[Coco] NitrOS-9 and TCC1014

[Mark Marlette]

Robert, 

The sparkles are REALLY present in test case a.

The point of crash is random. Once in 10 it will boot.

VERY strange. Again only the GIME changes and it works.

I will try a 6809 boot same test case tomorrow. Doubt there will be an issue.

I do recall the boot problem prior to .06.

Regards,

Mark

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Gault" <robert.gault at worldnet.att.net>
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 6:27:15 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Re: [Coco] NitrOS-9 and TCC1014

Mark Marlette wrote:
>
> I have seen something that I have never noticed before. Not sure I have ran across this test case in the past but it is VERY repeatable here at lab north.
>
> Test Case A:  CoCo3 512k with 6309 and TCC1014 ('86 GIME)
> Test Case B:  Same machine as above, just with a TCC1014A ('87 GIME)
>
> Both test cases are using the NitrOS-9 boot disk from the v03.02.06 and .08 6309 versions.
>
> Test Case A will lock up in the boot cycle somewhere 9 out of 10 times. Wild screen results.
>
> Test Case B: Boots fine 10 out of 10 times.
>
> Same machine, same disks, just a different GIME.
>
> This anomaly has taken my output to zero over the past few weeks. Not much free time and then tun into this. First thought, memory, processor, bad motherboard, etc. I have traced it down to the GIME and the different versions.
>
> Has anyone else seen this??? Or is this specfic to this motherboard and GIME version, timing, etc.....
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark
> Cloud-9
>
>

The only generic boot bug I've heard of was within the Boot module. Not 
sure when the anti-bug changes were made to boot but I'd think prior to 
3.02.06. These changes were regards the disk controller and unrelated to 
the GIME.
Far as I know, the differences between the two GIMEs were timing 
differences in graphics intended to remove the video sparklies. Hard to 
see how that would affect the boot process unless it is during the video 
setup portion of the boot.

It would really help to know where in the boot process the crash occurred.

--
Coco mailing list
Coco at maltedmedia.com
http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco