R.Cade

I don't understand where you are going wrong with your process. I just did it again, no problem. Rivers of Light disk just created with AppleWin onto a blank DOS 3.3 image created with CiderPress using the ACS images on Asimov. I don't even think it matters that it is CiderPress- it formats any disk you put in there. The cracks are fine... I know this is not helpful to you, other than assuring you the disk images are fine. test.zip

Yeah, no. The manual explains how to fish, I verified there are fish there. You have to get your own fish. The disks I used are from Asimov.

I went through the process to create adventure disks with AppleWin with no problem. I used a blank DOS 3.3 image created with CiderPress since AppleWin didn't seem to have a way to create one. I told it to make a Rivers of Light Adventure disk. This causes it to basically copy from the data disk back side (called disk 4 in most collections) to a new disk. You just swap the disks several times to complete the procedure and then play it. Just like the manual says...

OK, you are crazy. I guess I could have sent it to you since you think it's fun. Eventually I got aggravated from having the paint run together and tore it up and threw it away... I didn't have the patience or the technique. If it were not on the fold, it would have been OK.

I just tried my thread method, and just made a mess of it with the paint. It's all 4 of the lines across one edge. It was an exercise in futility! I will put this one aside for parts or wait for someone to have an extra keyboard or mylar for it, as it isn't worth the money for a new one when I have another 600XL that is working...

Well, I took one of my 600XL rescues from years ago off the stack last night and got ready to do a composite video and RAM update. I got the composite mod done and realized the function keys were not working right. Took apart the keyboard (and of course forgot that 50 springs pour out of it if you do it wrong!) and found that the mylar was either cracked or it cracked on me when I reinstalled it. Has anyone ever successfully repaired the traces across the fold once the mylar has cracked? I will try with some conductive paint, but I think it will not work around the break even if I tape it. I might try soaking some threads in the paint and see if it will work. Ugh... I would get a new mylar from Best, but $33-50 is way too much for a little 600XL. They aren't even worth that... Any other less expensive solutions?

No, unfortunately it still does not work... It locks up after the second sector is read.

When divisor is set to $A (10) in RespeQt: Serial port speed set to 19200. [Disk 1] Speed poll [Disk 1] Sending [COMMAND NAK] to Atari [Disk 1] command: $48, aux: $0020 NAKed. [Disk 1] Sending [COMMAND NAK] to Atari [Disk 1] command: $48, aux: $0020 NAKed. [Disk 1] Sending [COMMAND NAK] to Atari [Disk 1] command: $48, aux: $0020 NAKed. [Disk 1] Sending [COMMAND NAK] to Atari [Disk 1] command: $48, aux: $0020 NAKed. [Disk 1] Sending [COMMAND NAK] to Atari [Disk 1] command: $48, aux: $0020 NAKed. Serial port speed set to 52400. [Disk 1] Get status: $ff [Disk 1] Read Sector 1 ($001) #1 in track 0 ($00) [Disk 1] Read Sector 2 ($002) #2 in track 0 ($00)

Thanks very much, Hias. For the patches, and the response. I did notice that a HIAS-enabled ROM cannot boot the Happy disks (5.2/5.3). It does not seem to get past the first couple of sectors. Log from Respeqt: Serial port speed set to 19200. [Disk 1] Speed poll Serial port speed set to 125000. [Disk 1] Get status: $ff [Disk 1] Read Sector 1 ($001) #1 in track 0 ($00) [Disk 1] Read Sector 2 ($002) #2 in track 0 ($00) (Locked up forever) BTW, the same HIAS-patched ROM (1.30) run in Altirra does the same when you try to boot these disks.

It's my HIAS-patched ROM causing it. It won't boot, even with holding Ctrl-Shft-N to turn off the hi-speed routines. I guess I need to put in a 27C256 and a switch in my machines... I think the HIAS patches actually send some Happy commands, so something it doesn't like. Can I send you any logs that would help?

Yeah, it's strange. The 5.2 and 5.3 disks I have will only load the first two sectors and then lock up. I know the images are OK, since they at least boot to the menu in Altirra. The 5.3 image is the one from AtariMania. Something odd about my FT232 USB to serial cable?

Hello, Got it running with the latest zip... Anyway, I am probably doing something wrong, but I thought it emulated a "happy" drive? When I run the Happy menu disk, it says there are no happy drives... -Pete EDIT: I found earlier versions of the boot disk (5.2 and 5.3) but both only load the first two sectors and hang up my 800XL.

This is really cool. It feeds ADD...

So the system gets power (check chips for 5v) but no video at all, not even black screen or *anything*?

It's possible to do it "cheaper" but only if you're willing to put in the time yourself to build and set it up. Check around locally- even in my small little area there are at least two different guys that build cabs and barcades and will set it all up, and it's reasonably priced for what you get.

Nah, that gives most of them way too much credit. This is way too much almost correct information...

That was me. Thank you for the kind words, but I am not technically a "member" of SPS or anything. I actually "am" the C64 Preservation Project, but am always willing to help out someone in need. -Pete

Yeah, not really "fake". No reason to fake anything, the promotional versions don't have more value. It is a mix of parts as mentioned.

They make insulating tape to use for the electronics cavity of electric guitars... It would probably be cheap and perfect to try this. You could just apply it to the inside of the cart shell.

They're built like a tank, work well, and they will help you with any problems you ever have. Mine is 10 years old and the cable developed a problem. They sent me a whole new cable and USB board (just in case) with no argument or problem at all. I've heard some people have problems with different adapters to go to game systems, but I've always just used mine as USB, so I don't know about that.

I sold one in like-new condition like that a couple months ago and got $350... Also, sorry but I would not call that NOS. It's in really good shape, but there is some corrosion on the inside (see screw heads) so it was likely stored in a non-climate controlled area for a while.

This has come up many times in the past where homebrew games and the Harmony cart cause this interference on certain 2600's. I had the issue on mine and found that there was a capacitor disconnected on my board, but others have had the issue and it wasn't that... I'm not sure it was solved, but there are several threads about it.

The formulation and coercivity may be the same, but there is also a certification rating involved. SD disks are "certified" for 3000bpi, where DD is "certified" for 6000bpi. Whether they are "really" the same, or they will be unreliable, probably depends on your usage of them. It may work fine, you may have errors.

That's a very poor version of it, but yeah. I bet that thing is finicky to keep running with that wiring...

These were the same groups of technical guys doing this that were doing satellite TV installations and modding cable boxes, etc. The "underground" electronics folk. The way it usually worked is you gave them a cart (usually Combat) which they would mod with a ZIF socket and a cut a hole in the case. The cost for them to do this varied- I recall $50-100. They would then sell you the game EPROMs for $10 or so. I believe the cost of a 2732 EPROM in 1983 was $5 or so, less in quantity. These turn up occasionally on eBay. A modded cart and a box of ROMs. I have never seen any homebrew from this era. It has all been just copies of the top games- that's what people wanted.