM or a 64k DRAM bank› takes two to three seconds and a 256k› DRAM bank, about nine so don't get too› impatient (I'm talking 36" with 1 meg› of extra RAM though you will get a› bank report every nine). Even though› it's slower, I left the screen on so› you know things haven't crashed in the› dark.›› FOR 256K XL's›› 256XL owners need to use both tests› because the 256k chips replace the› main RAM chips as opposed to› supplementing them as is done with the› XE. Using both will test all but the› 2k masked by the hardware chips and if› that's bad who cares?--there's› absolutely no way it can ever be› used.›› INPUT›› User input is via keyboard (Shift and› Control are ignored, use them or› don't) or a joystick in either port.› The exit option will take you to the› Atari self test if the program was› booted using a disk set up with› Sparta's BOOT command otherwise it› will take you to DOS.›› CAUTION:›› The program disables "Attract" mode,› so don't walk away and forget about it› with the TV or monitor on.›› HOW ABOUT SOME FEEDBACK?›› I hope you find RAMTEST useful and› would be most interested in any› feedback as to how well it pinpoints a› faulty chip.›› jkp› 12 April 95›› NOTE 2:› As input is optionally via joystick,› you should be able to use RAMTEST with› the computer opened up and the› keyboard removed.›› jkp› 10 Oct 95› JOHN K. PICKENS, GCACE, VICTORIA,› CANADA›› (((END)))