kai@uicsrd.csrd.uiuc.edu (09/19/87)
> Dave Oberhart (FFDDO@ALASKA.BITNET) writes: > > I purchased my RamFactor from AE in mid 86, for my IIE. I also got a > RamCharger soon thereafter. > > It is in fact possible to cold boot with that configuration. You have an Enhanced IIe, correct? Lucky You! > Unfortunately, the docs that come with the hardware are not > very descriptive as to how to go about it. On page 12 of the RamFactor User Manual in the middle of the page, is where it mentions that you place the RamFactor in slot 7 of an Enhanced IIe to make it boot with control-open apple-reset, and cold boot if you have the ramcharger. I agree that the docs are pretty useless when you want to find something in particular. You practically have to read the whole thing front to back again. > My Apple comes up running in less than three seconds. That's the way it was > with my IIE, and the way it is with my IIGS. I can have my Franklin Ace boot DOS 3.3 or PRODOS in the same time. It's simply annoying to have to listen to "whirrrrrrr, clack, clack, ..." everytime I power on, until I press reset and enter "pr#7<return><return>". I not only wish they put in a track zero sensor, but a door closed sensor as well! > It is unfortunate that you are having difficulties, and I am not completely > sure that the problems were machine based, but for what it's worth, > good luck. Thank you! I'm not sure luck is what I need at this point. I am satisfied if I have alerted some members of the Apple-family to the way Applied Engineering sometimes works BEFORE they spent the bucks. All in all, I am happier with the Ram Factor than I was without it. All I really wanted was to boot Ascii Express quickly and make it run faster. It now takes 6 seconds to load DOS 3.3 Ascii Express (the PRODOS version is in the mail, I've been assured), and about 1 second to switch to the line editor. Capture buffers saves are instantaneous. (AEPRO users, don't forget the "hard disk" option in install! It eliminates some of the waiting before disk accesses, while the floppy drive motor is starting up). Oh yes, a new chapter for PCPI CP/M users. If you want to know if your PCPI CP/M is a current enough release to support AE's PCPI RAMdisk software, put in your CP/M utilities diskette, and start up INSTALL. If the "APL 16*35 FLPPY" driver line shows up, you will be able to use their software. If (like me) that line does not show up, you have to make yet another unexpected software purchase, a more recent revision of your PCPI CP/M software. I know it isn't Applied Engineerings fault that my software is old. I just wish I had a phone number of PCPI or a recent phone number of Franklin (after the re-organization) so I could see if such an animal exists, and what it's going to run me now. AE's docs say about $40, but I don't take them at their word anymore. And before you type "m" and begin that flame, remember... old software only means I was making use of it before your machine was designed! Patrick Wolfe Internet: pwolfe@kai.com UUCP: ...!{uunet,ihnp4}!uiucuxc!kailand!pwolfe The opinions expressed here are my own, NOT my employers.