14 Jul
1997
14 Jul
'97
5:29 p.m.
From: "Zane H. Healy"
<healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Some Commie questions
My main question is on the C= 128, along with all the
other stuff I picked
up, I got a Commodore 1702 monitor
(good composite/Split Composite monitor,
ususally JVC or Toshiba Guts)
and a couple 1541 drives. I've got the
drive attached, and the monitor hooked up via a RF cable (I guess that's
what it's called)
through the front connection (This works for the Amiga
500 I also got yesterday).
The jack on the front is RF output.
Anyway, I power the thing on, it "buzzes"
the drive like it's expecting to find something,
and I don't get anything on the display.
When a 128 boots up it will attempt to 'boot' whatever disk is in the
drive. A boot disk isn't necessary unless you want to use the CP/M mode
of the 128.
To boot the 128 into 64 mode hold down the Commodore ket as you turn it
on, release and you will be rewarded with a 64 bluescreen. Otherwise it
will boot into 128 mode, either 40 or 80 columns depending how you have
the 'columns' key locked.
I remember that the C64's like the VIC-20 would
drop you at the prompt even
if you had nothing attached, and didn't need any kind of boot floppies. Do
I need some kind of boot disk for this beast?
Only for CP/M.. It's a good version too!
I gather a CGA monitor will work, so I guess I should
dig out one of the
old Mono-CGA monitors I've got in storage.
Only in 80 column mode, the 128 has an RGBI port for that. If you have
no color RGBI monitors you can always fasion a composite monochome cable
by connecting to pin 7 (monochrome) and pin 1 or 2 (ground) to an RCA
plug, that pin was designed for monochome composite output.
The best (low cost) configuration is to have the 128 hooked up to the
1702, with the 40 column split/composite & audio plugged into the back
and the monochrome 80 columns in the front. The quality of video using
a proper (split composite) video cable in the back of the 1702 is
excellent, I highly recommend it!
The next question would be, is it worth trying to
repair a C64's power
supply?
No. Unless you like chipping away Epoxy resin.
I got two of them yesterday, both powersupplies are
dead. It
looks like the 5V line is shorted to ground. I did get a copy of the Old &
New style users manuals, and a copy of "Troubleshooting and Repairing your
Commodore 64" yesterday (I love Powells Technical Books!) so I've got some
documentation. It's been too many years since I worked as an Electrician,
so my skill level is pretty low (wasn't very high to begin with, which is
why I switched to computers).
Then there is the Amiga 500. About a month ago,
I'd picked up a copy of
"Bards Tale" for the Amiga, so I know it works. Problem is I don't have a
copy of the two floppies that came with the computer originally (also got
the manual for this at Powells). I think I've got the Kickstart 1.2 ROMs
(it has a 1.2 on the screen when asking for the Workbench disk).
That is Kickstart 1.2 allright. Kickstart 1.3 or later would be better
because they have hard drive autoboot coding and 2.0+ is more compatible
with recent Amiga software.
I have the 1.2 Workbench and Extras Disk around here somewhere... :)
Where can
I get the disks? I don't suppose it's like the Apple IIgs software that
you can now download.
The hard part would be getting it on the right format of floppy...
The second Amiga question would be, is it possible to
hook up Apple IIgs,
or Macintosh 3 1/2" external floppy drive with a Amiga? I somehow doubt
it, but...
Yes and no... Yes, there are plans for hooking up Macintosh 3.5" floppy
drives to the Amiga, BUT, they are used only for the Macintosh Emulators
for the Amiga (BTW the Amiga 500 can run a Mac Plus Emulator at just
about speed.)
Thanks,
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems
Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Mac Programmer |
--
Recap, I have the Amiga Disks and also have a split-composite cable to
hook the 128 to the 1701 (for the best 40 column output).
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