Atari 800 diskette "run" help?

[z28racergirl]

Hey everyone,

I recently got my original Atari 800 back from my stepmom. I was about 10 when I had it back in the very early '80s. My dad had programmed a ton of little programs, saved onto diskettes. I can't remember how to get any of these programs to "run". Can someone coach me?

 

I can get the directory list but I can't remember the commands to get anything to go. All the cartridges work, as do the "bought" programs on diskette ("The Print Shop", Lucasfilm's "Ballblazer" and "Choplifter" for ex.). I'd really appreciate the help, my dad left about 15 disks with his little programs on them and I'd love to once again see his handiwork.

 

Thanks in advance,

Christine :

[Goochman]

First you'll need to know the name of the programs on the disk - Boot up in Basic and then type:

 

LOAD "D:FILENAME"

 

wait for load then type

 

RUN

 

Thats it!

 

You can always go to dos from basic to get a directory by typing DOS

 

You'll need to have the BASIC cart installed prior to turning the computer on

 

Enjoy!

[Hank]

How does it work on the 800XL with built in basic? I just got a load of disk programs for mine and have a few questions. Most of my disks have multiple programs and boot to a start up program (a front end of sorts) that lists them. You just pick the number to load it. I'm guessing the guy that made them made some sort of batch file. I've managed to get to a DOS menu a couple times but couldn't do it consistently. I got to it by pressing/tapping/holding the option key when rebooting.

 

How would I terminate these front ends to go to dos?

 

If I want to run a .bas program from disk can I boot with the ROM basic? By typing DOS? Does this mean there is a built in DOS also? If so, how would I get back to basic?

 

Probably dumb newbie questions, but they're fitting because I'm still a dumb newbie

 

Thanks!

[Hank]

Better yet, so I don't waste someone's time, is there a good faq on the basics of the 800 somewhere?

 

Thx

[Jetboot Jack]

The menu is an AUTORUN program that loads when the disc is booted - you're not meant to get to DOS from there

 

If you do get to DOS (by whatever fudge you're trying) then get a directory of the disc, if it has DOS and DUP.SYS on there then delete the autorun program and reboot - the disc will take you straight to DOS (if you disable BASIC by pressing OPTION when the machine is powered up). Or at the ready prompt type DOS and you'll go to DOS...

 

You don't load basic programs through the DOS menu , you load 'em by typing LOAD "D1:XXXXXXXX.XXX" where XXXXXXXX.XXX is the file name of the program you want - to see a listing of files type DOS and use the DOS menu. Press B to go back to BASIC (but only if you did not disable basic by holding OPTION when the machine booted up)...

 

sTeVE

[Hank]

Thanks for the help. It's been about 18 years since I've used an apple, and I've never used an Atari before - so I'm a little rusty. I'm seeking a good book on the topic.

[Mindfield]

Boot to BASIC: Turn it on.

Boot to DOS, disable BASIC: Hold OPTION while you turn it on until the disk starts loading.

Boot from cassette: Hold START when you turn it on. Hit PLAY on cassette.

 

Loading Basic programs from disk in BASIC:

 

Type: LOAD "Dx:FILENAME.BAS" (where "x" is a drive number from 1-8; if only one drive is being used, you may omit the number altoghether)

 

Loading a LISTed (non-tokenized) basic program from disk:

 

Type: ENTER "Dx:FILENAME.LST" (again following above example for "x")

 

Getting to DOS from BASIC:

 

Type: DOS

 

NOTE: Many (most) binary programs (OBJ, EXE, BIN, etc.) will not work if you entered DOS with BASIC enabled. Most will require you to option-boot to disable BASIC, since they use the memory that would otherwise be occupied by BASIC were it enabled. Some won't require this, but it's a good rule of thumb; few if any binary programs loaded from DOS actually require BASIC to be enabled, so disabling it when loading stuff from DOS won't hurt.

 

Stupid ANTIC Tricks #645:

 

10 DL=PEEK(560)+256*PEEK(561)

20 POKE DL+6,7:POKE DL+7,6

RUN

 

That's just about all I remember from my 8-bit BASIC days. :-)

[Callipygous]

Thanks for the help.   It's been about 18 years since I've used an apple, and I've never used an Atari before - so I'm a little rusty.   I'm seeking a good book on the topic.

 

The best one is "My Atari Computer" by Lon Poole. 450 pages of everything you need to know. I probably have extra. Let me know and I will look for it.