[comp.sys.zenith.z100] More questions from the new kid on the block.

secrist@msdsws.enet.dec.com ("Murphy's beta test site.") (02/21/90)

Thanks to all !

What do people like for cheap ways to hard disk.  I was thinking something
like a generic S-100 controller and 10mb...

	;From:	"K. M. Hoaglund 482-4614" 20-FEB-1990 09:19:13.80
	;
	;1) To format 360K:   format/9 a:

Great !  Is there a way to get DISKCOPY to dupe 360Kb diskettes
as well ?  (Like I said, no real docs...)

Would it make my life easier if I looked into upgrading from
MS-DOS V2.21 and get some real doc, or can I pretty much fake
it with bookstore stuff ?  Is there a way I can disassemble
COMMAND.COM or something to find out what other switches I'm
missing ?

	;2) To run PC software:   buy "ZPC" from the Heath User's Group

Where can I get in touch with HUG ?  Does ZPC require a minimum DOS
or monitor ROM version ?  Does it have a minimum RAM requirement ?

	;3) To upgrade memory:   buy the 768K RAM upgrade kit from...

What is best -- going S-100 or hacking on the motherboard ?  Does it
really make any difference ?

- - -

	;From:	"Gern" 20-FEB-1990 10:22:13.23
	;
	;	...
	;What is the part number of your motherboard ?  85-xxxx-x, it...

Thanks, I'll check into it.  Outside of munging the hardware, is this
significant ?

	;"Gen", what's that (-:    Seriously, if you have a fancy card in
	;the S-100 either you can load a device driver with CONFIG.SYS for
	;it, run a TSR from AUTOEXEC.BAT to deal with it, or just let the
	;application program drive it directly.

Where can I find a memory map for this beast so I know where the cards
get put ?  Is there a good article or doc on this someplace ?

	;Heath Users Group (HUG) has monthly REMark magazines, and Z-100
	;Lifeline is a VERY nice all Z-100 journal that is bi-monthly.

Thanks for the tip.  Once I find where HUG is that's something else I
need to check into.  How active is the Z100 community ?

	;The Scottie Board thing (I have schematics if you like to wire wrap to
	;save yourself ~$200) is used with HUG's ZPC V2 software that does a
	;nice job of PC CGA emulation.   ZPC alone (HUG ~$40.00) without the
	;hardware support works a lot of the time.

I suppose with such a plethora of PC video specs I never stopped to think
which one was the base protocol -- is that CGA ?  The ZPC stuff sounds like
just the cure for me -- I'm just a hacker not a PC bigot (hey, S-100, CP/M,
and MS-DOS all in one box is a machine after my own heart !).

I like to wire-wrap fine, and if it's not a five-year project and won't
frob the motherboard too badly the Scottie sounds interesting -- but I'll
check into ZPC of course to see if that buys me enough.

- - -

Thanks to all -- here's to a long, happy relationship with my HZ100 and
this list !

rcs