Need Axlon RAMDISK assistance ...

+sm3 · April 6, 2015

Hello, I picked up an Axlon 128 RAMDISK that's supposedly in working order but of course there is no manual for it so having a bit of an issue figuring it out.

I've installed the board between my 2 16K RAM boards on my Atari 800. I've also downloaded and transferred the Axlon software disk to a floppy for my 810 drive that was provided by bob1200xl here:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/148107-axlon-128k-ramdisk-software/

But when I boot up with the disk in the drive, I get the following message. I should note I get the same message in Altirra when I try to use the ATR as well:

"The RAMDISK cannot be formatted.

Please see the RAMDISK manual.

Start-up of system is terminated.

to restart load press system reset."

Does anyone know how to get this working? Since it's doing the same thing in Altirra, I'm guessing at this point it's not the real Axlon hardware, it must be something I'm not doing right with the software.

Since I don't have a manual, I have no clue!

Thanks for your time.

+sm3 · April 6, 2015

Maybe I'm not supposed to boot from that Axlon disk, unfortunately, I can't view the files on the disk since it boots straight away. I'll try booting from another disk and then reading the contents of the Axlon disk from there.

+sm3 · April 6, 2015

Yes, that was it. I feel stupid

OK so for any future Axlon RAMDISK owners here that didn't already know, you have to create a new DOS disk, boot to it with the BASIC cartridge installed and then from BASIC type "Run "D:CREATE" on your original Axlon software disk.

This will install the RAMDISK required software on the newly created DOS disk. You then make sure your Axlon is installed between your 2 RAM boards and then reset the 800 with the newly created disk still in the drive.

If all goes well, you will see "RAMDISK MEMORY MANGEMENT SYSTEM VERSION 1.0" at the top of the DOS screen.

Update:

Also followed this procedure in Altirra and it works as well. Here is a copy of the ATR I created in Altirra in case you want to play with the Axlon RAMDISK. axlon2_ramdisk.atr includes several files copied over from the original Axlon disk, ramscan, memtest, assign and the documentation file, ramdisk.doc. These files are not copied over by default with the run "d:create" command.

axlon_ramdisk.atr

axlon2_ramdisk.atr