[Coco] CoCo-XT RTC ROM and disk

Dave Philipsen dave at davebiz.com
Sat Sep 1 22:31:34 EDT 2018


Spaghetti code is good sometimes! :)

Dave

> On Sep 1, 2018, at 6:47 PM, rietveld rietveld <rietveldh at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Maybe post a link to the Hex Editor for others on the LIST. It's a free editor and very easy to use.
> It's fun to open up radio Shack rom paks with it and look at the code. Some is written very tightly others look like spaghetti code
> 
> Sent from my BlackBerry
>  Original Message
> From: John Mautz
> Sent: Saturday, September 1, 2018 7:29 PM
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Reply To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCo-XT RTC ROM and disk
> 
> 
> One additional update.  I put the old 5M hard drive on the controller w/
> the updated 3.0 ROM and it does boot to OS9 HD.  So that is a good thing!!
> :)
> 
>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 7:21 PM John Mautz <ejmautz2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Rietveld,
>> 
>> I didn't get your email with the editor, but since you posted the name, I
>> was able to download it (maybe google ate it if were an exe file).  There
>> are 5 bytes on the XTROM30.bin file at the beginning that are not on the 23
>> ROM, so I nuked those saved as a test and burned a ROM.  I now get the boot
>> logo COCO3 XT-ROM VERSION 3.0 and it does tests the first 512K of memory in
>> my CoCo3.  So that is progress.
>> 
>> I'm not sure where the end of the program really is so I didn't try to
>> chop anything off the ROM bin file.
>> 
>> They put an Easter egg of the the game of Life so I can see some of that
>> test in the ROM file so at least to me it makes it hard to tell where the
>> end of the ROM is vs the junk.
>> 
>> Now with the splash screen and memory checker in place, there is at least
>> one difference...  On the 2.3 ROM if I turn the hard drive off, it check's
>> the floppy drive and then dumps to a READY prompt.  With the state of my
>> 3.0 ROM, it just sits there after the memory check.  So still more work to
>> do but things are better.  If someone knows this ROM magic, I'm willing to
>> share my 2.3 and edited 3.0 file.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> John.
>> 
>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 5:25 PM rietveld rietveld <rietveldh at hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I just sent neo to you. It's a small single. Exe.    Open one window with
>>> the old rom and a second neo window with the new rom.   Comapre the start
>>> and end of the two and delete and save as needed
>>> 
>>> Sent from my BlackBerry
>>>  Original Message
>>> From: rietveld rietveld
>>> Sent: Saturday, September 1, 2018 5:22 PM
>>> To: Jim McClanahan
>>> Reply To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCo-XT RTC ROM and disk
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Use the program HDD Hex Editor Neo for Windows
>>> I will email it to you right now
>>> 
>>> Basically use it to open your old rom
>>> 
>>> Now open the new rom(.bin) and compare the beginning. Just delete until
>>> you get to the same start as the known working one. That will remove the
>>> header. Now scroll to to the bottom of the new rom and compare it to the
>>> bottom of the known working one. Delete any values after the end of the
>>> original
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent from my BlackBerry
>>>  Original Message
>>> From: Jim McClanahan
>>> Sent: Saturday, September 1, 2018 5:06 PM
>>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>>> Reply To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCo-XT RTC ROM and disk
>>> 
>>> 
>>> You'll know the length of the header. (It won't be long--I'm not familiar
>>> with CoCo binaries, but maybe a load and an entry address at most.) Then
>>> you have to figure out how to remove them. I have read how to do it before
>>> but don't remember the details.
>>> 
>>> Good news is it is probably just sorting through a few steps and reburning
>>> the eprom.
>>> 
>>> Jim
>>> 
>>>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018, 4:54 PM John Mautz <ejmautz2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Ok, I'll have to spend some time looking.  When I find it, then what?
>>>> 
>>>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 3:16 PM Jim McClanahan <jim30109 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> The first two locations are an ASCII flag. On the working one you have
>>>>> "DK", but the nonworking one doesn't make sense.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I think think the point about having a header you need to pull out is
>>>> spot
>>>>> on. Peek a few more locations higher and you will likely find the "DK"
>>>>> again.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Jim
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018, 11:47 AM John Mautz <ejmautz2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Dave,
>>>>>> I have a Multi-Pack....  CoCo-XT is in slot 3.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> working v2.3
>>>>>>    PEEK(&HC000) = 68
>>>>>>    PEEK(&HC001) = 75
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Not working v3.0 - fresh burn
>>>>>>    PEEK(&HC000) = 171
>>>>>>    PEEK(&HC001) = 186
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>> John.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 11:32 AM Dave Philipsen <dave at davebiz.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Yeah, with the controller plugged in with the new ROM, what do you
>>>> get
>>>>>>> when you PEEK(&HC000) and PEEK(&HC001)?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Dave
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Sep 1, 2018, at 10:29 AM, Jim McClanahan <jim30109 at gmail.com
>>>> 
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Can you PEEK () the ROM from BASIC? That would tell you if the
>>> ROM
>>>>> was
>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>> the bus and what the contents are.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Not exactly sure what you are doing, so that may not be helpful.
>>>> But
>>>>> my
>>>>>>>> experience with EPROMs is that if they erase and I can
>>> successfully
>>>>>>> verify
