9 Mar
2008
9 Mar
'08
4:50 p.m.
I have an Atari 800xl and a couple of 1050 disk drives. I also have
two copies of the M.U.L.E. game on disk. Unfortunately, I can't get
either to boot on the 800xl. I suspect that these are older games that
were written for the 400/800 and may need the "translator disk" that
allowed the 800xl to run games written for the older machines. Does
anyone know where I could obtain a copy of this translator disk?
Thanks!
David Betz
9 Mar
9 Mar
9 p.m.
David do you have an SIO2PC interface??? If so, I can send you a
Translator disk image and you can transfer it to a diskette on your XL
system.
Curt
David Betz wrote:
I have an Atari 800xl and a couple of 1050 disk
drives. I also have
two copies of the M.U.L.E. game on disk. Unfortunately, I can't get
either to boot on the 800xl. I suspect that these are older games that
were written for the 400/800 and may need the "translator disk" that
allowed the 800xl to run games written for the older machines. Does
anyone know where I could obtain a copy of this translator disk?
Thanks!
David Betz
10 Mar
10 Mar
6:24 a.m.
Well, I *do* have an SIO2PC interface. However, I've never actually
tried it! I guess this might be a good opportunity to do that. So,
please send me the Translator disk image.
Thanks!
David
On Mar 10, 2008, at 12:00 AM, Curt @ Atari Museum wrote:
David do you have an SIO2PC interface??? If so, I can
send you a
Translator disk image and you can transfer it to a diskette on your
XL system.
Curt
David Betz wrote:
> I have an Atari 800xl and a couple of 1050 disk drives. I also have
> two copies of the M.U.L.E. game on disk. Unfortunately, I can't get
> either to boot on the 800xl. I suspect that these are older games
> that were written for the 400/800 and may need the "translator
> disk" that allowed the 800xl to run games written for the older
> machines. Does anyone know where I could obtain a copy of this
> translator disk?
>
> Thanks!
> David Betz
>
22 Apr
22 Apr
2 p.m.
New subject: Rescued a Tandy System II
Just rescued a Tandy System II, its a Tandy badged version of the TRS-80
Model II it looks like. Anyone familiar with this version? I had heard
there were some Tandy branded models of the TRS-80's, but had never ran
across one in person before.
The front badge says:
Tandy 2
Microcomputer System
Also accompanied with a TRS-80 Disk System II, with two of the three
available 8" drives installed.
I left the lineprinter, just didn't have a use for it to try and get it
running again. And truthfully, this lot was heavy enough as it is -
christ, I thought my IMSAI 8080 and drives unit were heavy. ;)
It was sitting in this guy's attic since 1981, so it needs a thorough
cleaning. Got the whole setup for $50.
Anyone have any system disks to spare (or copy) in case everything powers
up ok after cleaning it?
Marty
2:24 p.m.
New subject: Rescued a Tandy System II
On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 4:00 PM, Martin Scott Goldberg
<wgungfu at csd.uwm.edu> wrote:
Just rescued a Tandy System II, its a Tandy badged
version of the TRS-80
Model II it looks like. Anyone familiar with this version? I had heard
there were some Tandy branded models of the TRS-80's, but had never ran
across one in person before.
Put up some pics if you can! I've wanted a Model II forever, if for
nothing else that it has 8" drives and to see it run Xenix :) I have
never heard of a Tandy badged system. Seems kind of redundant given
that RS=Tandy, although at that time maybe the brands were more
separate. Surely a TRS fan can tell us more.
j
2:58 p.m.
New subject: Rescued a Tandy System II
On Tue, 22 Apr 2008, Jason T wrote:
Put up some pics if you can! I've wanted a Model
II forever, if for
nothing else that it has 8" drives and to see it run Xenix :)
A stock TRS-80 Model II is a single processor (Z80A) system, and
doesn't run Xenix. In order to run Xenix, you had to install an option
(26-6010) which added a 68000 CPU and additional memory.
Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us
Old Technology http://sturgeon.css.psu.edu/~mloewen/Oldtech/
4:15 p.m.
New subject: Rescued a Tandy System II
Jason T wrote:
Put up some pics if you can! I've wanted a Model
II forever, if for
nothing else that it has 8" drives and to see it run Xenix :)
For Xenix you need a Model 16 or 6000, since Xenix runs on an MC68000
processor that is not present in the Model 2 or 12. The Model 2 could
be upgraded, though. Not sure about the 12; it was a cost-reduced 2,
and an upgrade would probably require completely replacing the power
supply and card cage.
