Newbie 800XL/SIde3/SpartaDOS X question

[+feoh]

Greetings all! This is an amazing community and I am grateful for it

 

I just got an Atari 800XL two days ago and am having a blast, in particular with my new Side3 Cart.

 

I've got the menu/loader humming along like clockwork, loading carts, disks etc.

 

However when I try booting it into SpartaDOS X, either by sliding the switch or using the menu option, I see the light on the cart flash red and then SpartaDOS X just says "Device not recognized" wnenever I try to access D2: or D3: etc.

 

I'm using the cart with a Sandisk 64GB SD card (I know WAY overkill but I have a bunch of them around :).

 

1) Is that card too big for the Side3/SpartaDOS X combo?

2) Is there something I'm doing wrong? Do I need to do something special to the SD card's filesystem to get SpartaDOS X to recognize it even though FlashJazzcat's incredibly swank loader works like a charm?

 

Thanks in advance!

-Chris

[spookt]

How did you set up your flash card? To use it under SDX you’ll need to partition it on the Atari using fdisk. See Jon’s site here for instructions. 

[+feoh]

I just formatted it as a FAT volume on a modern computer.

 

Looks like I may just have to use the cart as a loader and not as a disk. The video suggests using FDISK to partition the SD but when I try running that I get "MEMLO TOO HIGH". This is a stock unmodified 800XL. I can't really go for the Ultimate 1MB as I'm partially blind/fine and gross motor impaired and can't solder (Probably also in everyone's best interest for me to be kept away from power tools

 

Obviously if there are any work-arounds that would allow me to run FDISK on my lowly 800XL I'd love to hear them.

 

Thanks for the reply!

[Sugarland]

I think someone made a bootable fdisk disk that works on 64K machines. Here in the forums.

[+feoh]

25 minutes ago, Sugarland said:

I think someone made a bootable fdisk disk that works on 64K machines. Here in the forums.

That would be amazing! I'll do some digging!

[Sugarland]

It's a modified CONFIG.SYS which loads fewer drivers and thus allows FDISK to start with 64K.  For AVG Cart and not SIDE3.

 

 

[Mazzspeed]

All I'm going to say in relation to this problem is that you have to get in touch with @flashjazzcat.

[flashjazzcat]

You need more RAM long term, I'm afraid. I suggest Ultimate 1MB for the optimal user experience with SIDE3.

[Mazzspeed]

Don't forget to get U1MB with the FJC firmware!

 

U1MB is a great product. U1MB with FJC firmware is an awesome product.

[+feoh]

Thanks very much. I'll need to explore what makes the most sense. I really would LOVE the Ultimate 1MB but I can't do the install myself as I mention above.

 

I'll see if there's someone who can do the work here in the Boston, MA, USA area, or maybe I'll need to ship my system to someone.

 

I'll figure it out :)

[+feoh]

Just now, Mazzspeed said:

Don't forget to get U1MB with the FJC firmware!

 

U1MB is a great product. U1MB with FJC firmware is an awesome product.

For sure I notice that The Brewing Academy (Where I bought my Side3) sells it bundled.

 

I just need to figure out how to get the installation done.

 

It's kind of painful to admit that I just can't solder myself, but I tried for YEARS, and being fine/gross motor impaired means it's not a matter of practice, my hands, eyes and brain just lack the machinery to be able to do it at all.

[gnusto]

1 hour ago, feoh said:

It's kind of painful to admit that I just can't solder myself, but I tried for YEARS, and being fine/gross motor impaired means it's not a matter of practice, my hands, eyes and brain just lack the machinery to be able to do it at all.

 

Soldering isn't for everybody, it does require a pretty steady hand, even at the large spacing used on the old 8-bit stuff.

 

You might try asking Marlin (Brewing Academy guy). I don't want to speak for him but he does plenty of quality work on others products he sells, maybe you could work out some kind of time and materials deal for an U1MB. You'd have to send him your machine though, or at least the logic board.

 

[+feoh]

1 hour ago, gnusto said:

 

Soldering isn't for everybody, it does require a pretty steady hand, even at the large spacing used on the old 8-bit stuff.

 

You might try asking Marlin (Brewing Academy guy). I don't want to speak for him but he does plenty of quality work on others products he sells, maybe you could work out some kind of time and materials deal for an U1MB. You'd have to send him your machine though, or at least the logic board.

 

Yup I just checked his side and he's charging a VERY reasonable price for the Ultimate 1MB.

 

I'm currently bodging around with Altirra and SD cards and we'll see where that goes but this may well be my best option.

 

To be honest, I JUST got the 800XL, I want to have some fun with it before I ship it off and lose it for a few weeks again

 

Thanks!

[Sugarland]

I think there is an external 1MB upgrade coming and that will be a much better option for you and most people. It will plug into the PBI so it can be easily moved between machines, too.  Made by the same developer as the excellent U1MB, @candle. Congrats on your 800XL pickup!!

[Mazzspeed]

3 hours ago, Sugarland said:

I think there is an external 1MB upgrade coming and that will be a much better option for you and most people. It will plug into the PBI so it can be easily moved between machines, too.  Made by the same developer as the excellent U1MB, @candle. Congrats on your 800XL pickup!!

Unless it comes with the option for external power, you'd still have to solder in the bridge to supply power to the 800XL's PBI port. Only the 600XL has power to the PBI port standard.

[mdivancic]

On 5/22/2021 at 8:20 PM, feoh said:

I'll see if there's someone who can do the work here in the Boston, MA, USA area, or maybe I'll need to ship my system to someone.

I live in RI and can do the install for you. Do you have transportation ?