17 Mar
2005
17 Mar
'05
11:52 p.m.
On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:03:38 -0800 (PST)
"Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey at amd.com> wrote:
I used to have a Xerox 820 ages ago, and presently have a BigBoard that
I've yet never powered up. It should have a monitor ROM on it and will
power up to a monitor prompt that you can boot CP/M from.
Alternatively, you can run monitor commands and (I think) punch in your
own code from the keyboard. I have (I think, somewhere, haven't seen
them in quite awhile) a full set of prints and docs for my BigBoard. It
was originally used as a 'controller' in an industrial setting, so when
I got it, it didn't have the original monitor ROM in it, but I acquired
an image and burned one. But like I said, I've never powered mine up.
Someday it needs to have a drive, monitor, keyboard, etc. attached. I
believe, but again it's been years, that you can bring it up using a
keyboard and the onboard video controller, or from a console (serial
terminal) attached to one of the COM ports.
I'd be very happy for anybody who knows more about these systems to
correct me on any of the above. I haven't run a Xerox 820 since about
1987.
-Scott
From:
"Giuseppe Sarno" <gsarno at nortel.com>
Hi I own an Old Xerox 820 machine,
Can anyone help to find documentation for it ?
Also is there a way to download programs onto it using the
serial/parallel port ?
I have seen some info at
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctech/2002-September/002642.html
<http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctech/2002-September/002642.ht
ml> but I couldn't find more.
Thanks.
Hi
You didn't mention if you have a disk that boots and
has PIP under CP/M on it. If you do, you can transfer
information as ASCII like a BASIC source program or even
transfer .COM files by first converting them to .HEX
files and then using DDT on the 820 to move them
to .COM files.
If you are attempting to bootstrap with no disk, you'll
have to check with others. One may be able to do it
if it has a built in debug monitor.
Of course, on can always write some of ones own code
and replace one of the internal EPROMs. It is not
as impossible as it sounds. You just have to explore
a little.
Dwight