fred@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Fred Bowen) (01/19/87)
Well, after a couple of weeks vacation, CES, a clogged net news system,
and nearly a month's worth of USmail, email, FAXes, and the like, I am
finally getting around to responding to net news. Sorry if the delay put
anyone out.
First a little update on the status of the various ROM updates. The C128
ROMs were expected before now, but I just found out that good ol' MOS Tech.
farmed them out, and I have yet to see parts. A problem was found with the
1571 update. The fix involving the SO flag caused a problem with a routine
that willy-nilly expected SO to be enabled, resulting in system hangs during
partial MFM formatting. Since I know you all cannot cope without partial
MFM formatting capability, I stopped the ROM, fixed the problem, and will be
releasing it again as part #310654-05 after a few days of testing. Cross
your fingers, please.
I should be seeing samples of the 1541 update any time now. For those of you
wondering how to tell if it applies to you, try this program:
10 OPEN 8,8,15
20 PRINT#8,"M-R";CHR$(0);CHR$(192);CHR$(2): GET#8,A$,B$
30 PRINT#8,"M-R";CHR$(47);CHR$(255);CHR$(1): GET#8,C$
40 CLOSE 8
50 A=ASC(A$+CHR$(0)):B=ASC(B$+CHR$(0)):C=ASC(C$+CHR$(0))
60 IF A <> 151 THEN PRINT "NOT A 1541": END
70 IF C <> 169 THEN PRINT "NOT A 1541B/C": END
80 IF B = 170 THEN PRINT "NEEDS THIS UPDATE": END
90 IF B = 70 THEN PRINT "ALREADY UPDATED": END
100 PRINT "LOOKS AND SMELLS LIKE A 1541, BUT HAS"
110 PRINT "A STRANGE ROM. INVESTIGATE FURTHER."
I will concoct a similar program for the 1571, but it would be kind of
silly now, since everyone needs it and no one has it!
In case you were wondering- the RAM expanders should be shipping any day now,
the 1581 3.5" drive later this quarter, and there's serious talk of a 128D
for the US market also this quarter. All were shown at CES.
And just to let everyone know, I have every machine known to CBM crammed in
my area here at work, but at home I have given my c64 system to the kids
(3,5, and 8 yrs) to make room for the 128D and Amiga, both of which I am
usually to tired to do anything with by the time I get home. Much more fun
playing with the lawn mower, weed wacker, radial-arm saw, Sears shop vac,
waffle iron, garage door opener, and oh yes, the wife and kids. Simply too
many toys and not enuf time.
Catch you all later.
--
Fred Bowen uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|caip}!cbmvax!fred
arpa: cbmvax!fred@seismo.css.GOV
tele: 215 431-9100
Commodore Electronics, Ltd., 1200 Wilson Drive, West Chester, PA, 19380