Quick TOS mod/improving demo

[ParanoidLittleMan]

 

That's early demo of faster startup and how state save and restoring works .
What is not visible in video is: save goes by holding down left shift+Ctrl + pressing key 1-9, or 0. Will save complete RAM, screen parameters + couple other things. Restore is with holding down left shift+Ctrl + pressing key F1-F9, or F10 (loads saved with 0) . Time depends from RAM in machine and mass storage speed (no floppy support at all, and will not be) , As may see, works fine with popular programs as Degelite, Devpac, ORCS resource editor, Desktop too

 

[pixelmischief]

Am I to understand that this is built-in, application-agnostic save-state functionality for TOS? What TOS versions will it support? When can we begin using it?

[ParanoidLittleMan]

This is part of my TOS 1.04 and 1.62 mod/improving. Not some separated APP. Doing this via SW which runs in RAM would be much more complicated, slower, less compatible with diverse SW.

So, this runs from TOS ROM, and needs also very low level hard disk access code what runs from ROM too.

So, saying which TOS versions it (will) support is not good formulation. I would call this rather built in TOS extension, what has some dependencies. In this case using low level hard disk access code, what I developed for Virtual Floppy - of course as TOS extension (1.04, 1.62) .

[pixelmischief]

I have a 1040 STe I was about to upgrade to 2.06. You need a test target?

[Tominator]

That is awesome. Sure looks fast and smooth.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

I have a 1040 STe I was about to upgrade to 2.06. You need a test target?

Do you have EPROM (Flash EPROM) programmer ? Sending chips to oversea may cost some 15-20 bucks, and there is price of them .

[pixelmischief]

Do you have EPROM (Flash EPROM) programmer ? Sending chips to oversea may cost some 15-20 bucks, and there is price of them .

 

Yes, I have an EPROM flasher. Just tell me what model EPROMs to get and I'll flash/install whatever you tell me. If this is going to be a thing, I'll hit Exxos up for a TOS switcher.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

 

Yes, I have an EPROM flasher. Just tell me what model EPROMs to get and I'll flash/install whatever you tell me. If this is going to be a thing, I'll hit Exxos up for a TOS switcher.

Not Exxos !!! Please . I'm who designed first TOS switcher, some 10 years ago. In STE it is very easy. Will give you instructions how to do it. Cost is minimal - 1-2 bucks.

You need 27C1001 (2 pieces, of course) for single TOS. Or if programmer can it may go with Flash - like 29F1001 . Exact sign depends from manufacturer. 8-bit data, 1 Mbit capacity. 2 makes 256 KB,

For TOS switcher may use 4 Mbit - like 29F040 (AMD) - then can have 4 diff. TOS versions in total 2 chips, and change active with DIP switch, for instance.

[pixelmischief]

Will give you instructions how to do it.

 

Cool. I'll pick up two (2) of each model you mentioned and let you know when they get here.

[TheNameOfTheGame]

Yes, I did this a while back and it works great.

 

Picture of the mod here http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=27702&p=269670#p294569

 

Link to the hardware hack at http://atari4ever.free.fr/

(Look under TOS UPGRADES for 4TOS_SWC.ZIP)

Edited November 26, 2018 by TheNameOfTheGame