4:42 p.m.
New subject: Rescued a Tandy System II
Jason T wrote:
Not sure of the internals yet, its definetly been opened already though.
The "only service at Radio Shack" tag it split.
Right now, I'm busy soaking the Model 2 dust cover that came with it.
Gross oily substance all over it, but it was over the unit all these
years, so it did its job. ;)
Marty
Put up some pics if you can! I've wanted a
Model II forever, if for
nothing else that it has 8" drives and to see it run Xenix :)
For Xenix you need a Model 16 or 6000, since Xenix runs on an MC68000
processor that is not present in the Model 2 or 12. The Model 2 could
be upgraded, though. Not sure about the 12; it was a cost-reduced 2,
and an upgrade would probably require completely replacing the power
supply and card cage.
23 Apr
23 Apr
5:23 a.m.
New subject: Rescued a Tandy System II
--- Martin Scott Goldberg <wgungfu at csd.uwm.edu> wrote:
Right now, I'm busy soaking the Model 2 dust
cover
that came with it.
Gross oily substance all over it, but it was over
the unit all these
years, so it did its job. ;)
I've found the same thing with some of those TRS-80
dust covers, I had one that came with a Model 3 that
was all oily and gooey. As far as I can tell, it
didn't accumulate that gunk, it created it! I find the
same kind of gunk on old plastic covered wiring in TV
sets. I think it has something to do with the
plasticiser leeching out of the plastic. The only
thing that I have been able to find that will remove
it is tetrachloroethylene (better known as brake parts
cleaner). Dunno what it will do to a dust cover, but
it cleans the goo of old wire in TV's...
-Ian
11:30 p.m.
New subject: Rescued a Tandy System II
Put up some pics if you can! I've wanted a Model
II forever, if for
nothing else that it has 8" drives and to see it run Xenix :) I have
never heard of a Tandy badged system. Seems kind of redundant given
that RS=Tandy, although at that time maybe the brands were more
separate. Surely a TRS fan can tell us more.
j
Working with some collectors who specialize in Radio Shack/Tandy to fully
identify the variation. What I was explained so far (with regards to the
Tandy name on it) is that when Tandy built custom models for schools and
businesses in these early TRS-80 models, they used the Tandy badge
instead.
Here's some pics. If anyone puts any up on their site, please give credit
to myself or E2M (Electronic Entertainment Museum).
http://gamingmuseum.classicgaming.gamespy.com/Tandy2/
Marty
18 Apr
18 Apr
3:23 a.m.
Can you help me. I have just sorted out my loft and found my 800xl console with loads of
games (on diskette) and a rather sad 1050 diskette drive. I have got dos diskettes and
also translators and emulators. Unfortunately after 25+ years I cannot remember how to
load things properly. I have some notes as to when a program needs translator but not
sure the order to load up. I have multiple games on the diskettes which a friend gave
me!!!
So when exactly do I load the translator diskette ? is it right at start up and before dos
(some diskettes have a subset of dos on in any case) . It is so long ago. I have
searched on the internet and not found much luck.
thanks in advance.
A Howard
5:39 a.m.
--- On Mon, 4/18/11, Anne Howard <ahow at live.co.uk> wrote:
From: Anne Howard <ahow at live.co.uk>
Subject: Atari 800xl "translator disk"?
To: cctech at classiccmp.org
Date: Monday, April 18, 2011, 6:23 AM
Can you help me. I have just
sorted out my loft and found my 800xl console with
loads of games (on diskette) and a rather sad 1050 diskette
drive. I have got dos diskettes and also translators
and emulators. Unfortunately after 25+ years I cannot
remember how to load things properly. I have some
notes as to when a program needs translator but not sure the
order to load up. I have multiple games on the
diskettes which a friend gave me!!!
So when exactly do I load the translator diskette ? is it
right at start up and before dos (some diskettes have a
subset of dos on in any case) . It is so long
ago. I have searched on the internet and not found
much luck.
You boot the translator disk, and then the translator comes up with a screen prompting you
to insert the disk to boot.
You generally do not boot a DOS disk unless you're working with files - games and such
all autoboot.
-Ian
7:43 a.m.
