Michael Kline

Cool! I used to have the CGP-220. It had the serial port and I used it for my CoCo. I wish I still had it. I didn't know that it was manufactured by Canon.

You'll need the DOS disk in the drive so that the computer loads the command into memory. You will then see a prompt to press Enter to continue. BEFORE pressing Enter, that is when you swap out the disks. When the Disk is formatted, then swap it out with the DOS disk to execute any other commands or to load BASIC. Depending on what you will do next. If memory serves, I sent you a link for MS/DOS 3.3. You'll definitely want to go through it. https://archive.org/details/epson-ms-dos-3.3-ref/page/n259/mode/2up

Format A: Make sure you write protect your DOS master disk so that you don't accidentally blank your master.

Your choice for a 1M diskette will be to format it as 720K. If your floppy drive <is> just the 720K version, then that will be your choice. If your floppy drive is a 1.44M drive, you can use 1.44MB floppy disks with a choice to format it as a 1.44M or 720K. I think you're booting up at MSDOS 3.3. But not sure. The manual is available on the Internet Archive. Download it here: https://archive.org/details/epson-ms-dos-3.3-ref/page/n5/mode/2up

Yeah, I remember that when the HX/EX models came out, MS/DOS 3.3(?) was preinstalled on a ROM that made them boot up super fast. Just like my CoCo 2/3.

I found the User's Guide on Manualslib. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/817770/Tandy-1000-Tl3.html#product-1000 TL3 You'll need to create a free account to download it. It says that Deskmate is on a ROM. Although, It's not the complete programme. There is a setup disk that came with the computer. You'll need it to setup several options. Including whether Deskmate boots or MS/DOS 3.3 Boots. So, what I gather is that the setup disk is a crucial disk to have. And you'll need it to change the option from booting to DESKMATE to DOS. Michael

This is a vague memory... Hold down either <SHIFT> key on boot up and see if that bypasses the autostart. I don't remember if there is a setting in the BIOS about having Deskmate autostart. In a typical DOS system, the AUTOEXEC.BAT file is used to tell the system what programs to run after bootup. Michael

Using ChatGPT 4, this was all that i could gather from my question. Perhaps this info may help. The Borland Graphics Interface (BGI) was typically included as part of Borland's programming language compilers, such as Turbo Pascal and Turbo C. It was a library that provided a standardized set of graphics routines that developers could use to create graphics for a variety of different hardware platforms. If a specific BGI driver for the Tandy 1000 was developed, it would likely have been included as part of the Borland compiler package, or perhaps as part of a software development kit (SDK) for the Tandy 1000. If it was not included with the original software package, it may have been sold as an add-on or supplemental disk, perhaps directly from Borland or through a third party. In terms of how it was sold, it was common in that era for such software to be sold in physical stores, by mail order, or directly from the manufacturer. The software would typically come on floppy disks, along with printed documentation.

Hmm. Too many years have passed for me to remember correctly. If you have a known working disk drive, swap out and see if that's the problem.

Use a MSDOS or PCDOS boot disk if you have one.

I don't have the answer to your question. I can lead you to other resources and people who may know. These places are much more popular than here. FB OS9/NITROS9 Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1929079184021683/ FB Colour Computer Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2359462640/ CoCo Discord: https://discord.gg/4J5nHXm The Colour Computer Archive IS the online resource to know about: https://colorcomputerarchive.com/ Search for books and manuals there. Software is available there too. Michael

How do you do that? My understanding is that 512K is still the threshold for BASIC.

Ed Snider at https://thezippsterzone.com/ has 8MB RAM for the CoCo 3. You'll need to contact him direct to inquire further. Anything above 512K is usable via OS9/NitrOS9.

I honestly don't know. There are two great resources of people that may be able to answer your question about compatibility with the NX-1000 and your CoCo. One is on Facebook and the other on Discord. Here's the links: FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2359462640 Discord: https://discord.com/invite/4J5nHXm If you don't have Discord set up, this YouTube video will guide you: Cheers! Michael

Hello: I apologise for my delay. I didn't get a notification that you replied. This Ed's email address: Ed Snider <zippster278@gmail.com>

I'm working towards the assumption that printer driver you are using, is not compatible with your Model 4. I remember in the back of my head that there were Epson's being used a lot with the TRS-80s back in the day. Okidata's too. Along with the TRS-80/Tandy branded printers. I found this website https://www.trs-80.com/wordpress/manuals-hardware-page2/#printers-epson that lists printers used with the TRS-80 lineup. My suggestion is to try Epson drivers with your printer and see if they work. Where to find them... is out of my league. However, if you have Epson drivers for use with your printer, I would test those out. If you're not able to find drivers or what you have fails, then there is the possibility that your printer is not compatible with the Model 4.

First question would be; has this printer worked for you before and has it worked with you before using a Model 4? If you don't have the manual for this printer, you can download a copy at: https://www.manualslib.com/download/165053/Star-Micronics-Nx-1000.html You'll need to create a free account before you can download. Otherwise you'll only be able to view it online. I would check the dip switches in the back to see if they are set right. Page 15 in the manual has the chart. Which I would think that it is also labelled on the printer itself. I would think that switch 1-6 would be set to STANDARD. You can test both positions and see what you get. Make sure your contacts are clean on the printer cable (both sides). Printer and Model 4 as well. Through BASIC, you can send control codes using CHR$( )'s, and see what you get. Additionally; I don't know if the Epson LX800 driver is correct or not. Test out other drivers if they are available to you.

Send Ed an email directly and see if he as any left. He may not have listed them as available on his website.

Très bon à entendre.

I don't have a Model I.

Thanks

Which TRS-80? CoCo? Model I/III/4/100/102? If CoCo, I only get I/O errors.

Thanks for the heads up. I haven't watched CoCo Talk in quite a while.

WOW! A real port of the original game. Many thanks!

I just saw the DMP-132 come up for sale on eBay. It's the upgrade of the DMP-130/130A. I would recommend this one. Ask the seller to do a print test for you. It uses the same ribbons as the 130s. https://www.ebay.com/itm/373714600594?hash=item5703204292 Michael