>>>>>>>> the write, they work. In my homebrew systems it is usually a
>>> wiring
>>>>> or
>>>>>>>> timing problem when they don't.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> good luck,
>>>>>>>> Jim
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018, 11:21 AM John Mautz <ejmautz2 at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Ok, received my tube of 2764A chips.  I've tried twice (each
>>> with
>>>> a
>>>>>> new
>>>>>>>>> chip) and when I put it in my CoCo-XT card it does not
>>> recognize
>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> CoCo-XT.  It just boots to the normal CoCo3 screen.  When I put
>>>> the
>>>>>> old
>>>>>>>>> v2.3 ROM back it it boots fine so I didn't blow that part up.
>>>> Both
>>>>>>> chips
>>>>>>>>> passed verification, so that should be fine.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> I'm using a USBPrg GQ-4X programmer (mine is the 4x not the 4x4
>>>>> which
>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>> the current version -
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> http://www.mcumall.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4282
>>>>>>>>> ,
>>>>>>>>> only for reference to help me out not an advertisement, as
>>>> naturally
>>>>>> I'm
>>>>>>>>> having trouble).  When I open the XT-ROM30.Bin, I have a
>>> choice of
>>>>>> Read
>>>>>>>>> mode, Fill Mode and File offset. I just chose defaults, Read
>>> Mode
>>>> =
>>>>>>> Normal,
>>>>>>>>> Fill Mode = Normal, File Offset = 000000.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Before I start the trial and error process of burn, test, UV
>>>> erase,
>>>>>> does
>>>>>>>>> anyone have any guidance?
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>> John.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 10:35 PM John Mautz <
>>> ejmautz2 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Thank you all.  I'm just waiting on my EPROMS to arrive and I
>>> can
>>>>>> start
>>>>>>>>>> playing.  You help is much appreciated.
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 4:23 PM rietveld rietveld <
>>>>>>> rietveldh at hotmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> I actually have 3.1 or 3.01.    I can upload that if it's
>>> not in
>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> archive. As far as I know that was the final release.
>>>>> Unfortunately
>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>>>>>> think I have the manual for it but I definitely have the ROM
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message
>>>>>>>>>>> From: tonym
>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, August 27, 2018 4:14 PM
>>>>>>>>>>> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
>>>>>>>>>>> Reply To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCo-XT RTC ROM and disk
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Pretty sure I uploaded the 3.0 ROM, and manual, a few years
>>>> back.
>>>>>>> might
>>>>>>>>>>> be on "THE ftp" though...
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Tony
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> ---- Original Message ----
>>>>>>>>>>> From: "Grumpyx" <grumpyx at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: 8/26/2018 9:39:03 PM
>>>>>>>>>>> To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <
>>>>> coco at maltedmedia.com
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCo-XT RTC ROM and disk
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> The color computer archive has them:
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>> http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/search?q=burke&ww=0&cat=&cs=0
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> The XT-ROM zip file has several version including 3.0
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sat, Aug 25, 2018 at 6:55 PM John Mautz <
>>> ejmautz2 at gmail.com
>>>>> 
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> I picked up a CoCo-XT RTC a few months ago.  It works great
>>> as
>>>> it
>>>>>>> came
>>>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>>>>> what I was told is a 5MB HD.  My CoCo-XT has the Western
>>>> Digital
>>>>>>>>>>> 1002A-WX1
>>>>>>>>>>>> card int it.  When it boots it show the Burke & Burke ROM
>>>> version
>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>>>>> 2.3.  I don't see a version on the CoCo-XT RTC card (other
>>> than
>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> copyright 1988, though it could be on the back of the card).
>>>>>> I've
>>>>>>>>>>> doing
>>>>>>>>>>>> some searches for about a week now and I must be searching
>>> the
>>>>>> wrong
>>>>>>>>>>> way as
>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm not finding any hits.
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> This brings me to my 2 questions:
>>>>>>>>>>>> 1) Does anyone have a newer version of the ROM?  If so can
>>> you
>>>>>>>>> provide a
>>>>>>>>>>>> link or send it to me?  I have searched around and all I can
>>>> find
>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> manual for version 2.4 and a 2.5 supplement. - BTW: I'm
>>> willing
>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> read
>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>>> upload my version 2.3 ROM if someone wants it.
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 2) Has anyone see the disk imaged some place?  I've looked
>>> and
>>>> I
>>>>>> seen
>>>>>>>>>>> where
>>>>>>>>>>>> it used to be sold for $24.99 but no links to the actual
>>>>> software.
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> So other than completeness, why do I ask?  I was able to
>>> get a
>>>>>> Tandy
>>>>>>>>>>> 20MB
>>>>>>>>>>>> external hard drive.  The PS was dead so I replaced that and
>>>>> would
>>>>>>>>> like
>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>> use the Seagate ST-225 that came with it.  Therefore I need
>>> the
>>>>>> disk
>>>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>>>>> the utilities on it.
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>>>>> John.
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
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>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
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