[comp.sys.atari.st] System 7 on the GCR

root@gbs.UUCP (Root) (06/08/91)

We've tested (and tested, and tested) the final release Sys 7
on the GCR, and nope, it doesn't work yet. I wouldn't sweat
this one too hard; I can recall both systems 6.0.3 and 6.0.5
needing a helping crutch to get them going, too. The problem
*seems* straightforward and we're working on it, but you never
know if you've got ALL the problems fixed until it runs.

	I certainly found the following code fragment creative:

	move.l (a7)+,$fffffffe

	Near as I can tell, someone wanted the low word off the
current stack long into locations 0 and 1. 

	nice.

	(And yes, I know how many things that breaks...)

	Anywho. Back to the salt mines, and I'll let you know when
we have it functioning.

	Incidentally, we're seeing reports of some TT's not running
with GCR. Move the GCR to another TT, it runs. One known problem is
putting a monitor on top of the TT; the monitor generates enough interference
in the internal floppy to damp out the disk signal. Solution: move
monitor backwards. Another problem we are hearing reports of, but have
not gotten into the lab yet, is GCR's having cartridge port troubles.
We have no idea what that is (low +5 at cart? Timing changes? You got me...)
but are trying to find a non-working GCR/TT to look at and find out.

	If you're curious, the plan at the moment is to add LAN and
internal SCSI drive support to the TT; hopefully this will superset to
generic SCSI support for the TT, so about any Mac SCSI peripheral will
plug in (if you follow the termination rules -- I wonder what Atari did.
Good question, that -- you know, Allan?) However, SST is getting
priority at the moment. We also hope to support LAN (Appletalk/Localtalk,(tm))
on the MegaSTE.

	MegaTalk had a production run of PC boards without plated feedthrus.
100% rejects. That slowed things down. SST h/w is done and we're in the
thousand-and-one details of ramping up production; I'm wrapping up some
interesting compatibility software for it, so lots of things that normally
break on 68030's will work.

	Anywho, back to the salt mines. (And I hope this post makes it
out; getting this link working through two quirky machines is... interesting.)

	-- thanks, Dave Small

	Diaper-Changer, Gadgets by Small

	"I haven't thought up a witty saying yet."