joeatari

Yes, my disk is original. Is there a way to create a disk image on my Atari Falcon?

This project worked right out of the box as they say. 1. I copied CD.SYS to the SYSTEM directory on the Book 8088. 2. I edited the config.sys on the Book 8088 to include device=c:\system\cd.sys 3. Rebooted the book 8088. 4. The card drive was assigned as drive E: (I use a USB stick as drive D:) My test was to insert the Portfolio File Manager card and read it. When typing the DIR command, the light on the card drive blinks and the contents of the card is displayed. I have not tried to write to a card at this point. This beautiful card drive came from a recent eBay purchase that was to include a "new in box" Atari Portfolio and PC card drive. I do believe the card drive was new in box. Unfortunately, the Portfolio has broken latches and it had corroded "Kirkland" (Costco) batteries inside, so I would imagine the batteries weren't nearly as old as the Portfolio. The Portfolio was inside what seemed to be a sealed original box. So far, the Portfolio does not boot. If the seller was honest, then they were "taken" by someone else. Fortunately, I have a couple of working Atari Portfolio computers in my collection. I'm happy because I got the working card drive, a 64k memory card, all the original beautiful boxes and manuals, and even a PBASE card and manual with this lot.

Oh, good grief! I have Atari computers that can read the PC floppy disks! Sometimes I just don't think straight! I have uploaded the files that come with the Atari Portfolio PC Card drive. I'll add additional content to this post to update about this project. CD.SYS CFX.COM

I have been hoping to work on a project to use a Portfolio card drive with the "Book 8088" laptop, which has an ISA card slot add-on. I have always wanted to try the card drive, but I didn't have a PC with ISA slots since many, many years ago. Now I do with this little Book 8088! I finally found a really nice, complete Portfolio card drive, but now I cannot find my PC USB floppy so that I can access the drivers. I have been looking for the CD.SYS driver for the card drive all over the internet but I cannot find it. Can someone upload it here? Thank you!

My order is in! Thank you!

I have a GBS-8219.

I have a VBXE on one of my systems, but it looks a bit fuzzy and "noisy", probably due to the RGB to VGA converter that I use. Also, I can never get the screen size set exactly right so that some lines aren't larger than others in text mode and etc. The Sophia 2 has amazing clarity, and even though I am running in 16X9, everything still looks "right" to me. It is quite impressive. I would especially love to see a version of "The Last Word" that would support the Sophia 2. I would also love to see Sophia 2 specific demos in case any of the "wizards" here are thinking about showing off what is different than stock hardware.

Are there any demos or software specific to the Sophia 2?

This didn't take long. Just as you would expect, I followed the traces with an OHM meter and ran a jumper wire to the "dead" location. I'm not really sure why they are dead, because the traces look just fine. The top white wire fixed the "E" and the bottom blue wire fixed "A S D." The other wires were applied to the keyboard by a previous owner. Another 8-bit Atari saved. This makes eight for me in 2023. Happy New Year everyone!

Nice! I appreciate this. The switches are not the problem in this case, but I certainly learned something!

I checked with a working keyboard (the mylar version) and it works just fine with the motherboard in question. It is definitely a problem with this particular mechanical keyboard.

I swapped the 4051s (great idea) but unfortunately no change. I checked all the ribbon cable contacts for continuity from end to end and that checks out. Tomorrow I'll pull and try a working keyboard from another XL to rule out problems on the motherboard. Eric: This keyboard does not have the mylar membrane sheet. It is just a circuit board with the key switches attached. I'm hoping I can find what may be broken in the circuit and add jumper wires to fix the problem, but it is a lot of traces to follow and check.

I have a 600XL with an AWC 100001 mechanical keyboard that I am trying to repair. I have cleaned everything and re-flowed solder to the connectors. I re-seated the 4051 chips. Everything now works with the exception of the A S D E keys. I'm so close! In researching this I have noticed others placing some jumper wires to repair these. I'm not experienced with this. Any hints on what is the best way to trouble shoot this keyboard? The traces look like they are in good shape. I don't see any physical damage. I have used a jumper wire to check to make sure it is not the key switches. These keys do not work when jumpered, but the others do, so I do not think it is the switches. Thanks!

Thank you for the photos and info! I ended up trying a different motherboard and I'm not having the issues anymore. If I decide to add more upgrades it will be great to have this, and I'm sure others will also appreciate it.

Can anyone attach a photo of a good Extension Select (EXT EXTSEL) pick off point on the 600XL board for this upgrade (or list the connection point)? This is the Lotharek 64Kb v3 upgrade. I'm having some strange instability (it seems that the computer is "typing" characters, but the keyboard is not beeping and I don't seem to have any keyboard issues). At this point I only have CAS inhibit connected. Connecting Extension Select is suggested in the instructions, but since the MMU is removed I don't know where to connect it. Perhaps this is not the problem at all, but I would still like to know where to connect it. Thanks!