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Something else that I'm curious about, but it shouldn't really matter, but did you program your Gotek the TTL adapter, or did you use a USB A to A cable? I used a USB A to A cable and followed the procedure at Exxos' site. I'll attach the link below. I got the programming files from the site, but made certain I downloaded the most recent versions of the firmware before flashing. https://www.exxoshost.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593

Yeah, not what I was expecting at all, but definitely just like you said; U.K. TOS 1.6. It makes no sense at all. I wish I could help more, but I have no idea at all what could be causing this. So, let’s get back to the firmware. Did you say where you got the firmware and the installer? Do you have the links you used? I’ll look for the files I used for mine.

I thought the same thing. That’s why I wanted to see what SysInfo said. Still, he said that those keys work as they’re supposed to in all other applications, so that would make no sense at all if they were French ROMs. Who knows what we’re going to find out. Clifhanger, do you normally use any sort of regular boot disk that maybe has any sort of keyboard remapping program running on it? Something that you've forgotten about? I REALLY want to have you run SysInfo and tell us what country it says your TOS ROMs are from.

You can't load SysInfo directly, since it's a prg file. That's just a normal ST executable file. You need to put it onto an ST disk image. Honestly, it seems strange that it isn't offered that way. I just used the Hatari emulator to create my own disk image and put the file on there. I'll attach it below. As far as HxC, there's nowhere to just download it. It's commercial firmware and you have to purchase it from the author, then you'll get a link where you can download it. FlashFloppy is a free, open source firmware with mostly the same features. I just liked the OLED display a little better on the HxC version than the FlashFloppy version and wanted to support the author. That was the only reason I purchased HxC. It's certainly not required. SysInfo v8.34.st

NO!!! Now I feel really stupid! I'd completely forgotten about that danged jumper. I remember making certain the switch was set to 3.3V initially, but I didn't think about the jumper again. I didn't even have a jumper on there. I jumpered CTS, made certain RespeQt was set to the correct COM port and everything worked great. Actually it felt really good to see something else work as it should. I haven't had a lot of time for troubleshooting the past couple of weeks, but since my boot up is so whacked out, and I see some occasional graphic glitches, I was thinking, "Oh great! What else have I screwed up?" It's good to know that the BOB-12731 is soldered in well. One more SIO2PC question. What are the pros & cons to CTS/DTS? Is one really that much better than the other? Which one typically works better? Is it better to choose one over the other, and why? Thanks. I'm still half-way convinced that most of my other issues are TK-II related. I need to use my magnifying goggles and go over those solder joints really well, and check continuity from each solder point to the next component and look for shorts. Maybe I'll get a chance to tinker some this weekend. Thanks again Marlin!

First of all, my XEL is still having some boot issues that I haven't quite had the time to get hammered out just yet. One thing I'm curious about is the built-in SIO2PC. Is it pretty much just plug & go? Do I need to do anything other than setup RespeQt for the right COM port? RespeQt works great with my XEL with an older SIO2USB cable I made a month or so ago, and APE works fine with it using my AtariMax SIO2PC-USB interface, but I can't seem to get the built-in SIO2PC to work.

I was thinking the same thing! If you have access to those disks, gilsaluki, that would be a great way to help out the Atari community, because I know there are a few missing disks, and I believe there are several that were double-sided or dual disk months, but only one is available.

OK, before we get too far into this, I just want to confirm, what is the country of origin of your ST? Also, have you used SysInfo to confirm the country version of your TOS? If not, you can get it here: https://sites.google.com/site/stessential/system-tools/sysinfo I'd be curious to see your answers to those two questions. On "my" STE, I'm using the registered verion of HxC, but I setup FlashFloppy on two STs that I installed Goteks in and sold. I never experienced any problems like what you're experiencing. I don't recall downloading any language specific versions, and I don't recall seeing anywhere that I could set the language, so I'm really confused. It's been a few months since I set them up though.

I was thinking the same, exact thing. Those are the letters that would come up if you pressed those same keys on a French azerty keyboard. The M key is the ?, key on a French keyboard, which is why you get nothing when you press that one. You can't have those characters in a filename. I don't recall having language settings when I setup my Gotek and FlashFloppy, but there must be. You've either downloaded a French version of FlashFloppy, or you've somehow set it up as French.

It may be a TOS issue. Whenever I get mine, and when I get my dual-TOS card installed and running, I'll check it with U.S. 1.62 and 2.06 and see if the dates work correctly or not.

As far as regular floppy disk drives, I'm pretty sure it was just two. Of course, you can have have other "drives" as well, like hard drives, etc., but I'm pretty sure we're limited to just two floppies.

