1040STF TOS ROM upgrade

[tjb]

I puchased an Apple IIc from a guy on Ebay who happens to live in my area. When I met with him to get the IIc he gave me a 1040STF for free! How often does that happen?! Anyway, the machine seems to be in great shape with the exception of the built in drive (which he mentioned). I've purchased a replacement drive from Best Electronics and I'd also like to upgrade the TOS version. Forgive me if my questions are really basic in nature or have been covered elsewhere as I'm pretty green when it comes to the ST. Anyway here goes: I understand that TOS originally came on floppy and later was built into ROM. I also know that it comes as either 2 or 6 ROM chips. I've opened up the 1040 in order to remove the defective drive and was wondering where these chips reside? Also, I assume that they are socketed? Is the upgrade as simple as replacing one set of chips for another? Also, what version of TOS would you recommend? Any info would be most appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance,

tjb

[ppera]

You may simple replace socketed chips if put TOS with same number of chips. But must care for order, because sometimes markings on chips are not same.

In case of 2 instead 6 or vice versus there is need for some soldering, or it can not be done (by older revisions).

 

http://www.ppest.org/atari/strompads.jpg

 

Rev. I is first with such pads, earlier boards are all with 6 TOS ROM chip.

 

You can not use TOS 2.06 without some additional electronic.

 

I recommend TOS 1.04 - it is latest what you can use in ST without mod.

You can even download and burn it in EPROMS...

Edited January 13, 2007 by ppera

[tjlazer]

Check to see what version you have, you might have 1.4! Check about menu, look at date. If you see a Rainbow Fuji you have 1.4.

[tjb]

You may simple replace socketed chips if put TOS with same number of chips. But must care for order, because sometimes markings on chips are not same.

In case of 2 instead 6 or vice versus there is need for some soldering, or it can not be done (by older revisions).

 

http://www.ppest.org/atari/strompads.jpg

 

Rev. I is first with such pads, earlier boards are all with 6 TOS ROM chip.

 

You can not use TOS 2.06 without some additional electronic.

 

I recommend TOS 1.04 - it is latest what you can use in ST without mod.

You can even download and burn it in EPROMS...

 

Thanks for the info!

 

tjb

[tjb]

Check to see what version you have, you might have 1.4! Check about menu, look at date. If you see a Rainbow Fuji you have 1.4.

All it says is TOS. The copyright is 1986, 1987. And lastly, no rainbow, just plain old black

 

tjb

[jens]

All it says is TOS. The copyright is 1986, 1987.

That's 1.02.

[tjb]

I guess that means I should go find out if I need 2 or 6 chips and get the 1.04 upgrade?

 

tjb

[jens]

There are some games that like earlier TOS versions better than later ones.

If you're into gaming you might as well let those Roms in there.

Else 1.04 is the right way.

 

If you want to use your ST for serious stuff as well as for gaming you should consider a switchable TOS 2.06 board that lets you use either 1.0x or 2.06.

[tjb]

There are some games that like earlier TOS versions better than later ones.

If you're into gaming you might as well let those Roms in there.

Else 1.04 is the right way.

 

If you want to use your ST for serious stuff as well as for gaming you should consider a switchable TOS 2.06 board that lets you use either 1.0x or 2.06.

 

Thanks for the advice. I take it the 2.06 board is more of a mod and would require a fair amount of sodering?

 

tjb

[tjlazer]

Yes TOS 2.6 requires soldering and more to get working. Not worth it IMHO.

 

The ROMS would either be right under the PS (which is easier access) or at the lower left of board (which requires you remove whole RF shield). I have two 1040's that have different locations for ROMs.

 

I got a set of TOS 1.4 in 6 chip if interested.

Edited January 14, 2007 by tjlazer

[tjb]

Yes TOS 2.6 requires soldering and more to get working. Not worth it IMHO.

 

The ROMS would either be right under the PS (which is easier access) or at the lower left of board (which requires you remove whole RF shield). I have two 1040's that have different locations for ROMs.

 

I got a set of TOS 1.4 in 6 chip if interested.

In my case they ended up being at the lower left of the board and with only 2 chips.

