30 May
1997
30 May
'97
1:12 a.m.
Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep deprivation, A.R. Duell said:
> Interesting. How are the drives interfaced to the
CoCos? I've got a
> CoCo1, CoCo2, and CoCo3, but I've never found a disk drive for these
> machines.
You need a disk interface cartridge. It fits into the
ROMpack slot, and
it contains a ROM containing the disk extenstions to BASIC and the disk
controller (WD1773 in later models, WD1793? in earlier ones). The disk
drive plugs into a 34 pin connector on the end of the cartridge
Late version disk interfaces (FD500 and later) work in all CoCo's. Early
interfaces need a 12V line (I forget if it's +ve or -ve) that's only
available on the CoCo1. Of course there's nothing to stop you hacking it.
Uhhhh, yea, what he said. I forgot to mention the disk interface cartridge
in my last post... I have a few Disto mini-controllers (MC-1's) sans case
if you're interested... I think I have a PD dos available as well, as the
DOS chip (on ROM) is no longer available from RS.
> Heh. I couldn't even get mine apart, because
of the two six-pointed
> screws on the bottom. The screws have a lump in the middle so I can't use
> a flat-blade screwdriver as I did when I had a similar problem opening my
> Mac 512K.
Tamperproof TORX screws. Drivers for them are available
from good tool
shops in the UK - I have a reasonably complete set to deal with such
things...
Boy... y'all got everything over there, don't you? I've *never* seen a
T-proof Torx screwdriver on this side of the pond... therefore I just
tampered the tamperproofs to get in.
HTH,
"Merch"
--
Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should
zmerch(a)northernway.net | *not* be your first career choice.