Yiou only will need the Translator for those games/applications that
were specifically mapped to use illegal OS calls in the Atari 800, even
Atari itself did this. What the Translator essentially does is layer
itself over the XL OS with the older 800OS making it compatible with
certain games/apps that could only run on the original 800. So try
your games/apps first without it and if they don't boot, then try with
the Translator. Also BASIC is enabled by default on the 800XL, and
some games/apps cannot have it resident when it loads and will just stop
during the load up. So before powering up the system, hold the OPTION
key down and this will disable the onboard BASIC and load up your
game/app without.
Curt
Anne Howard wrote:
Can you help me. I have just sorted out my loft and
found my 800xl console with loads of games (on diskette) and a rather sad 1050 diskette
drive. I have got dos diskettes and also translators and emulators. Unfortunately after
25+ years I cannot remember how to load things properly. I have some notes as to when a
program needs translator but not sure the order to load up. I have multiple games on the
diskettes which a friend gave me!!!
So when exactly do I load the translator diskette ? is it right at start up and before
dos (some diskettes have a subset of dos on in any case) . It is so long ago. I have
searched on the internet and not found much luck.
thanks in advance.
A Howard
8:14 a.m.
--- On Mon, 4/18/11, Curt @ Atari Museum <curt at atarimuseum.com> wrote:
What the Translator
essentially does is layer itself over the XL OS with the
older 800OS making it compatible with certain games/apps
that could only run on the original 800.
Is it basically just loading the original 800's ROM into memory and using that, or
doing some other kind of patching?
My first computer was an Atari 130xe - I remember having both a toggle switch to change
the OS ROMs, and the translator disk, and different programs requiring different steps to
load. It was a long time ago, and unfortunately, my XE died in the late 90's and I was
never able to get it working again - so my memory is really hazy.
Was there more than one translator disk? I seem to remember having more than one - and
they had different colored screens when they ran.
-Ian
8:54 a.m.
There was a 1200XL specific Translater, but the later 800XL superceded
it and covered the 1200XL, and the 600/800XL's. The 65XE/130XE had an
XE version translater, but you could get by on the XL translator on the
65XE as it was just an 800XL with a FREDDIE MMU added in.
There were 3 different XL versions of the translators, so you are
correct - some booted up in black screen, one was an orange-red boot up
and another a blue boot up screen.
Curt
Mr Ian Primus wrote:
--- On Mon, 4/18/11, Curt @ Atari Museum <curt at
atarimuseum.com> wrote:
What the Translator
essentially does is layer itself over the XL OS with the
older 800OS making it compatible with certain games/apps
that could only run on the original 800.
Is it basically just loading the original 800's ROM into memory and using that, or
doing some other kind of patching?
My first computer was an Atari 130xe - I remember having both a toggle switch to change
the OS ROMs, and the translator disk, and different programs requiring different steps to
load. It was a long time ago, and unfortunately, my XE died in the late 90's and I was
never able to get it working again - so my memory is really hazy.
Was there more than one translator disk? I seem to remember having more than one - and
they had different colored screens when they ran.
-Ian
4:49 p.m.
It's been a long time since I've had to use one, but IIRC, you boot off the
translator disk, then switch to the disk with the game you want to play.
The translator makes the 800xl more 800/400 compatible.
On 4/18/11 3:23 AM, "Anne Howard" <ahow at live.co.uk> wrote:
Can you help me. I have just sorted out my loft and
found my 800xl console
with loads of games (on diskette) and a rather sad 1050 diskette drive. I
have got dos diskettes and also translators and emulators. Unfortunately
after 25+ years I cannot remember how to load things properly. I have some
notes as to when a program needs translator but not sure the order to load up.
I have multiple games on the diskettes which a friend gave me!!!
So when exactly do I load the translator diskette ? is it right at start up
and before dos (some diskettes have a subset of dos on in any case) . It is
so long ago. I have searched on the internet and not found much luck.
thanks in advance.
A Howard
4758
days inactive
5893
days old
15 comments
9 participants
participants (9)
-
ahow＠live.co.uk -
curt＠atarimuseum.com -
dbetz＠xlisper.com -
eric＠brouhaha.com -
geoffr＠zipcon.net -
ian_primus＠yahoo.com -
mloewen＠cpumagic.scol.pa.us -
silent700＠gmail.com -
wgungfu＠csd.uwm.edu