Command line question... Help!

[VicViper]

I know this is a totally noobish question, that thankfully someone should be able to answer easily for me. I just got a bunch of old floppies and a 1050 drive off craigslist. Shockingly it works, as do most of the discs. my problem is, when the disc doesn't have autoload installed, and I have to launch the game file from disc, exactly what command do I type?

I get to the point where it lists the files,

KABOOM EXE 124

PACMAN EXE 344

ATTACK EXE 222

etc, when I type KABOOM.EXE the computer prompts me to type one letter, what letter? for the love of god, WHAT LETTER?!?

any help would be amazing, thanks. what letter is it asking for? in relation to what?

[Rybags]

You're using OS 2.x which is menu driven. So the option you want is "L" then it'll prompt you for the file to load.

 

Then you can use DOS style wildcards instead of typing the whole filename e.g.

 

K*.*

PAC*.*

[Bryan]

You're using OS 2.x which is menu driven. So the option you want is "L" then it'll prompt you for the file to load.

 

Then you can use DOS style wildcards instead of typing the whole filename e.g.

 

K*.*

PAC*.*

I'm wondering why it's listing the file names which DOS doesn't automatically do. Remember that if the machine is a 600XL, 800XL or XE, you'll need to hold OPTION for a couple seconds when you turn it on to disable BASIC (that is, press OPTION, turn on computer, release OPTION).

[VicViper]

LOL, as further proof of my ignorance on the topic, I have no Idea what either of you are talking about.

I would type dos to bring up the menu, then hit A for the file list. I've already disconnected the disc drive, and am on to the Tape drive. Type CLOAD, press play and advance at the same time, I thought that was how it works, but it's been a while since i messed with one of these. any advice on the tape drive? just how to run the games.

[Bryan]

Okay... most commercial games don't work with BASIC installed. On the XL and XE series (except the 1200XL), BASIC is built in. You know you're in BASIC if you see a READY prompt. To boot without BASIC, press OPTION before turning the machine on, and hold it for at least 2 seconds.

 

If you want to boot a game cassette, turn on the machine while holding OPTION and START, press play and then hit RETURN (works for most tapes).

[VicViper]

Im getting error 21 on the tape games....

[Bryan]

Interesting.. I was under the impression you could only get a 21 if you typed CLOAD. What is the tape?

[VicViper]

I did try typing CLOAD. what am I supposed to type? I've got zaxxon, frogger and apple panic.

[Bryan]

Go read post #5 above.

 

There are two main types of loadable games: Machine Language and BASIC. To load a Machine Language game:

 

1. Press and hold OPTION and START.

2. Turn on Atari

3. When you see the blue screen, release OPTION and START keys.

4. Press PLAY on cassette player.

5. Press RETURN or Space on the Atari and the tape will start (actually, you can press almost any key, like 'A' or '3').

 

Notes:

1. When you hold OPTION at power-up, you turn off the built-in BASIC. When you hold START, you put the Atari in tape loading mode.

2. CLOAD is only for loading BASIC programs.

3. Holding OPTION is necessary on the 600XL, 800XL, and all XE's. It is not necessary on the 400,800, and 1200XL.

[VicViper]

Go read post #5 above.

 

There are two main types of loadable games: Machine Language and BASIC. To load a Machine Language game:

 

1. Press and hold OPTION and START.

2. Turn on Atari

3. When you see the blue screen, release OPTION and START keys.

4. Press PLAY on cassette player.

5. Press RETURN or Space on the Atari and the tape will start (actually, you can press almost any key, like 'A' or '3').

 

Notes:

1. When you hold OPTION at power-up, you turn off the built-in BASIC. When you hold START, you put the Atari in tape loading mode.

2. CLOAD is only for loading BASIC programs.

3. Holding OPTION is necessary on the 600XL, 800XL, and all XE's. It is not necessary on the 400,800, and 1200XL.

thanks so much, I knew I was forgetting something!

[Bryan]

You're welcome. To load those disk games, you'll just hold OPTION at power-up and let the disk boot to DOS (or whatever menu is on the disk).

[VicViper]

Man i give up. I know I'm doing everything right now, it will start playing the choir music and beeping like I'm summoning some 8-bit demon, then boot error, and go to the memory test screen. I've done this with two different 410 drives, one the rewind doesn't work, the other one just decided it didn't want the play button to stick down any more. the worst part is, I know the first drive works, or at least worked, and I had a few games that I got working before as well. now, nothing. good thing I picked up an 8meg flashcart a while back, or I'd be really annoyed . next step is to take apart the 800 and see if I can fix that. as for the dongle, its pretty small, maybe 3/4 of an inch long, and shaped like a trapezoid.

[charliecron]

Look up a guide, youtube video or something on how to do a proper cleaning on a cassette deck. A dirty deck will prevent successful loads. You need some isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs.

 

If you have an sio2pc or something on the SIO daisy chain, take it off, it can interfere with loading tapes. Not sure about sio2usb or other sio2xxxx devices, but on my sio2pc you can't load a tape if it's connected.

[Bryan]

The belts in the 410 typically don't last 30 years. The 1010's belts were a bit better.