 

tjb

[tjlazer]

Take a pic and show us, are the chips 28 or 32 pins? Are they on a special board or on the MB?

[tjb]

Take a pic and show us, are the chips 28 or 32 pins? Are they on a special board or on the MB?

Ok, sorry to take so long and for the blurry picture but here goes...

 

tjb

 

[tjb]

Yes TOS 2.6 requires soldering and more to get working. Not worth it IMHO.

 

The ROMS would either be right under the PS (which is easier access) or at the lower left of board (which requires you remove whole RF shield). I have two 1040's that have different locations for ROMs.

 

I got a set of TOS 1.4 in 6 chip if interested.

 

Is this you?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Atari-ST-520ST-1040ST-...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

tjb

[tjlazer]

Yep. Looks like you can use 6 chip TOS. You just need to install them in the other sockets and maybe move a jumper or two... You may want to install 28 pin sockets in those other spots though. Apparently your ROMs are 1mbit mask roms from Atari. You cannot install Mega STE type ROMs in yours without some hacking. Are you sure you have TOS 1.2 in yours? Run this program to check:

SYSINFO.zip

Edited January 17, 2007 by tjlazer

[tjb]

Yep. Looks like you can use 6 chip TOS. You just need to install them in the other sockets and maybe move a jumper or two... You may want to install 28 pin sockets in those other spots though. Apparently your ROMs are 1mbit mash roms from atari. You cannot install Mega STE type ROMs in yours without some hacking. Are you sure you have TOS 1.2 in yours? Run this program to check:

Until the replace drive comes in I really don't have any way of running the utility.

 

tjb

[tjb]

Yep. Looks like you can use 6 chip TOS. You just need to install them in the other sockets and maybe move a jumper or two... You may want to install 28 pin sockets in those other spots though. Apparently your ROMs are 1mbit mash roms from atari. You cannot install Mega STE type ROMs in yours without some hacking. Are you sure you have TOS 1.2 in yours? Run this program to check:

Until the replace drive comes in I really don't have any way of running the utility.

 

tjb

The drive arrived today! Ok, I ran the program and the version is 1.02...

 

tjb

[tjlazer]

Cool. I never heard of a 1040 having TOS 1.2 in it! I guess it was a short lived upgrade from Atari using custom ROMs. Do you have a blitter installed? You can check from the Options Menu in TOS.

[jens]

I know lots of 1040 STs that shipped with TOS 1.02...

[tjlazer]

Not in the US, most I've seen have 1.00 or 1.4 ! I didn't even know 1.2 WORKED in a 1040 until this thread!

[tjb]

Not in the US, most I've seen have 1.00 or 1.4 ! I didn't even know 1.2 WORKED in a 1040 until this thread!

What about machines from Canada?? Since Canada uses NTSC I wonder if maybe it originally came from there?

 

tjb

[tjb]

Cool. I never heard of a 1040 having TOS 1.2 in it! I guess it was a short lived upgrade from Atari using custom ROMs. Do you have a blitter installed? You can check from the Options Menu in TOS.

No Blitter...

 

tjb

[+Guitarman]

I just got a 1040 STf in a lot of Atari stuff I picked up yesterday. Mine is a Rev D board with 6-chip TOS 1.0 under the power supply (also has the ST/ime board installed). I am assuming that the older rev boards can only use 6-chip as I saw nowhere on the board any jumpers to switch to a 2-chip TOS.

 

My question is, when burning the 6-chip TOS, can I use a set of 27256 eproms or do they have to be the 27C256?? I have a ton of the 27256 eproms to use.

[tjlazer]

My question is, when burning the 6-chip TOS, can I use a set of 27256 eproms or do they have to be the 27C256?? I have a ton of the 27256 eproms to use.

 

Either will work fine. I used 27C256 OTP chips in my 1040STf. Much improvement over 1.0! Faster too.

Edited January 22, 2007 by tjlazer

[tjb]

The 1.4 2-chip upgrade came in today from B & C! I popped them in and now I have Rainbow TOS! Now I just have to break open my 520STFM and perform the same upgrade. It seems to boot faster or is it just my imagination (or wishful thinking)?

 

tjb

Edited January 27, 2007 by tjb