Thanks tf_hh for that excellent explanation. I’m definitely interested in SysCheck now. I’ve already verified that ANTIC, GTIA, and the CPU are all good in mine. The RAM is all socketed, but the OS, BASIC & MMU are all soldered onto my board, and I don’t have a computer I could swap those with anyway, so it gets a little trickier to troubleshoot from here on out. Once things start to return to normal, I’ll look into ordering one of these awesome sounding little devices from you. I’ve really enjoyed tinkering with the 8-bits through assembling my 1088XEL and troubleshooting my 800XL. I could easily see myself starting to pickup old non-functional 8-bits, repairing and refurbishing them and getting them to new homes, not to necessarily make any money, but just as a hobby. SysCheck would be a valuable tool in my arsenal. Thanks again for the info!

OK, I have an 800XL that is having issues at the moment. It isn't completely dead, but it has no display. I realize that worldwide shipping is all screwed up at the moment, so I can't really order one of these anyway, but plan to when things start to get back to normal. I am a little curious though, and can't seem to find any really good information on how it actually works. If you're using it to try and diagnose a completely dead 8-bit, or one that has no display, how do you determine what the issue is? How does the board communicate with you? I mean, the board itself has no display, and if the computer isn't able to display anything. How the heck do you get diagnostic information out of it? I think I missed that part. Thanks.

I've looked through the Sys-Check thread, and it looks like a device that would be nice to have, but almost impossible to get at the moment, with worldwide shipping the way it is at the moment. I am a little curious though, and can't seem to find any really good information on how it actually works. If you're using it to try and diagnose a completely dead 8-bit, or one that has no display, how do you determine what the issue is? How does the board communicate with you? I mean, the board itself has no display, and if the computer isn't able to display anything. How the heck do you get diagnostic information out of it? Thanks.

My memory chips are socketed, but not OS, BASIC or MMU. I will probably look into replacing the memory chips either way. As far as the Sys-Check cartridge, I don't believe it would help me in this instance. My like SALT, I believe it needs at least video to be working to use it, correct? And since that's what I'm having trouble with, it really wouldn't help me here. EDIT: well, no, it looks like I was wrong on that point. Looking at the thread, it's even helpful for completely dead computers, so I may have to look into it.

Unfortunately no, I have no other Atari that I can swap chips with, so nothing I can check the memory out with. Memory and major chips are socketed, but not MMU or OS, so not easily swapped even if I did have another 8-bit.

Only my 1088XEL. I’ve already swapped ANTIC, GTIA & CPU. None of those appear to be at issue.

Ah, no, that was the other one I was going to try. Gotta go see my new boy in a bit. Grandma is hogging all the good spoiling times! I'll give that one a try when I get home tonight or when it's pouring down tomorrow and there's nothing else to do. Thanks for the reminder. As far as Star Raiders goes, I had quite a few xex copies and the original cartridge version on my Ultimate Cart, but it was less than $10 and it might've helped, and like you said, it may help in the future. I just really wish it had helped this time. Oh well, I'm sure I'll figure out what's going on eventually.

Well, I got me Star Raiders cartridge in today, and confirmed it's a good, working cartridge using 1088, but it doesn't do anything my XL. I still just get the green screen, no sound, nothing else, so the "dignostic" cartridge really didn't help me here, unfortunately.

I have a 1040STE with dual TOS 1.62/2.06

Well, that’s all I can offer until I get mine then, but I’ll be watching. Good luck.

So, Bee, did you not order your US from Lothark? Right there on the website, on the web page for all of the US products, there is a link called Files. If you look there, you'll find a file called clock.zip. I'm fairly certain all the files and documentation you need to get your clock working properly are included in that zip file. I don't have mine yet, so I can't play around with it, but a cursory glance looks like that is what you need. Remember, always go back to the seller/manufacturer for help first. https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=48#files

Did you ask Lotharek? I'm assuming, since he's selling the device, he'd be somewhat familiar with it, and how it works, and would be able to tell you what clock accessory to use, if a fix is required, etc. If he's ever able to finally start shipping again, I have a US coming from him as well and would be interested in knowing how this turns out. I would think there would be enough US users on here that someone would've been able to give you a definitive answer by now.

I’m sort of confused on that last one. You said it required external speakers, but the description said it’s a DVI and R/L Stereo Audio to HDMI converter. If it doesn’t work with sound it’s a waste of money because you don’t need a converter to go from DVI to HDMI. You only need a cheap DVI to HDMI cable if you’re not worried about sound.

I think that's on the newer, Pro model, right? I think mytek said he had an older model, and I don't believe it was upgradeable that way. Maybe I misunderstood though.