From - Fri Sep 26 17:36:37 1997 Return-Path: Received: from gw-nl1.origin-it.com by horten.vingmed.no (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) id KAA04498; Mon, 22 Sep 1997 10:17:02 +0100 Received: (from nobody@localhost) by gw-nl1.origin-it.com (8.6.10/8.6.10-0.994n-08Nov95) id LAA07622 for ; Mon, 22 Sep 1997 11:16:06 +0200 Received: from nsnl.origin.nl(172.16.1.3) by gw-nl1.origin-it.com via smap (V1.3+ESMTP) with ESMTP id sma007572; Mon Sep 22 11:15:33 1997 Received: from mail.nl.origin-it.com (mail.nl.origin-it.com [172.16.127.3]) by nsnl.origin.nl (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id LAA26692 for ; Mon, 22 Sep 1997 11:17:27 +0200 Received: from ukrax001.ras.uk.origin-it.com (ukrax001.ras.uk.origin-it.com [172.16.201.234]) by mail.nl.origin-it.com (8.6.10/8.6.10-1.2.1a-961120) with SMTP id LAA14710 for ; Mon, 22 Sep 1997 11:13:06 +0200 Received: by ukrax001.ras.uk.origin-it.com with SMTP (Microsoft Exchange Server Internet Mail Connector Version 4.0.994.63) id <01BCC740.1DE82A00@ukrax001.ras.uk.origin-it.com>; Mon, 22 Sep 1997 10:13:05 +0100 Message-ID: X-UIDL: 874920039.000 From: "Ferns, Mark" To: "'rsc@vingmed.no'" Subject: ROM Images Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 10:14:54 +0100 X-Mailer: Microsoft Exchange Server Internet Mail Connector Version 4.0.994.63 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="---- =_NextPart_000_01BCC740.1DEA9B00" Status: U X-Mozilla-Status: 8003 This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ------ =_NextPart_000_01BCC740.1DEA9B00 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Robert, Thanks for your quick reply last week regarding getting ROM images onto a BBC Micro. I've been experimenting over the weekend, and have now found two ways of putting the image onto a Beeb. I have attached a file "romdown.txt" which explains the two different methods, one using a BBC Master 512 and the other using Xfer and a BBC B. I've also included some details of where to get the components for the serial cable used with Xfer and prices (UK). Hope the above is useful. Regards Mark PS. I tried downloading some ROM images on Saturday, and got an error saying that the file location on the server did not exist. This happened for all the images I tried, although I had no problems with the software image library! ------ =_NextPart_000_01BCC740.1DEA9B00 Content-Type: text/plain; name="romdown.txt" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Transfering downloaded ROMS Images from a IBM compatible PC to a BBC Micro/ Master 128 or to a BBC Master 512 - A Beginners Guide PC to BBC Micro/ BBC Master 128 To do this, I used XFer (by Mark de Weger) [File: xfer_30.zip] XFer is a file transfer program which is mainly used to transfer complete disk images between PC and BBC Micro (and vice versa). However, it can also be used to transfer ROM images and data files between the two computers. The program utilises the Serial Port on the PC and the RS423 port on the Beeb. To use the program you will need to make a serial cable. Fully comprehensive instructions are supplied with the software, and anyone who can use a soldering iron should have no problems making the cable. For those of us in the UK, the components to make the cables are readily available from Maplin's who have 42 stores in the UK (see www.maplin.co.uk for details). Maplin's also take international orders. I used the following parts to make my cable, part details are from the Maplin 97/98 Electronics Catalogue: Part No. Price ======== ===== 5-pin DIN plug, domino-style (Type C) RK64U 49p Locking plastic 'D' Hood 9-way FP27E 66p Solder Type 'D' Range 9-way socket RK61R 79p Multi-Core screened cable 6-way XR26D 70p per metre NOTE: Be careful of the pin numbering on the 5-pin DIN plug, I found that the pin numbers on the plug, for pins 4 and 5 were transposed. Double check the diagrams supplied with the software, and if necessary the BBC Micro Users Guide. The software comes with comprehensive operating instructions and will run on a 386 or faster PC running MS-DOS (or compatible), Windows 3.x and Windows 95. I have personal experience of running it under Windows 95, on a 486-50DX. No problems were encountered. Transfering the files ===================== Basically, take a ROM image file, shorten its name so that it is a maximum of 7 characters. Run the XFer program as per the operating instructions. Because the ROM image file is not in the Standard Format, there is no INF file associated with it. Therefore, XFer treats it as a text file, the file will be transferred and automatically saved to disk on the BBC under the given name. You can then either load the file into Sideways RAM, if your BBC has it fitted, or blow it into an EPROM. XFer can be found on The BBC Lives! web site, in the software section under bbc/util. PC to BBC Master 512 NOTES: * The PC must have a 5.25" or 3.5" Floppy Disk which is compatible with the drive used on the BBC Master (most drives will be compatible). * The BBC Master must have a Dual Floppy Disk drive (5.25" or 3.5"). * The PUTFILE program only works for ROM images and text files! On the PC: 1.1 On a 1.2Mb floppy drive, format the disk as a 360Kb disk, if using a 1.44Mb floppy drive, format the disk as 720Mb. 1.2 Copy the downloaded file(s) *.ROM (e.g. ULTRACAL.ROM) to the floppy disk. On the BBC Master 512: 2.1 Put the "BBC Master 512 DOS+ System Disk" (supplied by Acorn with the Master 512) into drive A:. and place the disk created in 1.2 into the B: drive. At the DOS prompt copy the program PUTFILE from A: TO B: as follows: COPY A:\PUTFILE.CMD B:\ 2.2 Now copy the ROM image files from drive B: to the other drive as follows: 2.2.1 ADFS Destination Disks ======================= a) Remove the "BBC Master 512 DOS+ System Disk" from drive A: and put in its place an ADFS formatted disk (this disk does not have to be empty!). b) From the DOS Prompt on the B: drive, enter the following: PUTFILE :. Example PUTFILE ULTRACAL.ROM :0.ULTRACALC Note: The Acron ADFS does not support more than 10 characters for a filename. 2.2.2 DFS Destination Disks ================= a) Remove the "BBC Master 512 DOS+ System Disk" from drive A: and put in its place a DFS formatted disk (this disk does not have to be empty!). b) From the DOS Prompt on the B: drive, enter the following: PUTFILE :. /DISC Example PUTFILE ULTRACAL.ROM :1.ULTRACA Note: The Acron DFS does not support more than 7 characters for a filename. 2.3 Loading the ROM image into Sideways RAM ======================================== Restart the BBC Master in BBC Micro Mode (enter NOTUBE with the "BBC Master 512 DOS+ System Disk" in drive A:). From the BBC prompt, enter the following: *SRLOAD 8000 [] [Q] where is the file name of the ROM image and is the sideways RAM page number, which is either 4, 5, 6 or 7. Example: To load the ULTRACA image into back 4 you would enter the following *SRLOAD ULTRACA 8000 4 Q Note that ROM images are not initialised until a Hard Break (CTRL+BREAK) is issued. 2.4 To check that the ROM image has been successfully loaded enter *ROMS to display what is loaded in the ROM Banks. ------ =_NextPart_000_01BCC740.1DEA9B00--